PLAYER SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Yoane Wissa |
| Date of Birth | 03/09/1996 (Age: 29) |
| Place of Birth | Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, France |
| Nationality | DR Congolese / French |
| Height | 1.76 m / 5 ft 9 in |
| Weight | 74 kg |
| Position | Forward / Striker |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
| Squad Number | #9 (Newcastle), #9 (DR Congo) |
| Current Club | Newcastle United |
| Previous Clubs | Châteauroux, Lorient, Brentford |
| International Caps | — |
| International Goals | — |
| World Cup Appearances | 2026 |
| Contract Until | — |
| Market Value | — |
The Frozen Moment
Atlanta, Georgia. June 27, 2026. DR Congo were trailing Uzbekistan 1-0, and their World Cup dream was hanging by a thread. After 52 years of waiting, the Leopards faced elimination in their first tournament since 1974.
Then came Yoane Wissa. The 29-year-old striker had already scored against Portugal in the tournament opener. Now, he was about to write his name into Congolese football history.
In the 68th minute, Wissa was brought down in the box for a penalty. He picked himself up, sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, and rolled the ball into the bottom corner. Ten minutes later, Fiston Mayele put Congo ahead. Then, in added time, Wissa added a curling shot into the bottom corner to complete his brace and seal a historic 3-1 victory.
DR Congo had not only won their first-ever World Cup match but had also advanced to the knockout stage for the first time in their history. For Wissa, it was the culmination of a journey that had begun 13 years earlier with a Facebook post requesting a trial for the national team.
“I didn’t show my best face at Newcastle, but I knew that my time would come. This time is now,” he said after the match.
The victory was dedicated to those suffering back home from decades of conflict in eastern Congo. “Every day, every time we wear this shirt, we think about them,” Wissa said. “We came from nothing to be here. Now we write our story with a black pen and we need to be proud.”
Origins
Born on September 3, 1996, in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, France, Yoane Wissa’s football journey began in the Paris suburbs. He started his youth career at Châteauroux, where he developed through the ranks before making his senior breakthrough.
At just 16 years old, Wissa made an audacious request. He wrote a Facebook post addressed to the Congolese Football Federation, asking for a trial with the national team. Though he didn’t know the official pathway, the teenage Wissa declared his dream of representing DR Congo.
Thirteen years later, that dream became a reality. Wissa has become one of the faces of DR Congo’s greatest World Cup campaign.
His international debut came before he truly established himself at the highest level of European football. Wissa has consistently expressed pride in his Congolese heritage, using his platform to represent the nation of his ancestry.
The European Forge
Châteauroux (2016-2017):
Wissa began his senior career at Châteauroux in France. He made 14 appearances for the club, scoring 1 goal, gaining his first taste of professional football.
FC Lorient (2017-2021):
Wissa’s performances attracted the attention of Ligue 1 side FC Lorient. He made 40 appearances across four seasons, scoring 5 goals in the French top flight, while also featuring for the reserve team.
Brentford (2021-2025):
In August 2021, Wissa joined Brentford in the Premier League. He made 149 appearances for the Bees across all competitions, scoring 49 goals. His best campaign came in the 2024/25 season, where he scored 20 goals across all competitions.
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank praised him as a “constant goal threat” capable of playing both as a winger and striker. He was a key player for Brentford, establishing himself as one of the club’s top Premier League goalscorers.
Newcastle United (2025-Present):
In the final hours of the 2025 summer transfer window, Wissa completed a high-profile move to Newcastle United for a fee of €63 million including bonuses. The transfer was agreed after a prolonged tug-of-war with Brentford, who had initially rejected offers from Newcastle.
The 2025/26 season was challenging for Wissa. He struggled with injuries and form during his first season on Tyneside, making 19 Premier League appearances—mostly as a substitute—and scoring 1 goal. However, his World Cup performances proved his quality and resilience.
DR Congo National Team (2019-Present):
Wissa’s international career has been defined by his commitment to DR Congo. He was named in the squad for the 2026 World Cup, having been omitted from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations squad. He scored two goals in World Cup qualifying, contributing to DR Congo’s qualification campaign.
The World Cup Campaign:
Wissa was DR Congo’s standout performer at the 2026 World Cup. He scored in the opening match against Portugal in a 1-1 draw. He then scored twice in the historic 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan, securing DR Congo’s first-ever World Cup win and progression to the knockout stage. He finished the tournament with 3 goals in 3 appearances.
His performances attracted widespread attention, with his comments about dedicating the victory to his war-torn homeland earning admiration worldwide.
The Anatomy of His Game
Yoane Wissa is a versatile forward, primarily playing as a centre-forward or striker. Standing at 176 cm, he relies on his pace, movement, and finishing ability to influence games.
In Possession:
Wissa is a constant goal threat. In the 2025/26 Premier League season, he registered a non-penalty expected goals (npxG) of 0.29 per 90 minutes, placing him in the top 84th percentile of Premier League players. Over his career, he has played 396 matches, scoring 116 goals and accumulating 31 assists. His goal involvement of 0.35 per 90 minutes in the Premier League highlights his ability to contribute in attacking phases.
Out of Possession:
Wissa contributes to defensive phases with work rate. He has the physical presence to hold up play and bring teammates into attacking positions. His versatility allows him to operate effectively as both a winger and a striker.
Psychological Edge:
Wissa’s mental resilience is extraordinary. He overcame a difficult first season at Newcastle, where he struggled with injuries and form. His World Cup performances, where he scored 3 goals in 3 matches, demonstrated his ability to deliver on the biggest stage. As he said: “I knew that my time would come. This time is now.”
His dedication to DR Congo is unwavering. His decision to represent the nation of his heritage has been rewarded with a historic World Cup campaign. He has publicly dedicated his achievements to the people of DR Congo, highlighting their struggles and showing the power of representation.
