Said El Mala inspires at 1. FC Köln: A teenager with a goal instinct!
On December 7, 2025, Said El Mala scored his first Bundesliga goal in the game against St. Pauli and was named "Man of the Match".

Said El Mala inspires at 1. FC Köln: A teenager with a goal instinct!
What a football weekend for 1. FC Köln! On Saturday the team played against FC St. Pauli and was right at the center of the action
19-year-old Said El Mala, who not only scored a goal but also won the Man of the Match title. As come-on-fc.com reports, El Mala was particularly noticeable throughout the game, even if he missed a few opportunities in the first half. His goal came after a quick counterattack when he took advantage of a lack of attention from the opposition defense. With this goal, he has already scored six goals this season, establishing himself as the team's top scorer.
But the young winger's talent goes beyond these seasonal performances. Born on August 26, 2006 in Krefeld, Said El Mala has had an eventful career. He took his first steps in football at Linner SV and stayed there until the U11 level. After short stints at KFC Uerdingen and Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he was released at the age of 14, he found his way to TSV Meerbusch before moving to Viktoria Köln in 2023. He quickly impressed there, and after an impressive season in the 3rd division in which he scored 13 goals, he signed his first professional contract in February 2024. Wikipedia summarizes that he moved to 1. FC Köln on June 26, 2024, but initially stayed in the third division on loan for one season.
A talent under observation
His achievements do not go unnoticed. Coach Kwasniok not only appreciates El Mala's speed and dribbling, but also has clear expectations of him. “He has to become more mature in certain game situations,” said the coach. Despite his young age and relatively short career, El Mala is already associated with a high price tag. Rumors of interest from Brighton, who are willing to offer €30-35 million, are doing the rounds, showing how highly the player is valued.
The Bundesliga is known for its talented players, and Said El Mala is definitely one of them. In a league that has produced stars like Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, El Mala is described by bundesliga.de not as just any talent, but as one of the players who has the potential to establish himself in this category. In addition to his speed, the young player is characterized by his direct attacking game and calm finishing, which has already earned him a name in the league.
Off the field, El Mala is known to be modest and comes from a sports-loving family in which his older brother Malek also plays professionally. Both of his parents work at Henkel in Düsseldorf, and his father, a former central defender, certainly gave him some valuable tips.
A look into the future
The fans of 1. FC Köln can be excited to see how El Mala will develop further. With a contract until 2030 and a clear focus on training, the future looks bright for the talented winger. The next challenge is just around the corner and the expectations for him are getting higher with every game. One point is certain: this young star still has a lot ahead of him and could shape the face of German football in the coming years.