He’s only 11 years old but already joining Real Madrid in the spotlight: how far will Moussa Balla Traore go?

Real Madrid is betting on a young Malian power forward with an impressive build. A deliberate strategy, combining media buzz and a bet on the future.

Real attracts new 11-year-old African talent

Real Madrid’s basketball section has just made a big move. The club has officially announced the arrival of Moussa Balla Traore, a power forward from Bamako, who is only 11 years old. Born on October 24, 2013, he will join the Infantil A category (equivalent to U13 in France) for the 2025-2026 season.

This recruitment is no coincidence. It’s part of a well-established strategy by the Madrid club: detecting and developing African talents very early. FC Barcelona already follows this approach, and Real Madrid intends to keep pace. The young Moussa will participate in the Minicopa Endesa, a reference tournament for youth categories in Spain.

Madrid has announced a new addition to their academy, a center prospect playing on the Infant A team

🇲🇱 Moussa Balla Traore, out of Bamako Mali, who’s listed as being born October 24th 2013…. https://t.co/4A8AMX2evr pic.twitter.com/m7VXjBsBkN

— nbadraftpoint (@nbadraftpoint) September 19, 2025

An extraordinary physique already making waves

What’s immediately striking is Moussa Balla Traore’s physique. At first glance, it’s hard to believe he’s only 11. Impressive build, developed frame, mature musculature: everything about him already suggests a semi-professional player. As a result, the announcement of his signing quickly set social media ablaze.

Several international basketball accounts have shared the news. The profile image published by the club has gone viral, as it seems so disconnected from his young age. However, to date, no usable match footage has emerged. It’s therefore difficult to evaluate his playing style or true technical level.

This arrival reminds us of Mohamed Dabone, the 2.08m Burkinabe prodigy, who recently joined the professional ranks of FC Barcelona. He too had made waves in youth categories before joining the first team, drawing flattering comparisons to Giannis Antetokounmpo.

For now, only one thing is certain: Moussa Balla Traore is officially enrolled in Real Madrid’s elite U13 program. He will benefit from high-level coaching in one of Europe’s best youth academies.