Eduardo Camavinga byFotografías Archimadrid.es – Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Football Star Eduardo Camavinga


 

Eduardo Celmi Camavinga is a French professional footballer currently playing for La Liga club Real Madrid and the French National team. Camavinga plays as a midfielder. Since he ticks all the boxes as an aggressive player and great passer, he is deployed in any midfield position.

Born on 10th November 2002, Camavinga is one for the future. However, many could argue that he has already achieved more than most footballers dream of in their careers.

Camavinga was born in Angola and was raised in less-than-ideal circumstances. However, his story is a testament that pressure does indeed have the power to create a diamond. Below are some amazing facts about the French prospect Eduardo Camavinga.

1. Born in A Refugee Camp

On 10th November 2002, Camavinga was born in a refugee camp in Cabinda, Angola to Congolese parents. His mother goes by the name Sofia while his father is called Celestino. 

Camavinga is one of five children by Sofia and Celestino. He has two sisters, a younger brother Celio and an older brother Sebastio.

Camavinga and his family moved to France when he was 2 years old. They settled in Fougères, a commune in Brittany in northwestern France which is where he grew up.

2. He Practised Judo Before Getting into Football

Judo by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

While living in Fougères, Camavinga was into Judo and often practiced the art. Created in 1882, Judo is a system of unarmed modern Japanese martial arts, combat, and Olympic sport.

Lucky for the rest of us football fans, he decided to drop the sport and got into football. Although I for one have no doubt, he would have excelled in it, a world where we’re deprived of Camavinga’s football skills is not enticing at all.

3. His Family House Was Burnt Down

Burning House by Николай Егошин from Pixabay

Eduardo Camavinga was born in Angola as a refugee. This already gives the notion that his living circumstances as a child were nothing easy. To add to that, they had to flee to France following civil unrest that was breaking out in the country.

Up until now, it seemed that Camavinga was always dealt the short end of the stick. However, at age 11 things started to look up to him as French club Rennes took him into their academy.

However, despite this turn of luck, it was not all rainbow and sunshine for Camavinga. Right before joining the Rennes academy in 2013, his family house burnt down. They lost everything but luckily Rennes stepped up in time and provided charitable assistance for Camavinga and his family.

According to Eduardo, this incident coupled with his love for the game was a huge source of motivation to pursue a footballing career.

4. Joined the Rennes Youth System at Age 11

After quitting Judo, his parents signed him into a local club in Fougères called Drapeau de Fougères. At the time he was 7 and this was where Eduardo took his first steps in football.

He spent four years at the club where he built the basis for his playing style and developed the hard tackling skills he currently possesses. His unique style of play was greatly admired by many teammates, opposition, and coaches alike.

At 11, with the permission and support of his family and parents, Camavinga tried out at Rennes. Not to state the obvious as we already know it but he passed with flying colors and was accepted into the Rennes Youth System.

5. The Youngest Player to Play for Rennes

Moving through the ranks in the Rennes youth system, Camavinga put pen to paper on 14th December 2018. This is when he signed his first professional contract at age 16 and one month. This made him the youngest professional at Rennes football club.

Less than 5 months later, he made his professional debut for Rennes. This came in a Ligue 1 tie against Angers which ended in a 3-3 stalemate on April 6th, 2019. Aged 16 years and 6 months old, this appearance made Camavinga Rennes’ youngest-ever first-team player.

6. Youngest Player to Represent the French Senior Team

A positive COVID-19 test forced French international Paul Pogba to drop out of the French National team for upcoming UEFA Nations League games. As they say, when one door closes, another opens and, in this case, Camavinga’s door into the French team opened wide.

In August 2020, Camavinga was called up to the French National team. This call-up broke a record that has lasted since 1932 when René Gérard was called up at 17 years, 9 months, and 17 days old. On September 8th, 2020, he made his international debut in a 4-2 wing versus Croatia in the UEFA Nations League.

This debut appearance broke a record that has lasted for over a century. Camavinga became the youngest player to play for the French National team breaking a record lasting over a century. The record was set back in 1914 by Maurice Gastiger who played for France at 17 years, nine months, and 29 days old.

7. France’s Youngest Goal Scorer in Over a Century

Ball in the net by Mariusz from Pixabay

After his first call-up, Didier Deschamps was impressed by Camavinga so much so that he called him up again for the following international games. On October 7th, 2020, Camavinga was given his first start against Ukraine.

Within the first 10 minutes of his full international debut, the 17-year-old scored a stunning overhead kick. His team went on to win the match 7-1. With that memorable goal, he became the country’s youngest goal scorer in over a century. The record had stood since 1914 when Maurice Gastiger scored.

8. Moved to Los Blancos in 2021

In the summer transfer window of 2021, Eduardo Camavinga caught the eye of the best teams in Europe. Teams like Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Paris Saint-Germain were interested in the 18-year-old French football prospect.

However, Real Madrid won the race beating out a flurry of suitors. They signed Camavinga for €40m (£34.4m) from Rennes. The move was announced officially on 31st August 2021. He signed a six-year deal that is set to run out in 2027.

Eduardo made his debut on 12th September 2021 in Real Madrid’s 5-2 win over Celta Vigo. He celebrated his debut with an emphatic goal for his new club followed by an assist three days later on his champions league debut. Not a bad way to start life at a new club.

9. Has A Stadium Named After Him

Football stadium by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay

Eduardo Camavinga had a stadium named after him at the age of 18. He was raised in Fougères, which is close to La Chapelle-Janson, where the stadium is located. Stade Intercommunal Eduardo Camavinga is its name. The CF2L, an academy that gathers gifted athletes from the neighborhood to train and play, is based at the new stadium.

10. League and Champions League Winner in Spain

In his first season with Real Madrid, Camavinga under Carlo Ancelotti’s coaching won three major trophies. Although Camavinga was not a regular first-team starter, he did more than just participate.

He made 26 La Liga appearances and scored twice providing one assist in La Liga. While these might not be the best figures in the world, Ancelotti deployed him as a defensive midfielder where he impressed greatly. The season ended with Real Madrid as league champions.

The champion’s league is one of the most coveted trophies in world football. In his first season, Camavinga managed to win it providing some scintillating performances in the competition. This is despite coming on mostly off the bench.

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