Zaire-Emery confirms his status as the Champions League most exciting talent

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 14 Dec 2023 07:17 GMT
• 4 min read

Warren Zaire-Emery confirmed his status as football’s fastest-rising star with an impressive display for PSG against Borussia Dortmund that left critics drooling over the potential of the 17-year-old wonderkid.

Recently recovered from an injury that was forecast to keep him out until January, Zaire-Emery was thrust into the PSG starting XI to face the Bundesliga outfit and scored the goal that carried Luis Enrique’s side into the last 16 of the competition.

ANALYSIS: Warren Zaire-Emery is PSG and France's next superstar

Les Parisiens, so wasteful a fortnight ago against Newcastle, repeated that frustrating form in front of goal in Dortmund, yet Zaire-Emery provided the composure more senior players lacked with a quick reaction to the hosts going ahead.

Five minutes after Karim Adeyemi put the hosts ahead and Kylian Mbappe’s side staring into a Europa League campaign in 2024, the teenager struck. It was the type of moment that will put him in the running to win the next Golden Boy award.

Zaire-Emery puts PSG through

Zaire-Emery’s second Champions League goal was instigated by a raid from Mbappe down the left, and though his cross was partially cut out, the loose ball dropped to the France international, who rattled home.

He finished the match with solid figures across the board as his goal sent PSG into the knockout stages, but it was the maturity of his performance that really caught the eye.

“Returning from injury, he didn’t shine like his usually does in the duels and the punch he brings during the first half. He wasted the first big chance of the match after six minutes. He was beaten on the Dortmund goal but he hit back with cold bloodedness,” L’Equipe stated as it gave him a score of 7/10 for his display.

“This launched his sparkling second half when, revved up, he missed nothing and swept up everything.”

Zaire-Emery finished the Champions League group stages with two Man of the Match displays in five games, as well as two goals.

He has seen his Estimated Transfer Value explode over this period, with the 17-year-old now worth €31.2 million, according to FootballTransfers’ unique algorithm. This makes him the most valuable player in the world under the age of 18.

Out of contract in 2025 as things stand, PSG are soon expected to tie Zaire-Emery down to a new deal.