Max Moerstedt: Who is Hoffenheim’s serial winner that started with a Zlatan Ibrahimović-esque wonder goal?
Hoffenheim's Max Moerstedt had only 74 senior minutes under his belt when he stunned the UEFA Europa League with one of the most memorable first goals in German football’s history. bundesliga.com profiles the teen talent who could be set for stardom.
Stats correct as of 26 September 2024
Max Moerstedt
Age: 18 (born 15 January 2006)
Club: Hoffenheim
Position: Striker
Country: Germany U18s (two caps)
Born in Mannheim, Moerstedt initially learned his trade in the Karlsruhe youth set-up before being scouted by Bundesliga legend and all-time World Cup top scorer Miroslav Klose, who was working for Bayern Munich's academy.
The striker switched to Hoffenheim in 2021 and, after scoring 10 in 11 games during the 2022/23 campaign, he was soon promoted to the U19s. Finishing the season on fire, Moerstedt headed to the UEFA U17 European Championship in June 2023 and shone, helping his nation to the title with a penalty shoot-out win over France, starting five out of six games and scoring in the semi-final against Poland.
Moerstedt kept his place in the squad for the FIFA U17 World Cup six months later in December. With four goals and an assist in six games, Germany and Moerstedt took home their second trophy in a year and it was clear their No.9 was set for stardom.
Back in Hoffenheim’s academy, Moerstedt refused to ease off and plundered a massive 26 goals in 26 games for the U19s during 2023/24. He didn’t just collect the U19 Bundesliga Golden Shoe either, Moerstedt also claimed a league and cup double with TSG, making it four trophies in one year.
Unsurprisingly, a first-team call-up soon followed as Moerstedt joined Pellegrino Matarazzo’s seniors at the tail end of the 2023/24 season and played the final 11 minutes of a 1-1 Bundesliga draw against Leipzig in May.
In 2024/25, he’s now a first team regular. In the 89th minute of a Europa League match against Midtjylland, Moerstedt came off the bench and scored his first senior goal in spectacular fashion. Latching onto a first time cross he acrobatically redirected the ball into the top of the net while flying through the air, claiming a crucial point for Hoffenheim in Europe.
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Plays a bit like: Zlatan Ibrahimović
Moerstedt’s acrobatic goal in the Europa League saw numerous European outlets call the effort ‘Zlatan-esque’.
Moerstedt himself has said that Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo is his role model, but the Ibrahimović similarities stack up even further given that his priorities in training are “finishing, finishing and finishing”.
Did you know?
Both of Moerstedt’s parents were professional tennis players and they wanted him to follow in their footsteps, but it quickly became clear where his priorities lay.
“They always wanted to get me into tennis,” he recalled. “But I always kicked the tennis ball around, so that was hopeless.”
What they’re saying
"I actually said on the bench: Please let Max have a shot, because he's going to score. At TSG, we have had Max on our radar for a long time. I told Alexander Rosen after just two days of training that he really is a top talent. I'm looking forward to accompanying him on his journey.” - Pellegrino Matarazzo
"He has quick feet, that was a quick scissor kick. He works hard, he deserves it.” - Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann
"We won't let him go. We have a clear plan for Max, who is also prepared to go along this path with us step by step." - Director of Football Alexander Rosen
"Although he is already showing impressive performances and has repeatedly demonstrated his goal-scoring instinct, his development is by no means complete. He will have the opportunity to develop further with us in peace and quiet." - Pirmin Schwegler, head of professional football
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