The Numbers Game
TABLE A: The Data Snapshot (2025/26 Season)
| Competition | Apps (Starts/Subs) | Minutes | Goals | Assists | Pass Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 19 (4/15) | 531 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Champions League | 4 (1/3) | 102 | 1 | 1 | — |
| FIFA World Cup | 3 (3/0) | — | 3 | — | — |
| Total 2025/26 | 29 (8/21) | 958 | 5 | 1 | — |
TABLE B: Career Overview
| Season/Period | Club | League/Competition | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-2017 | Châteauroux | French Lower Divisions | 14 | 1 |
| 2017-2021 | Lorient | Ligue 1 / Reserves | 40+ | 5+ |
| 2021-2025 | Brentford | Premier League | 149 | 49 |
| 2025-Present | Newcastle United | Premier League | 19 | 1 |
| TOTAL | — | — | 396+ | 116+ |
TABLE C: International Record
| Tournament/Competition | Apps (Starts/Subs) | Minutes | Goals | Major Honours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIFA World Cup 2026 | 3 (3/0) | — | 3 | Round of 32 |
| World Cup Qualifying | — | — | 2 | Qualified |
| DR Congo Senior Career | — | — | — | — |
TABLE D: Career Milestones
| Year | Achievement | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Senior Debut | Châteauroux |
| 2021 | Premier League Move | Signed with Brentford |
| 2021 | International Debut | DR Congo |
| 2025 | Newcastle Transfer | €63m move to Premier League |
| 2026 | World Cup Hero | 3 goals, first-ever DR Congo win |
What these figures reveal is a player who has become a consistent goalscorer in the Premier League and on the international stage. Wissa has made over 396 senior appearances and scored over 116 goals, with his most productive seasons coming at Brentford where he scored 49 goals. His 3 goals in 3 World Cup appearances underscore his ability to perform on the biggest stage.
The Present Tense
Yoane Wissa is 29 years old and has proven himself on the world stage. He is a Newcastle United player, a World Cup hero, and a national icon in DR Congo.
The Newcastle Story:
Wissa joined Newcastle in a €63 million transfer in September 2025. The 2025/26 season was challenging due to injuries and form issues. However, his World Cup performances have reminded the football world of his quality. As he said: “I didn’t show my best face at Newcastle, but I knew that my time would come.”
The World Cup Campaign:
Wissa was DR Congo’s star performer at the 2026 World Cup. He scored 3 goals in 3 appearances, including a brace in the historic 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan that secured DR Congo’s first-ever World Cup win. He scored the opening goal in the tournament against Portugal. DR Congo reached the Round of 32, their best-ever World Cup performance.
International Record:
Wissa has been a key player for DR Congo since his debut. He scored 2 goals in World Cup qualifying and 3 goals in the World Cup finals, finishing as one of DR Congo’s top scorers in the tournament.
Beyond the Touchline
Off the pitch, Yoane Wissa is defined by his journey from a Facebook post to the World Cup. At 16, he messaged the Congolese Football Federation, asking for a trial for the national team. Thirteen years later, he became the face of DR Congo’s greatest World Cup campaign.
His post-match comments after the Uzbekistan victory captured his pride in representing his country: “We are a proud country. We are proud people. We love our country. We love our national team. We love what we represent!”
Wissa dedicated his goals to those suffering from decades of conflict in eastern Congo: “It’s not easy in our country. There’s a war in East Congo. Every day, every time we wear this shirt, we think about them.”
His decision to represent DR Congo over France has been rewarded with a historic World Cup campaign. He has become a symbol of Congolese pride and resilience, using his platform to highlight the struggles of his people.
The Verdict from the Camp
Yoane Wissa, DR Congo international:
“When I was young, I didn’t expect to play football. When I had the opportunity to join a club’s academy, I thought: ‘Maybe I have a chance.’ I wasn’t the best player, but I knew I wanted to represent Congo.”
“We came from nothing to be here. Now we write our story with a black pen and we need to be proud.”
“I didn’t show my best face at Newcastle, but I knew that my time would come. This time is now. I just show to everyone now I’m in a good place.”
Sébastien Desabre, DR Congo head coach:
“We’re a team that knows how to respond when we concede a goal; we keep fighting with determination.”
Thomas Frank, Brentford head coach:
“Wissa is a constant goal threat, is good in behind, and can link up as well. He can play easily both as a winger and striker. He is also fantastic for the culture of the group—he brings energy and a smile every single day.”
Statistic:
Wissa scored 3 goals in 3 appearances at the 2026 World Cup, including a brace against Uzbekistan.
Statistic:
Wissa scored 2 goals in World Cup qualifying to help DR Congo reach the 2026 tournament.
Statistic:
Wissa made 149 appearances for Brentford, scoring 49 goals before his €63m move to Newcastle.
Where Next?
Yoane Wissa is 29 years old and has proven himself on the world stage. He is under contract with Newcastle United and will look to establish himself as a key player for the Magpies in the 2026/27 season. His World Cup performances have demonstrated that he can deliver at the highest level, and he will aim to translate that form into consistent Premier League performances.
For DR Congo, Wissa is a national hero. He helped the Leopards win their first World Cup match and reach the knockout stage for the first time in their history. With the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations on the horizon, he will be central to DR Congo’s ambitions. His leadership, goalscoring ability, and pride in representing his country make him a symbol of Congolese football’s resurgence.
From a Facebook post at age 16 to the World Cup, from Châteauroux to Newcastle, Yoane Wissa’s journey is one of talent, resilience, and the triumph of ambition over circumstance. The boy who dreamt of representing Congo has become a national hero and a World Cup star—and his story is far from over.
