Desire Doue walked onto the Stade de France pitch as a substitute on Monday and inside 15 minutes had turned a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 France win over Belgium. He scored in the 77th minute, then set up Michael Olise twice as France rounded off the comeback.
Watching from the losing side was his PSG teammate Mika Godts, who had started for Belgium that evening. Both are 21. Only one of them is, by the Belgian’s own admission, close to the level the club demands.
Godts was asked about Doue at a press session during the international break. He did not duck the comparison.
“I need time. I’ve only just arrived in Paris. It’s a very, very big club. I’m staying calm. I’m trying to learn from the best, to show plenty of confidence, and to give my very best. I know I’ll reach his level.”
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The quote was reported by Get French Football News, citing the French-language interview carried out by Leo Aschi.
From €55m signing to the bench
Godts joined PSG on 15 August on a five-year deal worth €55m, after Ajax had rejected two earlier offers and held out beyond €40m. The Belgian had just posted 17 goals and 12 assists in the Eredivisie across the 2025-26 season, mainly from the left wing despite being right-footed.
The start in Paris has looked different. According to the figures cited by Get French Football News, Godts has made six appearances for Luis Enrique’s side so far this season, totalling 144 minutes, every one of them from the bench. Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola and Doue sit ahead of him in the attacking rotation.
What Doue has already won
Doue is the yardstick inside the squad because of what he did last season. PSG won the Champions League for the first time in their history as part of a continental treble, and the Frenchman collected the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award, UEFA’s Young Player of the Season in the Champions League and the Golden Boy for 2025.
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Monday’s goal was his fourth for the senior France team in his 19th appearance. France had trailed Belgium through 76 minutes before Doue’s low left-footed finish levelled the match, and the Bleus went on to add three more goals in the final 14 minutes, a Rayan Cherki effort and two from Olise, both assisted by Doue.
Next up at PSG
Ligue 1 resumes after the international break on the weekend of 17-19 October, and Godts is next due in a PSG shirt in that round of fixtures.
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