Nestor Irankunda

Adelaide United

2021–22: Development

In his first year for Adelaide United, Irankunda initially played with the reserves, and after a couple of weeks, started featuring for Adelaide United NPL side. Despite being 15 at the time, he accumulated 26 appearances and 12 goals in total for both the senior and reserve squad for the Reds. On 27 September 2021, Irankunda signed a scholarship contract (his first professional contract) with Adelaide United. On 8 January 2022, at the age of 15 years and 333 days, Irankunda became the sixth youngest player in A-League history and the third youngest debutant at the time for Adelaide United when he made his debut against rivals Melbourne Victory, drawing 1–1 at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. On 30 January, Irankunda scored his first league goal, a free kick in stoppage time to win the game 2–1 against Newcastle Jets. His goal made him the second youngest goalscorer in the league at the age of 15 years and 355 days, after Mohamed Toure who scored at the age of 15 years and 325 days. He scored his second league goal, coming off the bench to score the winner in a 2–1 home win over Central Coast Mariners on 27 February. On 24 April, he increased his goalscoring tally to three after he scored a stoppage time goal and helped his side secure a 2–0 win against Perth Glory. His brief cameo won him the Tomas Dale Medal for his sporting manner in the club. On 26 May, Irankunda was selected in the A-Leagues All Stars squad,…

Youth

Eligible to represent Burundi, Tanzania, or Australia, Irankunda received his first international call-up in September 2022 from Australia to represent the under-17 side in the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualification matches. He made his debut against the Northern Mariana Islands, netting a hat-trick by the 38th minute before scoring two more goals to complete a 23–0 win. He scored three more goals in the remaining group games, with one against Cambodia (10–0) and two against China (3–1). Irankunda performances helped Australia in topping the group and qualifying for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup. On 16 May 2023, Irankunda was added to the Australia squad set to play in the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup hosted in Thailand. On 19 June 2023, in the second round of the group stage, Irankunda scored twice in 18 minutes of a 5–3 win over China. His second goal, a powerful long-range strike, garnered widespread attention on social media due to its audacity and quality. Irankunda scored in Australia's last game as his side were knocked out by Japan following a 3–1 defeat in the knockout stage. In April 2024, Irankunda was omitted from the Australia national under-23 team that was set to compete in the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup, in contention to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Coach Tony Vidmar stated his absence was in concern over his maturity and to prevent further "damage" from pressure. However, after Marco Tilio sustained an injury, Irankunda was offered a spot but…

Nestory Irankunda was born on 9 February 2006 in Kigoma, Tanzania, the third-eldest child with two older brothers and five younger sisters to Gideon, a rideshare driver, and his wife, Dafroza. His parents were originally from Burundi, but fled their home due to the civil war escalating at the time. His father led his family to a refugee camp in Tanzania where Nestory was born. They moved to Perth in Western Australia, when Irankunda was three months old, before relocating interstate to the northern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia at the age of seven in 2013. Irankunda grew up in a Christian home, and found his love of football while playing with his older brothers in the yard of his home. At the age of eight, Irankunda played for his first football club at Parafield Gardens after being spotted by the under-10s coach of the local club. Irankunda attended Parafield Gardens High School in Parafield Gardens, South Australia, a northern suburb of Adelaide. Despite claiming to do poorly at school, Irankunda stated his favourite subject was English, and he enjoyed the Harry Potter books series and film series. He was a runner-up in his category in the School Sports Awards in December 2022. During his upbringing, Irankunda's father drove him around to his football games before he was old enough to obtain his driver's licence, and his older brothers stopped playing football to help pay for his football fees when he played in NPL. For this reason, he considers his father and…

Irankunda supports Spanish club Barcelona and idolised Carles Puyol and Gerard Piqué, who influenced him to play centre-back as a child before converting to a more attacking role by his coaches. He modelled his playing style on Lionel Messi for his agility and power. Despite Irankunda's support for Barcelona, his father's long-time support for Bayern Munich influenced his decision to sign for the German club. In an interview in June 2023, Irankunda expressed his desire to retire with Adelaide United by the end of his career. He is close friends with fellow professional footballer Mohamed Touré.