Andrija Maksimović
{{Short description|Serbian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Andrija Maksimović
|image =
|fullname =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2007|6|5|df=y}}
|birth_place = Novi Pazar, Serbia
|position = Midfielder
|currentclub = Red Star Belgrade
|clubnumber = 55
|youthyears1 =
|youthclubs1 = Pazar Juniors
|youthyears2 =
|youthclubs2 = Vlada Dimitrijević
|youthyears3 =
|youthclubs3 = Red Star Belgrade
|years1 = 2023–
|clubs1 = Red Star Belgrade
|caps1 = 23
|goals1 = 4
|years2 = 2023–2024
|clubs2 = → Grafičar Beograd (dual)
|caps2 = 29
|goals2 = 9
| nationalyears1 = 2021
| nationalteam1 = Serbia U15
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2022
| nationalteam2 = Serbia U16
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2022–2024
| nationalteam3 = Serbia U17
| nationalcaps3 = 21
| nationalgoals3 = 9
| nationalyears4 = 2024–
| nationalteam4 = Serbia U19
| nationalcaps4 = 3
| nationalgoals4 = 1
| nationalyears5 = 2024–
| nationalteam5 = Serbia
| nationalcaps5 = 6
| nationalgoals5 = 0
| pcupdate = 27 April 2025
| ntupdate = 23 March 2025
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's football}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|SER}}}}
{{Medal|Comp|UEFA European Under-17 Championship}}
{{Medal|B|2024 Cyprus|}}
}}
Andrija Maksimović ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Андрија "Меси" Максимовић}}; born 5 June 2007) is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Red Star Belgrade and the Serbia national team.
Early life
Maksimović was born in 2007 in Novi Pazar, Serbia.{{Cite web|url=https://mondo.rs/Sport/Fudbal/a1817078/Ko-je-Andrija-Maksimovic-Zvezdin-Mesi.html|title=U Zvezdi Ga Zovu Mesi, A On U Grafičaru Razbija! Andrija (16) je najveći biser crveno-belih!|website=Mondo.rs|date=12 August 2023|access-date=13 April 2025|language=sr}} He first played football for FK Pazar Juniors, and played for OFK Vlada Dimitrijević before joining Red Star Youth academy.{{cite web |url=https://www.zurnal.rs/scc/clanak/195753/prvi-ucitelj-zvezdinog-mesija-dar-sa-neba-andrija-rada-se-jednom-u-sto-godina|script-title=sr:Први учитељ Звездиног Месија: Дар са неба Андрија - рађа се једном у сто година|trans-title=The first teacher of Red Star's Messi: Gift from heaven Andrija: He was born once in a 100 years|website=Sportski žurnal|language=sr|date=26 September 2024|access-date=1 October 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.zurnal.rs/scc/clanak/202513/maksimovic-poceo-u-pazar-juniorsima|script-title=sr:Максимовић почео у Пазар јуниорсима|trans-title=Maksimović started in Pazar Juniors|website=Sportski žurnal|language=sr|date=15 December 2024|accessdate=23 December 2024}}
Club career
=Grafičar Beograd=
In summer 2023, Maksimović was sent on dual registration from Red Star Belgrade to Grafičar Beograd.{{cite web |url=https://www.crvenazvezdafk.com/vesti/milosavljevitsh-i-maksimovitsh-prikljucheni-prvom-timu|script-title=sr:Милосављевић и Максимовић прикључени првом тиму|trans-title=Milosavljević and Maksimović joined the first team|website=Red Star Belgrade|language=sr|date=7 August 2024|accessdate=29 August 2024}} On 11 August 2023, he made his professional debut at the age of 16 years, 2 months, and 5 days in the Serbian First League match against FK Jedinstvo Ub – whilst scoring his first professional goal as well.{{cite web|url=http://crvenazvezdafk.com/scc/vest/15249/andrija-maksimovic-najmlai-zvezdin-strelac-u-seniorskom-fudbalu|script-title=sr:Андрија Максимовић - Најмлађи Звездин стрелац у сениорском фудбалу|trans-title=Andrija Maksimović: The youngest Red Star scorer in senior football|website=Red Star Belgrade|language=sr|date=12 August 2023|access-date=6 September 2023}}
=Red Star Belgrade=
