9 Interesting Facts About Rayan Cherki From Childhood in Lyon
- Think Football Ideas
- 18 hours ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 7 hours ago
Full Name: Mathis Rayan Cherki
Date of Birth: 17 August 2003
Place of Birth: Lyon, France
Height: 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s): Attacking Midfielder/Winger
Current Club: Olympique Lyon
Jersey Number: 18
So, it’s happening, Rayan Cherki is heading to Manchester City this summer. After months of transfer buzz and a flurry of interest from some of Europe’s elite, the French wonderkid has made his call.
Premier League came knocking, and he’s decided the Cityzens are the perfect launchpad for the next chapter of his already eye-catching rise. With Pep Guardiola in rebuild mode and hungry for fresh creativity, Cherki clearly believes this is where flair meets firepower, and he wants in.
Below Are 9 Interesting Facts About Rayan Cherki You Should Know
1. He Was Born In Lyon, France
Rayan Cherki came into the world on 17 August 2003, right in the football-mad city of Lyon. He was quite literally born in the backyard of one of France’s top clubs. While most of us were just figuring out how to hold a crayon at his age, little Rayan was already taking his first baby steps toward a professional career.
Talk about starting on home turf! Lyon wasn’t just his birthplace, it would become the stage for the first chapters of his football story. Was it meant to be? Feels that way.
2. He Has A Mixed Heritage Via His Parents
Cherki’s roots stretch far beyond the borders of Lyon. His father, Fabrice Amsellem, brings Italian blood to the table, while his mother’s side hails from Algeria. That’s a fusion of cultures, passion, and footballing DNA right there.
No wonder the kid plays with flair and fire. He's got Mediterranean football running through both sides of the family tree! And, with a mix like that, choosing which national team to represent wasn’t exactly a walk in the park.
3. He started His Youth Career At Saint-Priest Before Moving To Lyon
Before donning Lyon’s famous white kit, Cherki began his footballing journey at a humble local club: AS Saint-Priest. It was here, among the muddy pitches and modest stands, that his raw talent first started causing a stir.
Scouts from Lyon didn’t take long to catch wind of this precocious playmaker, and by the time he was 7, he was already in their youth system. Yep, seven. While most kids were still learning how to tie their laces, Rayan was skipping past defenders twice his size.
4. He Made His Professional Debut Against Dijon
Flash forward to 19 October 2019, Lyon vs Dijon in Ligue 1. A 16-year-old Rayan Cherki made his professional debut for his boyhood club. Most teenagers at that age are still figuring out how to navigate high school, and rightly so.
As for Cherki? He was stepping onto the big stage, trading homework for highlight reels. It was a 0–0 draw, sure, but for Rayan, it was the night everything changed. From youth prodigy to a pro.
5. He Became Lyon's Youngest Player To Score A Senior Goal In 2020
Then came the fireworks. On 4 January 2020, in a Coupe de France demolition of Bourg-en-Bresse (7–0, if you're counting), Cherki grabbed his first senior goal at just 16 years and 140 days.
Lyon’s youngest-ever goal scorer. Not just a cameo kid anymore; he was making history. The kid didn’t stop there either. Two weeks later, he ran the show against Nantes with two goals and two assists. That wasn’t a breakout, it was an announcement.
6. He Was The Youngest-Ever Player To Appear in A UCL Semi-Final
On 19 August 2020, in a UEFA Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich, Lyon threw on their teenage wildcard: Rayan Cherki. At 16 years and 11 months, he became the youngest player ever to feature in a Champions League semi-final.
No pressure, right? The match didn’t go Lyon’s way as it was a 3–0 loss to the Bundesliga giants, but Cherki’s name was etched into the tournament’s history books. The kid had gone from local phenom to continental curiosity.
7. He Was Eligible To Play For France, Algeria, Or Italy
Talk about options! Thanks to his Algerian mother and Italian father, Cherki had the pick of three footballing heavyweights when it came to international duty: France, Algeria, or Italy.
In the end, he chose France, the land of his birth, and climbed the youth ranks with Les Bleus. But you can bet the other two were watching with hopeful eyes. A talent like his doesn’t come around often, and every nation wanted a piece.
8. He Once Admitted To Lyon TV, "My Dream Is To Play For Real Madrid"
In an interview with Lyon TV, young Rayan didn’t mince words: “My dream is to play for Real Madrid.” Bold? Yes. Honest? Absolutely. It takes guts to say that while wearing Lyon colours, but Cherki’s ambition has always been sky-high.
And really, can you blame him? The Bernabéu, the Galácticos, the white shirt, it’s football royalty. Time will tell if the dream becomes reality, but the kid’s not exactly shy about where he sees himself.
9. His Footballing Idol Is Cristiano Ronaldo
And who better to idolise than the machine himself? Cristiano Ronaldo has been Cherki’s ultimate inspiration since day one. You can see it in his swagger, his quick feet, and that unshakeable belief that he belongs on the biggest stage.
Like CR7, Rayan isn’t just about flair, he’s about impact. Goals, assists, game-changing moments. No wonder he wanted Madrid. He’s not just trying to follow in Cristiano’s footsteps; he’s trying to create a legacy of his own.