# Rayan Cherki

Mathis Rayan Cherki (born 17 August 2003) is a French professional footballer who plays as attacking midfielder or winger for Ligue 1 club Lyon. Regarded as one of the best young players in Europe, he is known for his skills, explosive speed and decision-making.

## Early life

Mathis Rayan Cherki was born on 17 August 2003 in Lyon. his father having Italian ancestry and his mother of Algerian descent.

## Club career
### Lyon

Cherki is a product of the youth academy of Lyon, and is considered one of their best-ever prospects. He began playing with their reserve side in the Championnat National 2 at the age of 15. On 7 July 2019, Cherki signed his first professional contract with Lyon until 2022. He made his professional debut in a 0–0 Ligue 1 draw against Dijon on 19 October 2019.
After scoring four goals in the 2019–20 UEFA Youth League, he made his senior European debut on 27 November 2019 in a Champions League group stage game against Zenit, aged 16 years and 102 days, in which he substituted Maxwel Cornet in the 74th minute of a 2–0 loss.
On 4 January 2020, Cherki scored his first senior goal as a substitute in a 7–0 win over Bourg-en-Bresse in the Coupe de France, becoming the youngest-ever player to score a senior goal for Lyon, aged 16 years and 140 days. On 18 January, he was involved in all four of Lyon's goals in a 4–3 win over Nantes in another Coupe de France match; he scored a brace, and assisted the other two goals.
On 19 August 2020, Cherki was subbed on in a UEFA Champions League match against Bayern Munich. In doing so, he became the youngest-ever player to feature in a UEFA Champions League semi-final. Lyon were knocked out of the competition in that match, losing by a score of 3–0 to the eventual winners.
Cherki scored his first Ligue 1 goal in a 3–2 win over Monaco on 2 May 2021. His goal secured the victory for Lyon in the final minutes of the match.

## International career

Cherki is eligible to play for either France or Algeria, the latter due to his parents' origin. Cherki played for the France national under-16 team twice in 2018, both of which were friendlies against Denmark.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 16 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | French Cup | French Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Europe | Europe | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Lyon B | 2019–20 | National 2 | 10 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 5 |
| Lyon B | 2020–21 | National 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Lyon B | 2021–22 | National 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Lyon B | Total | Total | 13 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 5 |
| Lyon | 2019–20 | Ligue 1 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 3 |
| Lyon | 2020–21 | Ligue 1 | 27 | 1 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 30 | 4 |
| Lyon | 2021–22 | Ligue 1 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 2 | 20 | 2 |
| Lyon | 2022–23 | Ligue 1 | 34 | 4 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 39 | 5 |
| Lyon | 2023–24 | Ligue 1 | 33 | 1 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 39 | 3 |
| Lyon | 2024–25 | Ligue 1 | 22 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 2 | 34 | 8 |
| Lyon | Total | Total | 138 | 12 | 19 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 4 | 175 | 25 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 151 | 17 | 19 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 4 | 188 | 30 |
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
* 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League

## Honours

Lyon
* Coupe de France runner-up: 2023–24
* Coupe de la Ligue runner-up: 2019–20
France U23
* Summer Olympics silver medal: 2024
Orders
* Knight of the National Order of Merit: 2024