Hugo Ekitike will always remember the night time of 13 November 2025, each on a person and a collective stage.
The Liverpool striker was named on the substitutes’ bench for France of their World Cup qualifier in opposition to Ukraine on Thursday night time, with Les Bleus understanding {that a} win would affirm their place on the finals subsequent summer time.
The match was within the steadiness at 1-0 when the 23-year-old was introduced on halfway by the second half, however three additional objectives ensured that Didier Deschamps’ aspect finally cruised to victory.
Ekitike scores first objective for France
Two minutes from the top of regular time, Ekitike burst ahead on a prolonged solo run from the midway line to the sting of the penalty space.
He then performed a neat one-two with Kylian Mbappe (a scorer of two objectives for France tonight) earlier than slotting an assured first-time end past Anatoliy Trubin to spherical off the scoring for Les Bleus, within the course of netting his first objective for his nation.
Ekitike places his hand up for a spot in World Cup squad
Ibrahima Konate spoke earlier this week of how he cajoled Ekitike into placing in extra fitness center work at Liverpool to earn his first France call-up in September, and the motivational speech has definitely had the specified impact!
The run from deep and the execution of the end illustrated the boldness that’s coursing by the veins of the striker, who’s at the moment the Reds’ high scorer for the season up to now, making an instantaneous influence since becoming a member of from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summertime.
Along with his objective in opposition to Ukraine, the 23-year-old received 4 of his six duels and accomplished 100% of his dribbles, and solely the woodwork denied him a brace in a extremely impactful look off the bench for his nation (Sofascore).
Given the extraordinary attacking wealth at Deschamps’ disposal, Ekitike might want to hold producing the products if he’s to carve out a beginning berth for Les Bleus, however his brilliantly-taken objective tonight ought to go some approach to guaranteeing him a seat on the aircraft to North America subsequent summer time.
You may view Ekitike’s objective in opposition to Ukraine under, taken from FS2’s match protection and shared by way of @TheGoalsZone on X:
🚨🌍 | GOAL: HUGO EKITIKE MAKES IT FOUR FOR FRANCE!
🇫🇷 France 4-0 Ukraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/fBZOFxibIg
— TheGoalsZone ✨ (@TheGoalsZone) November 13, 2025
You may watch Slot’s full post-Man Metropolis press convention by way of Empire of the Kop on YouTube:
