One To Watch: Racing's Martial Godo makes a star turn
After an assist in Europe and a quickfire double against Angers on Sunday, Martial Godo is in top form for RC Streasbourg -- learn more about the young winger in our latest One To Watch
A long journey to the premier league
While still just 22 years old, Martial Godo has already lived several lives in football. Born in London, the diminutive winger was never part of a bigger club's academy, but came through with Dartford and Margate before signing for Fulham after a successful trial. After impressing with the youth ranks at Craven Cottage, he spent the 2023-24 season on loan in League One where he was a regular for Wigan as the Latics had one of the division's best attacks.
Despite earning several caps for England's U-20s as well, once back with Fulham last year, Godo featured sparingly, as he battled injuries, and he leapt at the chance to join an exciting new project in Alsace. Part of a raft of new signings for RC Strasbourg in the summer, Godo fit in well with the club's desired profile of young, versatile players -- witness his constant switching of flanks with Diego Moreira on Sunday. However, he would have big shoes to fill, as he was seen as one of several options to succeed Dilane Bakwa, one of the most influential playmakers in Ligue 1 last season. However, like Moreira, he also represents a redemptive narrative, given his being dismissed earlier in his career.
MARTIAL G⚽️D⚽️ #RCSASCO pic.twitter.com/qC48zs08uJ
— Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace English (@RCSA_English) October 6, 2025
Hitting top form for Racing
Even with that being the case, he is yet to be first choice for Liam Rosenior's Racing, but he has made a strong impact in his limited appearances. Signed on deadline day, he made his first appearance off the bench against Le Havre and promptly won a penalty converted by Joaquín Panichelli to earn his side a nervy win. An unused substitute a week ago against Olympique de Marseille, he was in the squad away to Slovan Bratislava, and was a constant menace, first provoking an own goal and then setting up Abdoul Ouattara for his side's second.
He topped it all with a pair of fine finishes in Sunday's comprehensive win, and with four goal involvements in just over two hundred minutes, his impact has been definitive. Speaking post match, he underscored he is happy in Alsace, but hungry for more, telling DNAlsace, “These are my first goals, I’m very happy to have helped my team; this is s a very ambitious team, we want to finish as high as possible to aim for the Champions League. I like the city of Strasbourg, it’s calm, the people are nice here. It’s very different from London which is a very noisy city.”
