Before the start of the revamped 2024-25 Champions League, few would have predicted that Serhou Guirassy, Borussia Dortmund’s center forward, would be leading the competition’s scoring charts after ten matchdays. Yet, the 28-year-old striker has been doing all the talking on the pitch.
Guirassy’s Champions League journey is still relatively fresh. He made his debut in Europe’s elite competition with Rennes during the 2020-21 season, scoring just two goals in four appearances. Fast forward to the present, and Guirassy has become one of the most feared forwards in the tournament.
His rise has not been accidental. Last season, Guirassy was nearly unstoppable for VfB Stuttgart, netting 28 Bundesliga goals and helping them reach the Champions League for the first time in 15 years. Across all competitions, he scored 30 goals, putting the football world on notice. Borussia Dortmund moved quickly, signing him for a reported €18 million ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Guirassy made an immediate impact at Dortmund. His first Champions League goal for the club came against Club Brugge, a late stoppage-time strike that secured a 3-0 victory. From that moment on, everything he touched seemed to turn into goals.
After ten Champions League appearances, Guirassy has scored 10 goals and provided three assists, totaling 13 goal involvements. His numbers surpass those of many elite performers: Raphinha leads Barcelona with 12 goal contributions, while Lewandowski, Vinicius Jr, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Antoine Griezmann, and Mohamed Salah trail behind.
Guirassy’s exploits have made him a fan favorite at Dortmund, joining an exclusive club of club forwards—including Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland, to score 10 goals in a single Champions League campaign. On the continental stage, only one African player has scored more in a single season: Sebastian Haller, with 11 goals in 2021-22.
While Guirassy’s rise has generated speculation about a possible move to the Premier League or other top European clubs, Dortmund fans are enjoying his presence as they chase silverware. There is a bittersweet note, though: many wonder why the striker’s arrival came so late, as an earlier signing might have altered Dortmund’s fortunes in previous Champions League campaigns.
Nevertheless, Guirassy’s continued dominance, highlighted by his latest goal against Sporting CP in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs, signals that he is only getting started. If Dortmund are to challenge for Europe’s top honors, Guirassy will undoubtedly be at the heart of their hopes, and the headlines will continue to follow him for the rest of the campaign.
