Malick Yalcouye has been targeted by online mockery over his appearance after scoring for Brighton against Chelsea in the second round of the Premier League, prompting his former club ASEC Mimosas to intervene and reject what it called “unnecessary controversies”.
The 20-year-old midfielder found the net with an impressive goal in the match, but his performance has been overshadowed by comments posted on social media. Several internet users questioned his appearance and openly suggested that he had misrepresented his age.
A number of derogatory messages were directed at the Brighton player. Some users wrote: “He is someone’s grandfather,” while claiming there was “no way he is 20”.
Others used more extreme language to cast doubt on his age, including: “If he is 20, then I am Leo Messi,” and: “He has been 20 for 20 years.”
The comments have led to a wider debate around Yalcouye, despite the fact that the discussion has focused on speculation rather than his contribution on the pitch. His goal against Chelsea was described as a fine finish, but online reaction to his physical appearance quickly became the dominant subject.
ASEC Mimosas, the Abidjan-based club where Yalcouye played from 2018 to 2023, responded to the controversy on X. The Yellow and Black club criticised the nature of the debate and shared images of the midfielder from his time with the team.
“Let us move away from unnecessary controversies and unhealthy debates. The images, archives and Malick’s journey speak better than all the speculation,” ASEC Mimosas posted.
The message was accompanied by photographs documenting Yalcouye’s time at the club. ASEC Mimosas said those records provided a clearer account of his development than the claims circulating online.
Yalcouye’s former club did not engage with the individual comments directly, but its statement was intended to bring attention back to his documented history and playing career. The club’s intervention came as the online discussion continued following his Premier League goal.
The midfielder’s appearance for Brighton against Chelsea was the latest moment in a career that ASEC Mimosas said could be traced through its images and archives from 2018 to 2023. Rather than allowing unverified claims to dominate the conversation, the club urged people to consider that record.
The controversy has therefore placed the focus not only on Yalcouye’s performance, but also on the treatment of footballers on social media. ASEC Mimosas’s response called for an end to what it described as harmful and unnecessary speculation, while highlighting the player’s established connection with the club and his documented years there.