Luka Trpeski starts season with hat‑trick and a goal “à la Messi”
16‑year‑old scored three goals in a 5:0 win for Red Star’s cadets; one strike was likened to Lionel Messi.
Sixteen-year-old Luka Trpeski opened his season in spectacular fashion for Red Star Belgrade's youth ranks, scoring a hat‑trick in a 5:0 victory for the club's cadet side.
Trpeski, already involved with the senior squad during the first phase of pre‑season preparations, has returned to feature for the club's youth teams as the competitive calendar begins.
His three goals came in the opening round of the campaign and one of the finishes immediately drew attention for its technique and inventiveness — a strike many compared to the style of Lionel Messi.
Big expectations at club and national level
The result and the performance fuel optimism around Red Star's younger groups, particularly with the club preparing for participation in the UEFA Youth Champions League. Coaches and supporters will watch closely to see whether Trpeski can sustain this form.
On the international front, Trpeski has publicly chosen to aim for a future with the Macedonian national team, even as he has attracted interest from Sweden. That decision now sets the expectation that he will continue developing toward senior international football with Macedonia.
For now the focus for the young forward is steady progress: regular minutes with the youth side, hard work in training and gradual steps toward establishing himself at the highest level.
Photo: press material from the event
