kids encyclopedia robot

Alphonso Davies facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Alphonso Davies
Alphonso Davies in 2022.jpg
Davies playing for Bayern Munich in 2022
Personal information
Full name Alphonso Boyle Davies
Date of birth (2000-11-02) November 2, 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Buduburam, Ghana
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)
Team information
Current team
Bayern Munich
Number 19
Youth career
Edmonton Internationals
Edmonton Strikers
2015–2016 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Whitecaps FC 2 11 (2)
2016–2018 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 65 (8)
2018–2019 Bayern Munich II 6 (0)
2019– Bayern Munich 151 (9)
International career
2016 Canada U17 12 (2)
2016 Canada U20 1 (0)
2017– Canada 56 (15)
Medal record
Men's soccer
Representing  Canada
CONCACAF Nations League
Runner-up 2023
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:27, January 18, 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of October 15, 2024

Alphonso Boyle Davies (born November 2, 2000) is a professional soccer player. He plays as a left-back for the German club Bayern Munich. He also captains the Canada national team. Many people think he is one of the best full-backs in the world. He is also considered one of the best North American players ever. Davies is known as "The Roadrunner" because he is super fast and great at dribbling the ball.

Davies was the first player born in the 2000s to play in a Major League Soccer (MLS) game. He joined Bayern Munich in January 2019 from the MLS team Vancouver Whitecaps FC. This transfer set a record for the highest fee paid for an MLS player at that time. Davies was named the best new player in the Bundesliga for the 2019–20 season. That year, his team, Bayern Munich, won the continental treble. This means they won the Bundesliga, the UEFA Champions League, and the DFB-Pokal. His amazing play made him a finalist for the 2020 Golden Boy award.

Davies was born in Ghana to parents who were Liberian refugees. His family moved to Canada when he was five years old. He became a Canadian citizen in June 2017. Soon after, he became the youngest player to play for the Canada national team. He scored two goals in a 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup game. This made him the youngest player to score for Canada and at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. He was also the first player born in the 2000s to score in a major international tournament. Davies was named the CONCACAF Men's Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022. He played in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and scored Canada's first ever goal at a men's World Cup. He is seen as the most important player for the Canada national team.

Davies is also the first soccer player and first Canadian to become an ambassador for the UNHCR. This is the United Nations agency that helps refugees.

Alphonso Davies: Early Life and Journey

Davies was born in Buduburam, a refugee camp in Ghana. His parents were from Liberia and had to leave their home because of the Second Liberian Civil War. In 2005, his family moved to Canada and settled in Edmonton.

Davies went to Mother Teresa Elementary School in Edmonton. When he was 14, he moved to Vancouver by himself. He joined the Whitecaps FC Residency program, which is a special soccer training program. He also went to Burnaby Central Secondary School. On June 6, 2017, he officially became a Canadian citizen. Before that, he was a Liberian citizen.

In Edmonton, Davies first played organized soccer with Free Footie. This is a program for kids who can't afford soccer fees or equipment. After playing for local teams, he joined the Whitecaps FC Residency in 2015. He was only 14 years old then.

Club Career Highlights

Starting with Whitecaps FC 2

Davies signed with Whitecaps FC 2 in the USL on February 23, 2016. He was only 15 years and 3 months old, making him the youngest player ever to sign a USL contract. He played his first professional game in April 2016. On May 15, 2016, he scored his first professional goal. This made him the youngest goal scorer in USL history at 15 years and 6 months. He scored two goals in 11 games during the 2016 season.

Playing for Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Davies made his first team debut for the Vancouver Whitecaps on June 1, 2016. He played in a Canadian Championship game. On July 15, 2016, he signed a full contract with the Whitecaps. He was the youngest player in Major League Soccer (MLS) at that time. He made his MLS debut the next day.

In September 2016, Davies scored his first goal for the main team. This was in a 2016–17 CONCACAF Champions League game. He became the second youngest starter in MLS history. In the 2017 season, he continued to play well. He even scored against the New York Red Bulls in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Big European clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool started watching Davies. In the 2018 season, he scored his first MLS goal. He also had a game where he scored one goal and made three assists. On July 29, he scored two goals and had two assists in another game. Davies was chosen for the 2018 MLS All-Star Game against Juventus. He was named the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Player of the Year in October. In his last game for Vancouver, he scored two goals.

Joining Bayern Munich

Moving to Germany

Alphonso Davies - cropped
Davies playing for Bayern Munich in 2019

On July 25, 2018, Vancouver announced that Davies would join Bundesliga club Bayern Munich. He finished the 2018 MLS season with Vancouver and moved to Bayern in January 2019. The transfer fee was a record for MLS at the time.

