The elegant attacking midfielder with an impressive work ethic only made his professional bow for Flamengo in July, coming on in the second leg of a Copa Libertadores clash no less, and went on to rack up six goals and two assists in 14 appearances in Serie A. This season alone, he has captained his boyhood club, and scored the decisive spot-kick in a Carabao Cup clash with Arsenal, as well as the winner in a Merseyside derby. The versatile right-back, 18, who won the European Under-17 Championship with Netherlands last summer, has since committed his long-term future to the Reds, much to the delight of his manager. The Germany Under-18 international has yet to make his first appearance at senior level at Signal Iduna Park but he has established himself as a regular for BVB's UEFA Youth League team and it should only be a matter of time before one of the country's most promising goalkeepers is given a chance by Lucien Favre. ambitious youngster to leave the club in search of game time elsewhere. The 18-year-old's dedication to his craft is certainly paying off, with Gilmour having made his Chelsea debut last August after manager Frank Lampard had blocked a loan move because he rates the Rangers academy product so highly. We’re only at the early stages, but the sensation is that Manchester United’s academy has produced another top-class talent. He even ranked at No.5 in last year's NxGn list. the 18-year-old is already a better finisher than Marcus Rashford. 4 (11 five-stars, 35 four-stars) Swinney called his 2020 outfit the most talented he’s coached earlier this offseason. Will he be able to have the same performances in a zonal marking defense? The 16-year-old midfielder, who can fulfil a variety of roles on account of his wide range of skills, had been at La Masia since 2010, captaining the Catalan club at various age grades, but even the dream of one day playing alongside Lionel Messi was not enough to dissuade Simons from turning down PSG, who put the new arrival straight into their Under-19 squad. In 2020 he will have to face Reiner, the third young Brazilian arrived in Madrid for a boatload of money in the last three years. By now you must have caught wind that we’ve stumbled upon the Mount Rushmore of the best international soccer players in 2020. With an unusual skill set and a difficult tactical classification, Tonali has an extremely vertical and physical game, that makes him look like an inside-forward rather than a Regista. making the Cameroon-born Germany Under-16 international arguably the most exciting prospect in the game today. 2020 Vision Best young footballers of 2020: Japanese Messi to Mason Greenwood, meet best young players in the world. The Angola-born France Under-21 international only turned 17 in November but is already a first-team regular at Roazhon Park. Parrott has been tipped to "play lots more matches for Ireland and Spurs" by former club-mate Christian Eriksen. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. He stands out more when quality football players are around him.". If Ansu Fati generated that much hype in just a few months (he debuted in La Liga on August 25), it is because he has that kind of talent that gives you the feeling that something’s going to happen as soon as the touches the ball. Skip to main content Watch. He will fit perfectly at Barcelona. Harvey Elliott, who turns 17 in April, has continued to break records since leaving Fulham for Liverpool last summer. In 2019, not only he became part of the first team by playing 24 games, but he was also involved in a ferocious battle between two national teams – the American and Dutch ones – the wanted him to be part of their future. Mike Schmitz breaks down LaMelo Ball's playing style and why he's the most talented prospect in the 2020 NBA draft. Described by Sebastien Hoeness as "a special kind of striker that can't be found in the modern game", the Under-19 Netherlands international is a tall, graceful, two-footed attacker blessed with the kind of pace and agility that makes him a nightmare for defenders in one-on-ones. Of course, it is no surprise that Aouchiche is already off the mark at senior level, as this is a midfielder with a keen eye for goal, as he demonstrated by netting a remarkable nine times in just four outings at last summer's European Under-17 Championship in Ireland. with the 19-year-old striker now banging in the goals at the AFAS Stadion. Unuvar converted with aplomb and, thus, became the youngest goalscorer in the Amsterdam outfit's history, taking the record away from Clarence Seedorf. having first seen the winger showcase his skills on a reality TV show at the age of six. "Eduardo is a guy who respects the housekeeper of the training centre as much as the coach of the first team," he told Goal. Consequently, the Japan international was met by jeers rather than cheers, not that he minded. “ Pierce’s phrases, delivered on ESPN’s The Jump, featured the support from also former player Kendrick Perkins, who considers the prodigious Slovenian player as “a Top 5 in the NBA”. