If Serhou Guirassy keeps up this level—or gets even better—he’s on track to become one of the greats, both for club and country.
By Tuka Letura
Football has long been more than just a game in Africa; it’s a stage where hope and talent collide, often producing stories that capture the world’s imagination. In recent years, African players have been commanding more of that global spotlight. From Mohamed Salah’s brilliance at Liverpool to Victor Osimhen blazing across Europe, the continent has become a wellspring of world-class talent lighting up Europe’s biggest leagues and competitions.
Yet not every African nation shares equally in the spotlight. While countries like Nigeria, Senegal, and Ghana have consistently produced world-class talents who’ve made their mark on the global stage, Guinea has often flown under the radar. The passion for football is undeniable there, coursing through neighbourhoods and communities, but its impact on the international scene has, until recently, remained relatively subdued.
That’s not to say Guinea has been without stars entirely. There have been notable names, most prominently Naby Keïta, who won a handful of trophies with Liverpool, and Paul Pogba, arguably the most high-profile player of Guinean descent. Yet even Paul, part of a trio of footballing brothers, chose to represent France—the country of his birth—rather than don the red of Guinea’s Syli National like his brothers. For many fans, it was a reminder of the complex identity choices faced by dual-heritage players, and the missed opportunity for Guinea to harness such generational talent.
But things are beginning to change. A new name is on a steady rise, determined to shift the narrative and place Guinea firmly on the footballing map. Enter Serhou Guirassy, a striker whose journey from obscurity to prominence has captivated fans across Europe. With a playing style that fuses raw strength with clinical finishing, he’s quickly become one of the continent’s most feared forwards.
And just a few nights ago, Serhou Guirassy’s meteoric rise reached new heights. In the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, he delivered a performance for the ages, etching his name into the annals of European football history. Not only did he become the first African player to score a hat-trick against FC Barcelona in the competition, but he also broke the record for the most goals, five, scored against them in a single Champions League campaign, having already struck twice in their December 2024 group-stage encounter.
As if that weren’t enough, Serhou Guirassy’s 13 goals this season now stand as the highest total ever by an African player in a single Champions League campaign and, to date, the most by any player this season.
Despite his current success, Serhou Guirassy’s life wasn’t always easy. For years, the stadiums stayed silent when he played. He endured missed chances, loan spells that went nowhere, and the isolation of long rehab stints. He wasn’t handed opportunities, he earned them through hard work and grit.
Born in Arles, France, to Guinean parents, Guirassy grew up caught between two cultures. His family saw football as both a dream and a lifeline. Early moves to Laval and Lille revealed his talent, but were followed by a series of loans and a frustrating stint at Köln in 2016. Injuries kept cropping up, and every time an opportunity seemed to appear, it slipped away. While his peers moved on, Serhou Guirassy quietly rebuilt his game and confidence away from the spotlight.
Stuttgart’s 2022 season changed everything for him. Under coach Sebastian Hoeneß, he went from being just another player to one of the top strikers in Germany. In the 2023/24 season, he scored 28 goals in 28 Bundesliga matches. That broke Mario Gómez’s club record and placed him second in the league, only behind Harry Kane.
Even when he picked up a hamstring injury during the season, he came back strong. By the end of the campaign, he had scored more Bundesliga goals in a single season than any African player apart from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who netted 31 in 2016/17.
In 2024, Serhou Guirassy made a bold move to Borussia Dortmund. It wasn’t just a transfer—it was a challenge. He had to fill the boots of big names like Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski. But instead of folding under the pressure, he stood tall.
By early 2025, he had made his mark: four goals against Union Berlin, a hat-trick against Barcelona, and 13 Champions League goals—more than any other player. He also has 28 goals in 29 games across all competitions this season for Borussia Dortmund.
But Guirassy is more than just numbers. He’s the kind of striker who makes scoring look easy. His movements are sharp, his finishes are clean, and he always seems to know where the goal is.
He’s also taken that talent to the international stage. Although he played for France at youth level, Serhou Guirassy chose to represent his parents’ country, Guinea. He made his debut for the Syli National in March 2022 in a friendly against South Africa, and he’s been a key part of the team ever since.
In December 2023, Guirassy was named in Guinea’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, held in Ivory Coast. Though he didn’t score during the tournament in early 2024, he still played an important role. In the qualifiers for the next edition, he scored six out of Guinea’s nine goals. Sadly, it wasn’t enough—the Syli National narrowly missed out on qualifying for AFCON 2025, a tournament they were originally supposed to host.
Serhou Guirassy’s story is one of steady progress. He’s what many call a “late bloomer”—someone who takes time to hit their stride but becomes great when they do. That’s exactly where he is now. Even though he’s only spent a year at Dortmund, there are already rumours about his next move. Will he stay, or will a bigger European club come calling? At 29, and with his current form, it’s very possible.
If he keeps up this level—or gets even better—he’s on track to become one of the greats, both for club and country. Slowly but surely, Guirassy is gaining recognition as one of Africa’s top strikers. And after everything he’s been through, that respect is something he’s earned.
Tuka Letura is an experienced sports writer with over five years of experience in the craft. He uses data and statistics to provide analysis and commentary. From regional to worldwide competitions, he has covered a wide range of sports-related events and topics. He is devoted to sharing his enthusiasm for sports with his audience and engaging them with interesting anecdotes and viewpoints.