11 Interesting Facts About Désiré Doué From Youth Days
- Think Football Ideas
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 hours ago
Full Name: Désiré Nonka-Maho Doué
Date of Birth: 3 June 2005
Place of Birth: Angers, Maine-et-Loire, France
Height: 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s): Attacking midfielder/Winger
Current Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Jersey Number:14
Imagine being called Désiré Doué - literally, “the desired gift.”
Now imagine growing up with that name stitched on your school jersey, whispered through youth academies, and inked onto every team sheet you ever touched. No pressure, right?
But here’s the thing, he wears the weight of expectation like it’s just a warm-up jacket. Today, Doué makes defenders sweat and fans lean forward. There’s something about him; like he was built for this, or maybe just born with it. Either way, the name fits. Oh, it fits so well.
11 Interesting Facts About Désiré Doué From Youth Days
1. He was Born in Angers, Maine-et-Loire
Angers, the kind of French town that sounds like a romantic getaway, but for Désiré Doué, it was the launching pad of something a bit more high-octane than croissants and quiet streets.
Born there on 17 June 2005, Doué arrived with football in his blood and ambition clearly in his future. Maine-et-Loire may not have known it then, but it was cradling a future Champions League match-winner.
2. He Began Playing Football at Rennes' Academy at Age Five
By the time most kids are just figuring out how to kick a ball straight, Désiré was already striding into Stade Rennais’ youth academy like he owned the place.
That was in 2011, at just five years old, tiny boots, and big dreams. Rennes knew they had something special early on, and frankly, so did Doué.
3. He Started His Senior Career with Rennes Reserves in 2021
2021 was a big gear shift. Doué began playing with Rennes’ reserve team, and by February, he was already training with the senior squad. Talk about fast-tracking!
Things escalated quickly: on 14 April 2022, Désiré signed his first pro contract (through 2024), and just a few months later, 7 August 2022, he made his senior debut in a Ligue 1 clash against Lorient, scoring his first pro goal against Brest a month later as he became the First player born in 2005 to score in a top 5 European league.
4. Football is A Family Affair for Désiré Doué
In the Doué household, football isn’t just a passion, it’s practically a shared profession. Désiré’s older brother, Guéla Doué, plays the game too, as do his cousins, Yann Gboho and Marc-Olivier Doué.
That’s three relatives, all pros, all orbiting the same footballing universe. Imagine the group chat! Whether it’s advice, sibling banter, or pure competitive fire, there’s no doubt that growing up around that much ball had an impact.
5. He Rejected Bayern Munich to Join PSG
Now this was a plot twist. In August 2024, PSG came calling, and guess what? Doué turned down German giants Bayern Munich to sign a €50 million deal with the French champions.
Gutsy move? Absolutely. Regrets? Not even close. “I don’t regret it,” he said after debuting for PSG. Of course, he doesn’t, he’s thriving.
6. He Became the Youngest Ever French Scorer in European Club Competitions
On 6 October 2022, against Dynamo Kyiv in the Europa League, Doué netted an 89th-minute winner.
Just like that, he became the youngest-ever French scorer in European club competitions, aged 17 years, four months, and four days. A Clutch finish? Check. Record-breaking? Double check. And to do it in Europe? That’s how you introduce yourself on the continental stage.
7. He was Named Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year 2024-25
By the end of the 2024–25 season, Doué wasn’t just a rising star, he was the star. With six goals and eight assists in Ligue 1 and additional brilliance in the Coupe de France, he was crowned Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year. And, he was also named the best right winger in the league. Not bad for a kid who hadn’t even turned 20.
8. Désiré Doué Has A Mixed Heritage
Doué's roots span continents, with an Ivorian father and a French mother, he represents a beautiful blend of West African flair and European precision.
He holds dual citizenship (France and Côte d’Ivoire), and though he's chosen Les Bleus for now, that duality shapes who he is, on and off the pitch. Culture-rich, perspective-sharp, and it shows in his game.
9. He Became the Youngest Player to Score A Brace in A UCL Final
The Champions League final on 31 May 2025? Gracious! Doué didn’t just show up; he dominated. With two goals and an assist in a 5–0 rout of Inter Milan, he became the youngest player ever to score a brace in a UCL final, beating Eusébio’s 1962 record.
And if that’s not enough, he also became the youngest assist provider in the final, knocking Jude Bellingham off that perch. Oh, and he got Man of the Match, naturally. What. A. Night.
10. He Represents France Internationally Since U17
Doué’s been wearing the French tricolour since his U17 days, helping France lift the 2022 UEFA Under-17 Euro.
From there, it’s been a steady climb: U19s, U21s, the Olympic squad, and finally, in March 2025, a senior team debut in the Nations League quarter-final. Désiré isn’t just the future of France; he’s already part of the now.
11. Désiré Doué’s Childhood Idols are Neymar and Lionel Messi
No surprises here: like many of his generation, Doué grew up idolising Neymar and Lionel Messi, and now? He’s literally walked into their old dressing room at PSG.
What a full-circle moment. You can even spot flashes of Neymar’s flamboyance and Messi’s close control in his game. He went from posters on the wall to legacy continuation. That’s storytelling.
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