- Planet Sport writer
- 3 September 2024
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The former Rennes youth prospect is a France international and made a big impact in his breakthrough season for La Liga giants Real Madrid.
The Angola-born star joined the youth set-up of Rennes in 2013 before making his way through the age groups and eventually the first team.
Camavinga did not walk down a straight path to glory, having a number of life struggles. His parents became refugees after fleeing from Congo to Miconge, Angola, in the early 2000s.
Camavinga was born in a refugee camp in 2002, before moving to Fougeres in north-west France. This where he would grow up, as well as develop into one of Europe's hottest talents.
After signing with local youth club Drapeau de Fougeres, which then earned him a trial with Rennes.
By the age of 18, Camavinga has announced his name on the world stage and already caught the attention of Real Madrid.
Early first-team breakthrough
After being a member of Rennes' youth development program since the age of 11, Camavinga became their youngest-ever player.
At the age of 16 years and one month he signed his first professional contract and in 2019 Camavinga made his professional debut in a 3-3 draw with SCO Angers.
Despite only playing 364 minutes in the 2018/19 campaign, the young midfielder had already shown eye-catching ability.
In the 2019/20 season, Camavinga played 25 out of 38 Ligue 1 games, registering one goal and two assists.
After winning with Man of the Match during Rennes' 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain, Camavinga scored his first goal for the club - and the winning goal - against Lyon on December 15, 2019.
However, the following 2020/21 campaign would be an even greater success for the midfielder.
Throwback to Camavinga’s beautiful goal against Montpellier earlier in the season. Pitch side View 🎥 pic.twitter.com/rJN0Oesigr
— ً (@CamavingaXtra) April 5, 2021
His terrific solo effort against Montpellier secured his side's first win of the season, with the midfielder becoming an integral part of a new-look Rennes squad.
His terrific displays would end up securing him promotion to the France senior team - and he announced himself on the international stage with an overhead kick goal during a 7-1 battering of Ukraine in October 2020.
Camavinga was establishing himself as one of the hottest young talents in French football and his potential had already attracted some of Europe’s big-hitters, including Real Madrid.
The latest Galactico
Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester United had shown an interest in Camavinga, but Los Blancos were the eventually winners on deadline day 2021 snapping him up for £30million.
How to celebrate a goal... @RodrygoGoes and @Camavinga style! 😎#RealMadridEspanyol | #LaLigaFanCam pic.twitter.com/N40CxuP2eE
— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) April 30, 2022
Despite rumours that he would be initially loaned back to Rennes for a season, coach
Carlo Ancelotti brought Camavinga straight into Madrid's first team.
His first La Liga goal for the capital giants came in Real Madrid's 5-2 win over Celta Vigo on September 12, 2021, and he was also on target in the 4-1 victory over Sociedad on March 5, 2022.
He played a starring role after coming on as a 75th-minute substitute as Real Madrid secured a 3-1 semi-final secong-leg win and 6-5 aggregate success over Manchester City at Estadio Bernabeu to book a place in the 2021/22 Champions League final.
Camavinga came on as a substitute in the 85th minute during the Champions League final, helping secure Real Madrid's 14th trophy in the 1-0 win over Liverpool.
The 19-year-old ended the season with 40 appearances and two goals, across all competitions, as Real Madrid also claimed La Liga and the Supercopa de Espana.
Eduardo Camavinga turning dreams into reality. Only 19-years-old and picks up his first Champions League. Born in a refugee camp and fled Angola, but found a home on the football pitch. Made the most of every opportunity. EC25 represents everything good about the beautiful game. pic.twitter.com/ZV2fZAyo6g
— VERSUS (@vsrsus) May 29, 2022
International career
Despite being born in Angola and to Congolese parents, Camavinga was raised in France, with the midfielder choosing his French nationality.
Camavinga caught the eye in four standout games for France Under-21s before stepping over to the senior side in 2019.
In August 2020, he became the youngest-ever Frenchman to be called up to play for the national team and marked the milestone when coming on as a substitute in the 4-2 win over Croatia on September 8 in the UEFA Nations League.
All of the goals from France’s 7-1 friendly victory over Ukraine from midweek. Beauties from Eduardo Camavinga & Kylian Mbappé. pic.twitter.com/Pr5xtWLNeD
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) October 9, 2020
Breaking another record, Camavinga also became France's youngest-ever goalscorer in October 2020, scoring a magnificent opener against Ukraine.
Personal life
In 2002, Camavinga was born in an Angola refugee camp to his two Congolese parents, Sofia and Celestino. After fleeing from Congo, him and his family would settle down in France.
The Frenchman has five siblings, two brothers, Sebastio and Celio, and two sisters.
Net worth
Eduardo Camavinga's net worth is reporterd to be €500,000.
