Who is Nestory Irankunda? Australia's youngest-ever FIFA World Cup goalscorer
The 20-year-old stunned Turkey with an impressive goal.
Nestory Irankunda, an Australian attacker, opened the scoring for his team in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match against Turkey at BC Place in Vancouver.
He latched onto a long pass from Paul Okon-Engstler before entering the opposing box and burying the ball in the bottom left corner.
Nestory Irankundaâs pace ripped through Turkiyeâs defence. The Watford attacker showed remarkable calm to slide the ball into the net. Thus, this is how he became the youngest scorer for Australia at the FIFA World Cup at 20 years of age.
His jubilation was very cold. The Socceroos celebrated a surprise lead against a Turkiye side competing in the World Cup for the first time in 24 years.
Also read: Who is Ismael Saibari? Moroccoâs goalscorer vs Brazil in FIFA World Cup 2026
Nestory Irankunda profile
Age: 20
Position: Winger
Club: Watford
It was Nestory Irankundaâs time â an extraordinary occasion for one of Australiaâs finest talents, born in a refugee camp.
This is an emerging talent who is only getting better. Nestory Irankundaâs climb has been extraordinary, beginning in Adelaide, progressing to European football, and now to the world stage. All by the age of 20.
Irankunda presently plays club football for Watford FC. He has four goals and five assists in 42 appearances across all competitions.
He signed with German side FC Bayern II ahead of the 2024-25 season, but did not make a single start for the club. Then he spent half the season on loan at Swiss club Grasshoppers.
Amidst his headline-grabbing move to global giant Bayern Munich, his transfer to Watford, and a World Cup in North America, there was one coach who spotted something that others may have overlooked.
Brazilian youth football expert Airton Andrioli, who is now the head coach of Adelaide United in the A-League Men, recognised a teenage kid playing for Adelaide Croatia Raiders. This was before the rest of Australia knew his name.
âGold is something thatâs out there,â Andrioli told Football360. âI was trying to be that person that could remove a little bit of the dirt and some rocks around so he could shine.â
The 20-year-old was born to a Burundian mother in a Tanzanian refugee camp. They relocated to Perth when he was three months old.
He began his professional career at Adelaide United in the A-League. There he has 16 goals and eight assists in 61 appearances.
Which club does Nestory Irankunda play for?
He plays for EFL Championship side Watford.
How old is he?
He is 20 years old.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.