On 5 September 2023, Maksimović signed a contract extension with Red Star Belgrade,{{cite web |url=http://crvenazvezdafk.com/scc/vest/15356/zvezda-produzila-10-talenata|script-title=sr:Звезда продужила 10 талената|trans-title=Red Star extended 10 talents|website=Red Star Belgrade|language=sr|date=5 September 2023|access-date=6 September 2023}} and was placed on the B list for the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League group stage.{{cite web |url=https://www.zurnal.rs/scc/clanak/162491/zvezda-u-lS-bez-ada-viga-i-nikolica|script-title=sr:Звезда у ЛШ без Ада, Вига и Николића|trans-title=Red Star in the UCL without Addo, Vigo and Nikolić|website=Sportski žurnal|language=sr|date=5 September 2023|access-date=6 September 2023}} On 6 December, he made his first team debut at the age of 16 years, 6 months, and 1 day in the Serbian Cup match against FK Radnički Niš.{{cite web |url=http://crvenazvezdafk.com/scc/vest/15723/andrija-maksimovic-peti-najmlai-debitant-zvezde|script-title=sr:Андрија Максимовић пети најмлађи дебитант Звезде|trans-title=Andrija Maksimović is the fifth youngest debutant of Red Star|website=Red Star Belgrade|language=sr|date=7 December 2023|access-date=30 September 2024}}
On 23 September 2024, Maksimović made his professional Eternal derby debut as a starter at the age of 17 years, 3 months and 18 days in the Serbian SuperLiga match against Partizan Belgrade, and he assisted Silas Katompa Mvumpa's goal, becoming the youngest assistant in the Eternal derby.{{cite web |url=https://www.crvenazvezdafk.com/vesti/maksimovitsh-najmladji-asistent-u-istoriji-vechitih-derbija|script-title=sr:Максимовић најмлађи асистент у историји вечитих дербија|trans-title=Maksimović is the youngest assistant in the history of the Eternal derby|website=Red Star Belgrade|language=sr|date=24 September 2024|access-date=30 September 2024}} On 27 September, he extended his contract with Red Star Belgrade until 2027.{{cite web |url=https://www.crvenazvezdafk.com/vesti/andrija-maksimovitsh-2027|script-title=sr:Андрија Максимовић 2027!|trans-title=Andrija Maksimović 2027!|website=Red Star Belgrade|language=sr|date=27 September 2024|access-date=30 September 2024}} On 1 October, Maksimović made his UEFA Champions League debut at the age of 17 years, 3 months and 26 days in the league phase match against Inter Milan.{{cite web |url=https://www.crvenazvezdafk.com/vesti/https-www-crvenazvezdafk-com-vesti-maksimovitch-cetvrti-najmladi-u-ligi-sampiona|script-title=sr:Максимовић четврти најмлађи у Лиги шампиона|trans-title=Maksimović is the fourth youngest player in the Champions League|website=Red Star Belgrade|language=sr|date=1 October 2024|access-date=1 October 2024}}
On 12 April 2025, Maksimović scored his first goal in the Eternal derby at the age of 17 years, 10 months and 7 days in the Serbian SuperLiga match against Partizan Belgrade – becoming the youngest scorer in the Eternal derby.{{cite web|url=https://www.crvenazvezdafk.com/vesti/maksimovitsh-najmladji-strelac-u-istoriji-vechitih-derbija|title=Максимовић најмлађи стрелац у историји вечитих дербија|trans-title=Maksimović is the youngest scorer in the history of the Eternal derby|website=Red Star Belgraed|language=sr|date=12 April 2025|access-date=12 April 2025}}
International career
On 12 October 2024, Maksimović made his debut for the Serbia national team at the age of 17 years, 4 months, and 7 days (17 years and 129 days) in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A Group 4 match against Switzerland, breaking the previous record for the youngest player to play for the Serbia national team in an official match, set by Mitar Mrkela on 17 November 1982 at the age of 17 years, 4 months, and 7 days (17 years and 130 days) in the UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying against Bulgaria during the former Yugoslavia national team era.