Ligue 1
Paris Brunner breaks out at Monaco: Six goals and a mark not seen since Falcao
Paris Brunner needed an opportunity, and he appears to have finally found it under Filipe Luís. The 20-year-old German striker has six goals in his first seven games of the season for Monaco, reaching a mark the club had not seen at this stage since Radamel Falcao.
The last two Monaco players to score six or more goals in their first seven appearances of a season are Falcao, who had seven in 2017-18, and Brunner, with six in 2026-27.
The German was at the center of Monaco's 2-1 win over Lens on Friday. He opened the scoring in the 32nd minute and later applied the pressure that resulted in Jonathan Gradit's own goal for the winner.
How many goals has Paris Brunner scored for Monaco?
Brunner has six goals in seven appearances across all competitions this season.
Two came in the Conference League playoffs against Górnik Zabrze, while he has added four more in just five Ligue 1 matches.
His league tally includes a brace against Olympique Marseille, one goal against Strasbourg and Friday's strike against Lens.
His breakthrough becomes even more striking when compared with last season. Back in the Principality following a loan spell, Brunner played just 127 minutes across seven appearances, unable to establish himself under either Adi Hütter or Sébastien Pocognoli.
Under Filipe Luís, the story has changed.
From Borussia Dortmund wonderkid to Monaco breakthrough
Brunner's emergence should not come entirely as a surprise considering his remarkable youth career.
With Borussia Dortmund's U17 side, he once scored 16 goals in only five matches. His performances in 2023 then established him as one of Germany's standout young talents.
Brunner helped Germany win both the U17 European Championship and U17 World Cup. He was named MVP and finished as the top scorer at the Euros, won the Golden Ball at the World Cup and received the Fritz Walter Medal as Germany's best player under the age of 17.
He later recorded 26 goals and 10 assists in 42 appearances for Dortmund's U19 team, but never made a first-team appearance for BVB.