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Naci Unuvar certainly does not lack belief. Zaric's faith in Adeyemi is understandable, given the 18-year-old Munich native spent the first half of this season scoring freely during a loan spell at FC Liefering before being recalled by parent club Red Bull Salzburg, who beat Chelsea and Liverpool to his signature in 2018. Indeed, the only doubt surrounding the 18-year-old Londoner is over his best position, with the winger, who netted his first senior goal in the Europa League win over Eintracht Frankfurt in September, having excelled after being asked to fill in at left-back following injuries to Sead Kolasinac and Kieran Tierney. 15. After that game, Thiago Silva said that he hoped Zidane would’ve left him on the bench for the game against PSG. Although Lihadji made his professional debut for Andre Villas-Boas’ side at the start of the season, the 17-year-old has been frozen out of the first team due to his refusal to extend a contract that expires this summer. The information contained in Goal (English) may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the prior written authority of Goal (English), Goal counts down the top 50 talents born on or after January 1, 2001 from all across the world, Solskjaer explains Man Utd row between Fred & Maguire, Alderweireld: We have to respect Mourinho, Guardiola: It's easier to win trophies at big clubs. Ajax have done it again. Benoit Badiashile is the first to admit that he makes a lot of mistakes. The youngest ever player in the club’s history and also their youngest ever league goalscorer. Absolutely magical. In 2011, the same kind of expectations surrounded the Saints who were two years off of a Super Bowl victory and adding talent through free agency and the draft. It is, thus, already clear that the boy named after Juan Sebastian Veron has every chance of having just as successful a career at the highest level. Rodrygo's enormous potential was obvious from the moment he made his professional debut for Santos at just 16 in November 2017. As Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pointed out, it felt fitting that Mason Greenwood scored in the 4,000th consecutive senior Manchester United game to feature an academy product. Gaekwad, who had tested COVID-19 positive in the lead up to the tournament, has all the shots and his style of play is pleasing to the eye. What makes it difficult is he’s not somebody who speaks a lot! “Jannik is one of the most talented players I have seen in the last ten years. Antonio Marin signed his first professional contract with Dinamo Zagreb in September 2017, despite reported interest from AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus and is one of the most exciting youngsters to come out of the Croatian club's academy in years. If he will be able to keep this level, Tonali may amaze us even more in the future. Even if he’s just 19, Kumbulla looks like an old-style defender, he’s extremely aggressive in anticipating the opponent and he’s very able at using his body to manipulate the attacker in 1v1s. the 17-year-old could be even more talented than the Chelsea winger. with the Dutch prodigy named after a Blaugrana legend. 'He's one of the most talented players going around. Samuel Chukwueze is 20, he’s been playing for Villarreal the last two seasons and he’s called ‘the Nigerian Arjen Robben’. Arsenal. It is easy to understand just why Flamengo boss Jorge Jesus was so infuriated by his club's decision to sell Reinier to Real Madrid for just €35m (£29m/$39m) in January. Rodrygo was one of the youngest players in last year’s list and, in his own way, he kept up with expectations. Although his 2019-20 campaign has been interrupted by injury, the 18-year-old attacking midfielder, who can play on either flank, has become a first-team regular at Lotto Park, while he also broken into the Belgium squad, netting his first goal in just his second appearance for Roberto Martinez's side. Even though Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was on spot-kick duty in Ajax's KNVB Beker clash with Spakenburg in January, the 16-year-old asked the veteran forward if he could take a late penalty. His most surprising trait, especially given his young age, is his reliability: if he can keep this performance continuity, maybe 2020 will become his first year with a top … The 18-year-old, who made his senior debut in a Serie A draw with Verona at San Siro in February, may have started out at the back but he is now a multi-talented attacker. Chukwueze is a powerful and quick right-winger, very good at dribbling both in open and tight spaces and with a good left foot. An abdominal injury shadowed him when Salzburg was fighting to reach the Champions League round-of-16, but in 2020 he will inevitably find more space and he must prove once again the quality of the Austrian team’s recruitment department. The 19-year-old has improved immeasurably in that regard over the past year and is now reaping the rewards. Indeed, former Gunners defender Mathieu Debuchy is among those who thinks that the France Under-20 centre-half will prove a bargain buy at £27 million ($34m), given the teenager's pace, power and technique. This season he’s having a harder time, but he’s still dangerous every time he can find spaces to run into. Consequently, it now seems like only a matter of time before Barca