Davies had his first training with Bayern on November 21, 2018. He played his first game for them on January 12, 2019. He made his Bundesliga debut on January 27. He scored his first goal for Bayern on March 17. He was 18 years old, making him the youngest player to score for the club in 20 years. He was also the first Canadian to score for Bayern. On May 18, 2019, Davies won his first Bundesliga title with Bayern. A week later, Bayern also won the DFB-Pokal cup.

Becoming a Star and Winning the Champions League

Davies started his first Bundesliga game for Bayern on November 6, 2019. He also started his first UEFA Champions League game. During the 2019–20 season, his coach moved him to the left-back position. This happened because other players were injured. Davies played so well in this new role that he became known as one of the best left-backs in the world.

On February 25, 2020, Davies helped set up a goal in a Champions League game against Chelsea. His performance was highly praised. In April 2020, Bayern Munich and Davies agreed to extend his contract until 2025.

After the Bundesliga restarted following a break, Davies continued to shine. He scored and assisted in a game against Eintracht Frankfurt. He also showed incredible speed by catching up to a fast player from Borussia Dortmund. On June 16, 2020, Bayern won their eighth league title in a row. Davies was sent off in that game but also broke the record for the fastest speed in the Bundesliga. He was named the Bundesliga Rookie of the Year for the 2019–20 season.

On August 14, 2020, Davies made an amazing assist in a Champions League game against Barcelona. Bayern won that game 8–2. On August 23, he started in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. Bayern won 1–0, completing a continental treble. Davies became the first Canadian to win the Champions League!

Recent Seasons

2022-07-30 Fußball, Männer, DFL-Supercup, RB Leipzig - FC Bayern München 1DX 3223 by Stepro
Davies in action with Bayern Munich in 2022

On October 24, 2020, Davies got an ankle injury and was out for several weeks. He finished third for the 2020 Golden Boy award. On February 11, 2021, he helped Bayern win the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup Final.

In January 2022, Davies tested positive for COVID-19. Later, it was found he had a mild heart condition called myocarditis. This meant he couldn't train for a while. On October 8, he got a head injury during a game.

On March 4, 2023, Davies played his 100th Bundesliga game for Bayern. He was the youngest non-German player to reach this milestone for the club. On May 8, 2024, he scored his first Champions League goal in a semi-final game against Real Madrid.

International Career for Canada

Youth Teams

Davies was born in Liberia, but he played for Canada's under-15 and under-18 teams in 2014 and 2015. In March 2016, he was called up to the Canada under-20 team. In November 2016, he scored for the Canada under-17 team. He was named the Canada U17 Male Player of the Year in both 2016 and 2017. He said that representing Canada was a dream of his.

Senior National Team

Alphonso Davies 2018
Davies playing for Canada in 2018

After becoming a Canadian citizen on June 6, 2017, Davies could play for the Canada national team. He made his debut on June 13, 2017, at just 16 years old. This made him the youngest player ever for the national team.

In Canada's first game of the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Davies scored two goals. This made him the youngest goalscorer in Gold Cup history and for Canada. He also scored in their next game. Davies won the Golden Boot as the top scorer in the tournament. He also won the Young Player of the Tournament award.

Davies played in the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup. In September 2019, he scored the winning goal in a game against Cuba. In October 2019, Davies helped Canada beat the United States for the first time in 34 years. He scored the first goal in that game.

In July 2021, Davies was supposed to play in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, but he got an ankle injury. On October 13, 2021, in a World Cup qualifying game, Davies scored an amazing goal. He ran 80 yards at a top speed of 37.1 km/h to keep the ball in play. He also played a key role in Canada's win over Mexico in November 2021.

Davies missed some World Cup qualifying games due to his heart condition. But he watched Canada's games online and celebrated when they qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This was only the second time Canada had made it to the World Cup.

In June 2022, Davies returned to international play. He scored two goals in a 4–0 win against Curaçao. In November 2022, Davies was part of Canada's team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In Canada's first game, he missed an early penalty. Four days later, he scored Canada's first ever goal at the FIFA World Cup against Croatia.

In June 2023, Davies played in the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals. He came off the bench and scored a goal in the semi-final win against Panama. Canada reached the final but lost to the United States. Davies captained Canada for the first time in a friendly game on June 6, 2024. He was later named the team's captain for the 2024 Copa América tournament. He led his country to the semifinals of the tournament.

In September 2024, Davies captained Canada to a 2-1 win against the United States. This was Canada's first win on American soil since 1957.

Player Profile: How Alphonso Davies Plays

Davies mostly plays as an attacking full-back on the left side of the field. But he can also play as a wing-back, a left midfielder, or a winger. He is known for his incredible speed, great dribbling skills, and ability to create chances. He can make fast runs down the field and send dangerous passes into the box.

