Borussia Dortmund midfielder Enzo Duarte continued gaining valuable senior international football experience with Luxembourg. On Saturday, he made his first start for the minnows in the UEFA Nations League in yet another important milestone in his burgeoning international career.
The 17-year-old, who made his debut for the Red Lions in June 2025, had only started for them once before, in a friendly against Albania in June this year and in a rather unfamiliar striker's role too. But last weekend, he was trusted from the ouset in a game where the stakes are higher, and was held away from home too as Luxembourg were in action in the Estonian capital of Tallinn.
Duarte central to Luxembourg's passing game
Starting as the left-sided attacking midfielder in Luxembourg's 4-1-4-1 formation, Duarte got himself involved in ball circulation. He attempted 23 passes in 62 minutes of action, of which the BVB teen completed 21. Interestingly, 13 of them came in Estonia's half as the young gun sought to build attacking momentum for his side in and around the Estonian final third, although it was the hosts who drew the first blood.
Rasmus Peetson broke the deadlock for the Blueshirts after only five minutes into the match, latching onto a loose ball after goalkeeper Anthony Moris spilled Mattias Kait's initial effort.
Luxembourg were left to chase the game from early on, but gradually settled into their skin and seemed more in control with their patient passing and territorial dominance. But they failed to translate that into meaningful scoring opportunities, finishing the match without a single big chance created while Estonia made three.
Besides neatly threaded passes, Duarte couldn't add much to Luxembourg's attack. He didn't have a single key pass or a cross in the match, which tells you that his influence from an attacking standpoint was rather limited. None of Luxembourg's eight shots in the match came from him either.
Encouraging work-ethic from BVB teen
But just as we highlighted in his cameo against Iceland, Duarte once again worked hard off the ball too. He attempted two tackles, winning one, and blocked one shot too, showing encouraging willingness to throw himself into defensive situations.
Duarte also fiercely contested for the ball, jumping into four ground duels and winning three, further highlighting his combative nature in the middle of the park. He was taken off shortly after the hour mark for Sebastien Thill as Luxembourg sought to add more firepower into their vanguard, but to no avail as Estonia held on to their lead and condemned Luxembourg to a narrow defeat.
As for Duarte, he will have the chance to bag his eighth international appearance for the western European minnows on Tuesday, 6 October when Luxembourg host Iceland in their fourth and final Nations League fixture of this international window.
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