It was a night to remember for Hugo Ekitike. The young forward admitted with humility that his first goal carried “a bit of luck,” noting how tight the spaces are compared to the German league. But luck alone can’t explain the joy and hunger he displayed on the pitch.

Ekitike described playing here as “a dream,” savoring every moment while dedicating the victory to teammate Diogo Jota: “We wanted to win for him, and that’s exactly what we did.”

When it comes to role models, the striker didn’t shy away from his admiration: “I love Neymar, but I can’t play like him. My idol is Karim Benzema, because of what he has achieved and the way he plays the game.”

With ambition shining through, Ekitike made his intent clear: “I can give more. I want many Man of the Match awards.”

A humble beginning, a burning ambition — the story of a star determined to rise.