Even though he's very good at attacking, Davies also helps his team defend. His speed and smart play allow him to quickly get back and help out. Many people see him as a very promising young player in soccer.

Personal Life

Davies was in a relationship with fellow Canadian soccer player Jordyn Huitema. She plays for the Canada women's national team. Davies is an ambassador for the UNHCR. In April 2020, he played a virtual soccer game to raise money for the agency. Davies is also a big fan of the NHL's Edmonton Oilers hockey team.

Career Statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Whitecaps FC 2 2016 USL 11 2 0 0 11 2
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2016 MLS 8 0 4 0 3 1 15 1
2017 MLS 26 0 2 2 4 1 1 0 33 3
2018 MLS 31 8 2 0 33 8
Total 65 8 8 2 7 2 1 0 81 12
Bayern Munich II 2018–19 Regionalliga Bayern 3 0 2 0 5 0
2019–20 3. Liga 3 0 3 0
Total 6 0 2 0 8 0
Bayern Munich 2018–19 Bundesliga 6 1 0 0 0 0 6 1
2019–20 Bundesliga 29 3 5 0 8 0 1 0 43 3
2020–21 Bundesliga 23 1 2 0 6 0 4 0 35 1
2021–22 Bundesliga 22 0 1 0 7 0 1 0 31 0
2022–23 Bundesliga 25 1 2 2 9 0 1 0 38 3
2023–24 Bundesliga 29 2 2 0 10 1 1 0 42 3
2024–25 Bundesliga 16 1 3 0 6 0 0 0 25 1
Total 151 9 15 2 46 1 8 0 220 12
Career total 233 19 23 4 53 3 11 0 320 26

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Canada 2017 6 3
2018 3 0
2019 8 2
2020 0 0
2021 13 5
2022 7 3
2023 7 2
2024 12 0
Total 56 15

. Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Davies goal.

List of international goals scored by Alphonso Davies
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 July 7, 2017 Red Bull Arena, Harrison, United States  French Guiana 3–0 4–2 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2 4–2
3 July 11, 2017 BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, United States  Costa Rica 1–0 1–1 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup
4 September 10, 2019 Truman Bodden Sports Complex, George Town, Cayman Islands  Cuba 1–0 1–0 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League A
5 October 15, 2019 BMO Field, Toronto, Canada  United States 1–0 2–0 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League A
6 March 29, 2021 IMG Academy, Bradenton, United States  Cayman Islands 4–0 11–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 9–0
8 June 5, 2021 IMG Academy, Bradenton, United States  Aruba 5–0 7–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 June 8, 2021 SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, United States  Suriname 1–0 4–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
10 October 13, 2021 BMO Field, Toronto, Canada  Panama 2–1 4–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
11 June 9, 2022 BC Place, Vancouver, Canada  Curaçao 1–0 4–0 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A
12 3–0
13 November 27, 2022 Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar  Croatia 1–0 1–4 2022 FIFA World Cup
14 June 15, 2023 Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, United States  Panama 2–0 2–0 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals
15 November 21, 2023 BMO Field, Toronto, Canada  Jamaica 1–0 2–3 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League A

Honours and Awards

Bayern Munich

Individual Awards

  • CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2017
  • CONCACAF Gold Cup Bright Future Award: 2017
  • CONCACAF Gold Cup Golden Boot Award: 2017
  • FIFA FIFPro World11: 2020
  • IFFHS Men's World Team: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
  • IFFHS Men's World Youth (U20) Team: 2020
  • UEFA Team of the Year: 2020
  • CONCACAF Men's Player of the Year: 2021, 2022
  • CONCACAF Best XI: 2021
  • CONCACAF Nations League Finals Best XI: 2023
  • Lou Marsh Trophy co-winner: 2020
  • Lionel Conacher Award winner: 2020
  • Canadian Men's Player of the Year: 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022
  • Canada U-17 Male Player of the Year: 2016, 2017
  • UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2019–20
  • UEFA Champions League Breakthrough XI: 2020
  • Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23
  • Bundesliga Rookie of the Season: 2019–20
  • Bundesliga Player of the Month: November 2021
  • Bundesliga Rookie of the Month: May 2020
  • VDV Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022–23
  • VDV Bundesliga Newcomer of the Season: 2019–20
  • kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2019–20
  • MLS All-Star: 2018
  • Vancouver Whitecaps FC Player of the Year: 2018
  • Vancouver Whitecaps FC Goal of the Year: 2018

See Also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Alphonso Davies para niños

kids search engine
Alphonso Davies Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.