Guirassy Delivered an Outstanding Striker’s Display Against Monterrey
ATLANTA — Borussia Dortmund secured a 2-1 victory against Monterrey in the round of 16 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Tuesday, knocking out the last Concacaf team from the 2025 Club World Cup.
Serhou Guirassy spearheaded Dortmund’s attack, scoring in the 14th minute after linking up with Karim Adeyemi in the attacking third. As the match unfolded, the duo grew increasingly effective, with Adeyemi skillfully navigating past defenders and Guirassy expertly positioning himself to receive a precise pass, leading to Dortmund’s second goal.
In just 24 minutes, Karim Adeyemi provided two assists to Serhou Guirassy, propelling Borussia Dortmund closer to the Club World Cup quarterfinals, where they will face Real Madrid.
Guirassy’s first goal highlighted his ability to slice through defenders and power the ball into the net, while his second demonstrated his classic No. 9 instincts with a stunning right-footed finish.
In an era of fluid football, where defenders morph into wingers and midfielders play as “false nines,” Guirassy exemplifies the enduring value of traditional center-forwards.
His performance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium reflects his rapid rise at Dortmund under manager Niko Kovac. After signing a four-year deal in July 2024, Guirassy swiftly adapted to Dortmund’s system, excelling in the Bundesliga and cup competitions. On Feb. 11, 2025, he netted his 10th Champions League goal, becoming the competition’s top scorer at the time and joining Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland as the third Dortmund player to reach 10 goals in a single Champions League season. Guirassy leads Dortmund with 36 goals across all competitions, including 11 in his last 10 matches.
It’s no surprise that Europe’s top clubs are eager to find a striker of Guirassy’s caliber.
Arsenal and Manchester United, for example, are two teams that struggle to get on the scoresheet enough to shine domestically and in continental competitions despite the depth of talent in their squads. Would Arsenal continue to come second if Leandro Trossard nailed every opportunity the way Guirassy did against Monterrey?
In the case of Manchester United, a reliable striker wouldn’t solve all of the club’s issues, but had Guirassy been leading the line rather than Rasmus Højlund, the Red Devils likely would not have slumped to a 15th-place finish in the Premier League. Perhaps a player like Guirassy would’ve changed the outcome of the Europa League final for United?
On Tuesday, in knockout football, where the stakes are high, Guirassy led the pitch in shots attempted, recording three on target and four in 77 minutes of action, constantly cutting through defenders inside the final third when in possession of the ball. Guirassy didn’t stop running the entire match. And though the Guinea international relied on Waldemar Anton, Ramy Bensebaini, Niklas Süle in the Dortmund back line to alleviate the pressure from Monterrey — and the midfield to create opportunities — Guirassy’s teammates knew he could be depended on when receiving the ball.
He also defended from the front when necessary, pressuring the opponent’s defenders when Monterrey decided to play from the back, adding to his dimension as a player. But his knowledge of the game really came through when finding pockets of space to allow Jobe Bellingham, Adeyemi and Felix Nmecha to find him when needed.
It may have taken a bit longer than expected for Europe to see the untapped potential of the 29-year-old, but Kovac and Dortmund will know that in Guirassy they have a gem that their rivals covet. And with so many teams in need of the traditional center-forward, his excellent performances at the Club World Cup are only bound to ramp up the attention. Real Madrid await in the quarterfinals — arguably one of the biggest challenges for Dortmund and Guirassy yet — but should the forward rise to the occasion, there is no telling what or where the No. 9 could see next.
