Hugo Ekitike buzzing after scoring debut France goal to fulfil childhood dream

Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike has shared his excitement after scoring his debut goal for France.

The attacker, who is of Cameroonian descent, came off the bench on Thursday to net Les Bleus’ fourth in their convincing 4-0 win over Ukraine.

For Ekitiké, the goal went far beyond the scoresheet. It was the realisation of a long-held ambition, something he openly cherished after the match.

“It’s a childhood dream. Whenever I have minutes on the field, I try to show my abilities, and I’m there to help the group, no matter the playing time,” he said.

On the matchday, Hugo Ekitike replaced Bradley Barcola in the second half, stepping into a game in which France had already shown intent.

Barcola had been one of the liveliest players in the first half and came closest to finding the breakthrough before the goals began to flow.

Ekitiké’s rise to this moment has been shaped by club success and timely opportunity. After a strong campaign in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt and an impressive start to life at Liverpool, he earned a last-minute call-up from Didier Deschamps in late August when Rayan Cherki suffered an injury.

Before joining Les Bleus, he also had the option of representing Cameroon, his father’s country, although he ultimately chose France as his footballing path.

Having scored his first goal, Ekitike will hope to net more for France to make the final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.