and other members of Europe's elite return with bigger bids for the Portugal Under-19 international. Had it not been for a fractured shin suffered during a trial with Barcelona in November 2013, Isaac Lihadji would probably be at La Masia right now. "He was born for the top," the coach told Goal last November. It was further proof – as if it were needed – that the winger has "something special about him", as former Barca boss Ernesto Valverde put it, and fully merits his place in the senior squad. Agoume then captained his country to a third-placed finish at the Under-17 World Cup later in the year before returning to Milan to make his debut for Inter in December. Indeed, the kid from the same town as Carlos Tevez, Fuerte Apache, plays with the same drive and tenacity as the former Manchester City forward and, interestingly, the Argentina Under-20 international is now being linked with a summer switch to the Etihad Stadium. Goal counts down the top 50 talents born on or after January 1, 2001 from all across the world. "Things have moved even quicker than I expected," the versatile winger recently admitted. Giovanni Reyna is unsurprisingly being compared with Christian Pulisic. In 2019, not only he became part of the first team by playing 24 games, but he was also involved in a ferocious battle between two national teams – the American and Dutch ones – the wanted him to be part of their future. Indeed, the Bissau-born teenager, who has already been capped at Under-21 level by Spain, has since become the youngest player to score twice in a Liga game, against Levante in January. He is a poet with the ball.". "He's a kid who progresses from match to match," the coach said last season. A pocket-rocket of a forward with quick feet, Luqman Hakim has already turned out for Malaysia's Under-23s even though he only turned 18 earlier in March. As it is, the left winger, who starred for France during last year's third-placed finish at the Under-17 World Cup, is at Marseille, though probably not for much longer. Copyright © 2021 Goal (English) All rights reserved. Across Europe’s big five leagues only Cristiano Ronaldo (13) had scored more goals in 2020 before football’s suspension. S.Esposito. Roma. Right now, we can only appreciate Tonali’s unrefined talent and we can’t see exactly where his growth path will lead him. 12. One of the few supports to make the list, BeryL finds himself firmly in the top 20. He debuted in the Champions League last season, in the last minutes of the round-of-16 second leg game against Paris Saint-Germain, and he played as a starter in the last game of last season (a 2-0 defeat against Cardiff). Local hero Pablo Moreno has yet to debut for the Bianconeri but the prolific forward, who is capable of playing in pretty much every conceivable attacking role, is expected to achieve great things in Turin. If, as they say, The Albanian defender will really sign for a top team in 2020 (now or next summer), it will be interesting to see if the limits he’s showing today will become room for improvements in the future. Juventus shirts are now being spotted on the streets of Granada, and not because of Cristiano Ronaldo. Being raised at Ajax, at 19 years old he already can read the game on and off-the-ball that makes him the perfect full-back for a team that wants to dominate the game with the ball. In these months, Solskjaer praised his technique, his ability to play in every offensive position, he said that Greenwood is one of the best finishers he has ever seen (just try to remember how good Solskjaer was to understand the importance of this praise) and, after the game against Newcastle, he also compared Greenwood to Cristiano Ronaldo for his ability to shoot with both feet. His quickness leads him to easily break the defensive lines and, even when he doesn’t shoot, he seems able to create something every time he has the ball. Ihattaren recently told Goal: "I must admit that I don’t really like talking about myself, but I do think I’ve got something special.". The 18-year-old Brazilian striking sensation eventually moved to England in January of this year, having been belatedly granted a work permit, and made his Hornets debut in the FA Cup just a few days later. He came to Salzburg after some good performances with Mali youth teams (he scored 3 goals at the U20 World Cup), and this season, he’s always been the first substitute for the attacking trio of the Austrian team, especially in the domestic league, where he already scored 6 goals in less than 500 minutes, showing a good finishing precision in the box. A Benfica player since the age of nine, Tomas Tavares progressed rapidly through the Portuguese club's youth teams before being handed his senior debut in their Champions League clash with RB Leipzig last September. And in this system, sometimes he seems able to break the opposing lines like a wrecking ball. Brescia’s midfielder, though, is more than a defensive player: he has a marked creativity (he’s first at Brescia for key passes with 2 per 90/min) and among the players with at least 500 minutes played, only Torregrossa dribbles like him (1.5 successful dribbles per 90, over a total of 1.8). It is no secret that Technoblade is great at