Assan Ouédraogo’s Impressive Rise: A Bright Future for RB Leipzig’s Young Star

The season has significantly exceeded expectations for RB Leipzig midfielder Assan Ouédraogo. The 19-year-old made an outstanding debut for the German national team, scoring just two minutes into the match on Tuesday, held at his Bundesliga club’s home stadium. He followed up this achievement by netting a stunning game-winning goal in last night’s Bundesliga fixture against Werder Bremen.

Despite the importance of his recent goal, Ouédraogo modestly claimed it was not the best he has ever scored. Reflecting on his past experiences with the DFB youth teams during a post-match interview, he stated, “I’ve scored two better ones: one in the U-19 European Championship with a drop kick into the corner, and another in the U-15 where I scored directly off the kickoff. This goal was a bit lucky. I try to play my game, and things are certainly going well at the moment, but I’m having some luck and will take that too.”

He further expressed his satisfaction with the recent outcomes, saying, “It’s been a perfect week. Two goals. Two wins. Two clean sheets. It doesn’t get any better than this.”

Ouédraogo’s resurgence aligns perfectly with the narrative surrounding his club this season. After a tumultuous start under newly appointed head coach Ole Werner, who faced criticism following a 6-0 defeat to FC Bayern Munich, the atmosphere around the team has shifted positively. Meanwhile, Austrian midfielder Christoph Baumgartner, who assisted Leipzig’s second goal, has emerged as a standout player, showcasing his skills following a summer of transfer speculation.

Both Baumgartner and Werner praised Ouédraogo’s recent form during their post-match interviews. Baumgartner remarked, “I’m very happy for him because he had a difficult time in his first year. He’s currently on a high, inspired by the national team and his goals. But that’s no coincidence. He’s a great guy who works very hard, who now believes in himself and who is fit. That goal was an expression of pure quality.”

Werner added, “It’s special to work with young players who perform like this. One observes them getting better every day in training and matches. That brings a lot of joy, and Assan has developed superbly so far. He’s certainly not near the top of his potential yet.”