- Nestory Irankunda has revealed the football icons who inspired his remarkable rise.
- The Tanzania-born forward became Australia’s youngest-ever World Cup goalscorer as the Socceroos defeated Turkey 2-0.
- Irankunda grew up admiring Australia legend Tim Cahill while also idolising Argentina superstar Lionel Messi.
Tanzania-born star Nestory Irankunda has revealed his source of inspiration in the footballing world after he became Australia’s youngest World Cup goalscorer as a youthful Socceroos side upset Turkey 2-0 in the opener at BC Place on Sunday morning.
The Watford forward netted a fine first-half strike before Connor Metcalfe added the second to give Tony Popovic’s squad the perfect start to their Group D campaign in Vancouver.
Irankunda, at 20 years, broke the record of Brett Holman, who scored against Ghana in 2010 at the age of 26 years.
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Tanzania-born Nestory Irankunda reveals his football heroes
The former Bayern Munich player was one of 10 World Cup debutants for Popovic’s team in the tournament’s youngest lineup since France faced Australia in 2018.
“We’ve got the win now, we worked extra hard, we fought till the end, and it’s just an exciting moment… It feels amazing. You’ve got to thank the staff, you’ve got to thank the nation. They all have the belief in me to do so well, and I felt like today getting that goal, it was amazing,” he said after the match.
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Born in a refugee camp in Kigoma, Tanzania, after his parents fled civil war in Burundi, Irankunda arrived in Australia as an infant and grew up in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.
Two decades later, the son of refugees had delivered Australia’s first goal of the World Cup. It was a moment year in the making. While Tanzania was his birthplace, Australia became home.
The family moved to Australia when Irankunda was still a baby, initially settling in Perth before relocating to Adelaide. It was there that he discovered the sport that would shape his future.
Growing up in Adelaide, Irankunda quickly emerged as one of the city’s most promising young footballers.
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His pace, power, and fearlessness stood out from an early age. After progressing through local junior football, he joined Adelaide United’s academy and rapidly climbed through the ranks.
At just 15 years old, he made his A-League debut for Adelaide United in January 2022. His impact was immediate. Whether producing explosive runs down the wing or unleashing powerful strikes from distance, Irankunda became one of the competition’s most thrilling talents.
The performances brought attention from beyond Australia. European clubs closely monitored his development, with German powerhouse Bayern Munich eventually securing his signature.
The move placed him among a growing group of young Australian players testing themselves in some of the world’s strongest football environments.
After a loan spell at Swiss side Grasshopper last season, he had a decision to make in the summer.
It was not an easy one when the opportunity came to move to Watford for an undisclosed fee, and leave the Bundesliga giants, but he needed minutes on the pitch if he was to get his World Cup chance, having fallen out of the Australia squad.
He played 42 games for Championship club Watford, scored four goals, and made five more to ensure he was selected for the World Cup.
Now living the dream he once imagined, Irankunda has not forgotten the figures who inspired his journey.
He grew up admiring Australia’s all-time leading scorer Tim Cahill while also idolising Lionel Messi, the legendary former Barcelona and Argentina superstar.
“Timmy Cahill’s my biggest inspiration when it comes to football, him and Lionel Messi. Tim Cahill, Australia’s greatest in my opinion, and I just thought if I scored I’d do the same [celebration] as him, and I got to do it,” Nestory Irankunda, Australia winger and Superior Player of the Match, added.
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