Minecraft. "Hopefully, I can continue in this vein.". beaten Real Madrid to the signature of a prodigious talent. The Gaich that we saw with the Albiceleste youth teams – with that face that shows his European heritage – is not only a very prolific goal scorer but also a player with great technique, the vision of the game and a class that is never unbalanced, regardless of his size. Alessio Riccardi has yet to appear in Serie A for Roma, despite regularly featuring on the bench and making his professional debut in the Coppa Italia last year, but the Giallorossi moved quickly to secure the services of the Primavera star until 2023. From the players I have watched live, I think Ronaldinho was by far the most talented. The Reds may boast one of the strongest squads in world football but the gifted winger has already featured for Jurgen Klopp's first team, with the German labelling Elliott "a special player" blessed with excellent technique, intelligent movement and a strong work ethic. Hardly surprising, then, that United have already handed a new contract to their youngest ever scorer in European competition. Watford moved quickly to beat a host of clubs to the signing of Joao Pedro, snapping up the Fluminense forward in October 2018 - before he had even made his professional debut. The scoring ability, power and technique – passing technique, rather than shooting – find their best fit in the only fitting comparison for him, the one with Lewandowski. How will his basic football fit in a team that wants to build-up the play from the back in a more complex way than Verona? before then firing Italy to the final of the European Under-17 Championship in May. The LA native is presently lining out for El Tri at under-age level but the competition is only set to intensify for a fantastically creative player with a wand-like left foot. Isaac Lihadji would probably be at La Masia right now. Last summer, Barcelona's Jose Mari Bakero flew to Brazil to try to wrap up a deal for Fluminense striker Marcos Paulo, but the Rio club rejected the Blaugrana's €5m offer. as well as the winner in a Merseyside derby. having excelled after being asked to fill in at left-back following injuries to Sead Kolasinac and Kieran Tierney. but the latest member of the family to represent the Rossoneri is a very different player. Less than a year after selling Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong, the game's greatest talent factory has rolled out yet another fine footballer. On November 20, Barcelona academy director Patrick Kluivert made the perfectly sensible suggestion that Ansu Fati should drop down to the Blaugrana's B team to secure more game time. Obviously, Messi's and Ronaldo's club careers are far more distinguished (you could even find other footballers who have achieved more) and overall Messi is a better player, but if we look at just raw talent, i think Ronaldinho is ahead of everybody. Ronaldinho, meanwhile, has compared his compatriot to Ronaldo and the first teenager to hit double figures for Arsenal since Nicolas Anelka in 1998-99 certainly seems destined for superstardom. The 19-year-old Croatia Under-21 international has climbed 13 places in this year's NxGn, having further enhanced his reputation over the past 12 months by showcasing his versatility, dribbling skills and pin-point deliveries in Dinamo's first team. Less than 12 months after signing a four-year contract with Sevilla, Bryan Gil penned a new deal in December, this time until 2023. ... he will play plenty in 2020. Xizt is a very young and talented star. In fact, for me he is the most talented in the NBA today. The 19-year-old, who is just as comfortable at left-back as he is on his preferred right-hand side, went on to start five of the Eagles' six group games and it is thought to be only a matter of time before he breaks into the Portugal squad, having already represented his country at Under-21 level. Netherlands pulled out all the stops to persuade Mohamed Ihattaren to ignore a senior international call-up from Morocco, his parents' homeland, and pledge his future to Oranje. holding his own against Mohamed Salah in his very first training session with the senior squad, in December 2018. He’s a very creative full-back, with a deadly dribble in tight spaces and a wide skill set of street football moves that allows him to always find a new way to beat the pressing. But when it comes to choosing the most talented player he shared a pitch with, the Dutchman is adamant the worthy winner is former Real Madrid star and Spanish cult hero Guti. On that occasion, Esposito replaced Lukaku and his substitution gave new energy to Conte’s team, thanks to a couple of stunning controls, dribbles and 1v1’s. Barcelona are still smarting from the loss of the 'Japanese Messi'. But it really is a great signing; I congratulate Real Madrid.". Top 10 Skillful Players 2020 HDCompilation of best skills , tricks and dribbles from world's best skillful players ! Managers may have come and gone during a season of uncertainty at Arsenal, but there is one thing that nobody is in any doubt about: Bukayo Saka is one of the most promising players to have emerged at the Emirates in years. Cho "BeryL" Geon-hee - Support, DAMWON Gaming. The loss of Xavi Simons to Paris Saint-Germain last summer came as a bitter blow to Barcelona, with the Dutch prodigy named after a Blaugrana legend. Rodrygo is less technical than Vinicius but has a mercurial lightness and a range of tricks that makes him more like a younger version of Neymar. 