Younes Ebnoutalib fulfilled a childhood dream by scoring a hat-trick for Eintracht Frankfurt on the opening Bundesliga matchday. The 22-year-old striker netted three times in the 3-3 draw against Union Berlin, as he revealed in an interview.

Ebnoutalib, a Frankfurt native who grew up in the city's north-west, made the most of his first start of the new season. He had made his full debut for the senior team back in January 2026 at Borussia Dortmund, but a knee ligament injury just four days later set him back. For the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign, he was restricted to just three substitute appearances. The Matchday 1 hat-trick therefore marks a stunning return to form. With one point from one game, Eintracht Frankfurt currently sit 9th in the Bundesliga standings.

What does the hat-trick mean for Ebnoutalib?

"It’s definitely a great feeling to score three goals for your hometown club," Younes Ebnoutalib said verbatim. He added, "Yes, absolutely. I was very, very happy about it, but I can’t afford to rest on my laurels." The striker stressed that the real work starts now. The team has scored three goals this season but also conceded three, resulting in a neutral goal difference. In the title race, they are already two points behind leaders Bayern München.

What was his path to Eintracht Frankfurt?

Ebnoutalib's career took him through clubs like Gießen in the Regionalliga and SV Elversberg in Bundesliga 2, where he earned promotion within a year. A stint with Perugia in Italy was educational, even if it didn't directly aid his footballing progression. His father, an Olympic silver medalist in taekwondo from Nador, Morocco, is one of his biggest role models. Ebnoutalib himself feels a strong connection to Morocco, where he spent part of pre-season. He also admires Cristiano Ronaldo and looked up to Eintracht goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and Timmy Chandler as a youth. He still has a photo with Trapp and other players.

Why is Eintracht Frankfurt so special to him?

For the striker, who lives with his family in Frankfurt, the club is more than just an employer. "Every boy dreams of playing for his own city," he explained. Driving home, he passes the childhood football pitches and training grounds he used. He described Eintracht Frankfurt's fans as world-class. His upbringing in north-west Frankfurt, playing 'Oldies vs. Youngsters' with friends, was very nice. The chance to now play in the Bundesliga for his home city means a great deal to him, and he is grateful for it.

What's next for Eintracht Frankfurt?

Following the dramatic draw with Union Berlin, sealed by a stoppage-time equaliser from the visitors, the team is already looking ahead. The next fixture is on 12 September 2026. Eintracht Frankfurt will face FSV Mainz 05 away, with Mainz currently sitting 11th in the table. The team's upcoming schedule can be found on our fixtures page. The current league situation and further statistics are available in the standings and stats sections.