Criscito scores twice on U-15 World Cup debut
The Genoa left-back shines in his opening match with two first-half goals. His mother shares the emotion on social media.
Alfredo Criscito delivered an unforgettable debut for the Italian U-15 side at the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival in Baku. The left-back from Genoa's youth academy scored twice in the convincing 5-1 victory over Turkmenistan, also earning the captain's armband for the occasion. After conceding a goal in the opening minute, the young defender quickly equalized at the 2nd minute and completed the turnaround at the 5th, dramatically shifting momentum in Italy's favor. Battisti's team extended the advantage through additional goals by Vian, Ferraro, and Reguig to seal a dominant performance.
Beyond the scoreline, the match became memorable for a message shared on social media by Alfredo's mother, Pamela. She candidly described the emotions she experienced watching her son in the Italian jersey and captain's band, blending pride and satisfaction for a moment etched in the family's memory. In her post, she emphasized how the opportunity itself deserves celebration regardless of what the future holds, transforming the sporting narrative into a moment of genuine family connection.
Criscito is the son of Domenico Criscito, the former Genoa and Italian national team defender now working in the Rossoblu's youth academy. Like his father, the youngster plays as a left-back, though the comparison serves more as context than as pressure. At fourteen years old, the player has a long path ahead filled with technical development and growth opportunities.