Under the lights of a fast-moving French season, Lens teenager Mezian Mesloub has taken another extraordinary step. The 16-year-old forward has been called into Portugal’s Under-21 squad after a week in which he also announced himself on the Champions League stage.
Mesloub earns Portugal Under-21 call
Mesloub has been selected by Portugal’s Under-21s despite being only 16, a rare double age-group promotion for the Lens attacker.
- The teenager had already represented Portugal at Under-16 and Under-17 level, making eight appearances across the country’s youth teams.
- Last season, he made headlines in Ligue 1 when he scored against Nantes only five seconds after coming on, sealing a 1-0 Lens win.
- He added a European marker last week with an impressive Champions League appearance against Slavia Prague, a 3-2 match that brought wider attention to his potential.
- Portugal have now included him in their Under-21 group for upcoming European Under-21 Championship qualifying fixtures against Bulgaria, Gibraltar and the Czech Republic.
Portugal leading their qualifying group
The Portuguese Under-21 side sit top of their qualifying section with 19 points from seven matches. Mesloub’s inclusion gives him an opportunity to test himself two levels above his normal international age bracket while continuing his rapid rise at Lens.
For a player who has already set early-age milestones in Ligue 1 and in Europe, the next challenge will come in the company of Portugal’s leading young professionals.
