‘More well-rounded than Lukaku’
Ligue 1 resumed last weekend, bringing with it a range of captivating narratives from the opening round of the French top division. Defending champions PSG began their title defense with a hard-fought victory over Nantes, while things unraveled for Marseille after a dressing room altercation led to the transfer listing of Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe following a dramatic loss to Rennes. However, one storyline stood out—though it didn’t make the front pages, it was perhaps the most intriguing.
Upon their return to Ligue 1, Metz introduced a 16-year-old striker, Brian Madjo, giving him the responsibility to spearhead their attack. It was fitting that Madjo’s debut occurred during the Derby de L’Est against Strasbourg, alongside a starting lineup where all players were born post-2000, with an average age of just 20.4 years. Despite his youth, Madjo towers at 6ft 2in, and his remarkable athleticism has led Metz to believe he is on a path to greatness—he currently holds a market value of €4 million on Transfermarkt.
Who is Brian Madjo?
Born in January 2009 in Enfield, North London, Madjo moved to Luxembourg at an early age. The physically imposing striker comes from a family with a football background; his father, Guy, played professionally for various English clubs such as Bristol City, Port Vale, and Crawley Town. Earlier this summer, Madjo signed his first professional contract after impressing with Metz’s youth team, scoring 13 goals in 26 appearances for their U19 squad. First-team manager Stephane Le Mignan recognized his potential and promoted him to the senior team this summer. Ligue 1 is known for offering opportunities to young talent, and Madjo is currently 16th on the list of the youngest debutants in the French top-flight.
Additionally, Madjo has already earned three senior caps for Luxembourg. He made his debut under coach Luc Holtz against Sweden in March, playing a key role in a memorable victory. Due to his physical attributes, comparisons to Romelu Lukaku have emerged, with Luxembourg’s technical director, Manuel Cardoni, asserting that Madjo possesses a ‘more complete profile’ than the Napoli striker. “His profile is similar,” Cardoni explained. “But while we remain realistic, Brian has a more well-rounded profile [than Lukaku]. He excels in tight spaces, is adept at positional play, can exploit defensive gaps, and is capable of using both feet to pass. He has immense potential for development.” Though currently flying under the radar, Madjo is a remarkable talent worth watching, as several Premier League clubs are monitoring his progress.
