Most footballers would sacrifice almost anything to score their first professional goal. For Diego Demme, the price turned out to be one front tooth.

Demme made his senior debut on December 4, 2010, and spent years grinding through Germany's second and third divisions with Arminia Bielefeld and Paderborn. He then became a key part of the RB Leipzig project, helping the club earn two promotions in three years before reaching the Bundesliga in 2016.

Leipzig's remarkable rise

Leipzig's debut season in the top flight was extraordinary. The club briefly topped the Bundesliga table before Bayern Munich edged them off the summit. Despite that setback, Leipzig secured UEFA Champions League football — and Demme's contribution was crucial, delivering three assists in the first half of the season.

After 189 senior appearances without a single goal across Germany's top three divisions, Demme finally ended his drought on April 15, 2017, against Freiburg at the Red Bull Arena. It was only the second time he had worn the captain's armband for Leipzig.

A goal — and a gruesome price

With Leipzig already leading 3-0, thanks to goals from Yussuf Poulsen, Timo Werner, and Naby Keita, the stage was set for Demme's long-overdue moment. In the 90th minute, Werner headed down a cross from Dominik Kaiser, and Demme rose to meet it. As Nicolas Höfler tried to clear, he caught Demme full in the face with his boot — but the header had already crossed the line.