{{Cite web|script-title=sr:Историја: Меси дебитовао за Србију!|trans-title=History: 'Messi' Debuts for Serbia national football team!|url=https://www.zurnal.rs/scc/clanak/197249/%D0%98%D0%A1%D0%A2%D0%9E%D0%A0%D0%98%D0%88%D0%90-%D0%9C%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%B8-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BE-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%A1%D1%80%D0%B1%D0%B8%D1%98%D1%83|website=Sportski žurnal|date=12 October 2024|access-date=13 April 2025|language=sr}} He came off as a substitute to Aleksandar Mitrović in the 74th minute, as Serbia won 2–0.{{Cite web|script-title=sr:За Месија из Пазара|trans-title=For Messi from the Market|url=https://www.zurnal.rs/scc/clanak/197273/%D0%97%D0%B0-%D0%9C%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%98%D0%B0-%D0%B8%D0%B7-%D0%9F%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0|website=Sportski žurnal|date=13 October 2024|access-date=13 April 2025|language=sr}}
Style of play
Maksimović is a midfielder known for his dribbling ability.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nogomania.rs/Vest/Ko-je-Andrija-Maksimovic-kadet-Srbije-koji-je-opcinio-Evropu-Zovu-ga-Mesi-iz-Ljutice-Bogdana|title=Ko je Andrija Maksimović, kadet Srbije koji je opčinio Evropu: Zovu ga Mesi iz Ljutice Bogdana!|publisher=Nogomania|date=25 May 2023|access-date=13 April 2025|language=sr}}
Personal life
Maksimović is the son of Serbian footballer Mirko Maksimović.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mozzartsport.com/fudbal/vesti/dug-put-do-zvezdinog-dresa-krenemo-ibarskom-andrija-se-presvuce-u-autu-i-eto-ga-na-treningu/471709|title=Dug put do Zvezdinog dresa: Krenemo Ibarskom, Andrija se presvuče u autu i eto ga na treningu|website=Mozzart Sport|date=14 January 2024|access-date=13 April 2025|language=sr}} He earned the nickname "Mesi" ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|"Меси"}}) due to his resemblance to Lionel Messi with his distinctive long hair as a child. On 15 October 2024, Maksimović was named for The Guardian{{'}}s Next Generation 2024.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2024/oct/15/next-generation-2024-60-of-the-best-young-talents-in-world-football|title=Next Generation 2024: 60 of the best young talents in world football|website=The Guardian|date=15 October 2024|access-date=15 October 2024}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|6 April 2025}}{{Soccerway|andrija-maksimovic/868871|accessdate=3 November 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan='3'|Grafičar Beograd
|rowspan='2'|Serbian First League |24 | 6 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 24 | 6 | |||
| 2024–25
|5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 5 | 3 | |||
| colspan=2|Total
!29 | 9 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 29 | 9 | |||
| rowspan='3'|Red Star Belgrade
|rowspan='2'|Serbian SuperLiga |0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25
|21 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 31 | 6 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!21 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 33 | 6 | ||
| colspan=3|Career total
!50 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 62 | 15 |
=International=
{{updated|match played 23 March 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals | ||
| rowspan="2"|Serbia
|2024 | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 |
| colspan="2"|Total | 6 | 0 |
|---|
References
{{reflist}}
{{Red Star Belgrade squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maksimović, Andrija}}
Category:Footballers from Novi Pazar
Category:Serbian men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Red Star Belgrade footballers
Category:RFK Grafičar Beograd players
Category:Serbian SuperLiga players
Category:Serbian First League players