Child prodigy or fraud? Footballer’s appearance shocks the world, but the truth is far harsher

Malick Yalcouyé should have been celebrated for scoring his first Premier League goal at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea. Instead, social media focused on his appearance.

Yalcouyé, officially born on November 18, 2005, was 18 when photographs of him spread online. Users expressed disbelief about his age because his thinning hair and receding hairline made him look much older. Mocking comments followed, along with accusations that he had falsified his age.

The story took a different turn when Ivorian journalist Dobe Aboubacar reported that Yalcouyé has chronic alopecia, a medical condition that causes permanent or long-term hair loss. The condition can take several forms, including male-pattern baldness, the autoimmune disorder alopecia areata, traction alopecia and telogen effluvium, which can be linked to stress, illness, hormonal changes or poor nutrition.

Yalcouyé’s appearance, the report says, reflects his medical condition rather than his age. His former club, ASEC Mimosas of Côte d’Ivoire, also defended him. The club published archive photographs from his time as a child in its academy to counter what it called malicious rumours and unfounded speculation.

The images show Yalcouyé as a much younger boy, but already displaying noticeable hair loss. They indicate that the condition began during his teenage years, well before his move to Europe and rise on the major football stage.

Yalcouyé arrived in Sweden in January 2024 for about €400,000. Six months later, IFK Göteborg sold him to Brighton & Hove Albion for £7.6 million, roughly €9 million, plus additional clauses.