Seventeen-year-old Konstantinos Karetsas announced himself to the football world last night, scoring a stunning goal in Greece’s 3-0 victory over Scotland at Hampden Park.
The win secured Greece’s place in the top tier of the UEFA Nations League and relegated Scotland to League B, capping a memorable night for the young star and his team.
Karetsas, making only his second appearance for the senior Greek National Team and his first start, etched his name into history as Greece’s youngest-ever goalscorer. In the 42nd minute, the Genk forward curled a brilliant shot into the top corner past veteran goalkeeper Craig Gordon, leaving the Scottish crowd in stunned silence. The goal, assisted by PAOK’s Giannis Konstantelias—who also scored and set up Christos Tzolis for the third—highlighted Greece’s emerging generation of talent.
Born in Belgium to Greek parents, Karetsas had been courted by both nations’ football federations. His decision to switch allegiance from Belgium, where he’d played at youth levels, to Greece paid off spectacularly. His father, Vaios Karetsas, shed light on the choice in an interview with Crete’s Politica 89.8 radio: “He always said he’d choose Greece. We raised him as a Greek in every way—culture, values, everything. Even though he was born and grew up in Belgium, he’s felt Greek for a long time. The national emblem means everything to him; it’s his homeland. He doesn’t kiss just any badge—only Greece’s.” Vaios added that the Greek Football Federation’s approach sealed the deal. “They sent Dimitris Papadopoulos and Vasilis Torosidis to talk to him. They didn’t pressure him—just spoke kindly, and it felt right. That helped him most.” After the match, Konstantinos ran to the stands to embrace his parents, a moment Vaios described as “speechless” and “chilling.” “We’re living a dream,” he said.
The teenager’s flair and composure have already drawn attention from major clubs, with Manchester United, Liverpool, and Newcastle reportedly among those scouting him at Hampden Park. Despite the buzz, Karetsas remains focused. “He’s grounded,” Vaios said. “Tomorrow, it’s back to school and training with Genk. He just wants to enjoy football.”
Greece’s dominance was evident from the start, with Konstantelias opening the scoring and Tzolis sealing the rout just 15 seconds into the second half. For Scotland, the loss marked a bitter end to their Nations League campaign, with fans booing a lackluster performance under manager Steve Clarke.
As Greece celebrates its rise, all eyes are on Karetsas—the “pretty special” talent, as BBC Scotland put it, who could soon outgrow Genk and take European football by storm.
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