9 (7 five-stars, 33 four-stars) 2020: No. Boadu has already broken into the senior Netherlands squad, becoming the first player born in the 21st century to both represent and score for the Oranje, not that Under-21 coach Erwin van de Looi is surprised: “He is so cool in front of goal and so dangerous from deep. So, Dest has a football style that resembles some great Brazilian full-backs like Dani Alves and Marcelo and, given the success that they had in modern football and the lack of similar talents, some top club will likely bet on Dest soon. Having come through the youth team ranks at Bochum, Luca Unbehaun was snapped up by Borussia Dortmund in 2016 when he was still only 15 years of age. With the goal scored against Genoa last December, the young striker became the youngest ever starter for Inter in the 21st century, the second-youngest scorer ever in the history of the club and the youngest ever to score at San Siro with the Nerazzurri. Even his clarity of mind in the choices made in the last third has been impressive for such a young and green Brazilian talent like Rodrygo. Given some of the talented players lost from their academy of late, Barca are clearly taking no chances by slapping a €100million release clause on the 17-year-old winger. Kylian Mbappe knows more than most about prodigious talent, so it is telling that the Paris Saint-Germain superstar is a massive fan of Rayan Cherki, the latest gem unearthed by Lyon. Even if he still has plenty of limits – like the first control and defending back to the goal – in 2019 Ansu Fati raised the bar so high that it’s hard not to have expectations for his 2020. “He’s one of the most talented players going around. Just three weeks later, Fati became the youngest goalscorer in Champions League history by netting the winner in a 2-1 victory over Inter at San Siro aged 17 years and 40 days old. 360 ✔️ Nutmeg ✔️‍♂️ Skill of the Day ✔️, Mason Greenwood #UEL | @UKEnterprise pic.twitter.com/a19USQ90zS, — UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) November 7, 2019. In 2019, Esposito’s talent exploded all of a sudden, breaking several records. Lionel Messi - $104m (£78.7m) The only concerns were over whether the midfielder, whom Jurgen Klopp describes as an "unbelievable player", had the requisite patience to wait for his time to shine. the France Under-20 centre-half will prove a bargain buy at £27 million ($34m). The Brazil Under-23 international has only just turned 18 and will initially line out for Madrid's B team, but it looks like only a matter of time before he is playing alongside compatriots Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo in Zinedine Zidane's senior side. Silva has also signed a contract with the Dragons until 2025 that features a €125m (£105m/$139m) buyout clause, and it is not difficult to see someone activating it one day, given this is a player that Sporting C.P. "Matthijs might have been exceptional at that age," the ex-Netherlands international told Fox Sports, "but Gravenberch has unrivalled qualities.". Stever Kerr also won two championships with Tim Duncan as a member of the San Antonio Spurs. Ireland have been crying out for an exciting young forward since Robbie Keane retired, and now it seems that one may have arrived at one of their record scorer's former clubs. IPL 2020: ‘We didn’t have much time to have a look at him,’ MS Dhoni names ‘one of the most talented players going around’ Watch Miguel Azeez in action (starts move and scores at 1min 10sec) October 2020 update The versatile Azeez has shone in a deep midfield role and Arsenal believe he has a … The Spaniard may have only just turned 19, but the Etihad outfit are ready to hand a new, improved contract to a centre-half that Guardiola has compared to Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets because of his desire to better understand the game and his role within it. Las Palmas. There are only a few full-backs on this list, mostly because there are only a few full-backs with the talent to play at a high level from the very start. However, having been fast-tracked into the United States Under-20 team, the 18-year-old is now being linked with a summer move away from Barca. Highlights of his dominant display quickly went viral, but the most encouraging aspect of Camavinga's spectacular emergence as one of the most exciting young players in world football is that the sudden media attention has not gone to his head. The second-youngest player to score a brace in UCL history, just a hundred days later than Raúl. Joshua Zirkzee could not have announced himself to Bayern Munich fans as a potential superstar in quicker or more sensational fashion, with the forward netting decisive goals in a combined total of eight minutes across his first two Bundesliga appearances. Zlatan Ibrahimovic usually only reserves post-match praise for himself, so it was significant that the outspoken Swede hailed LA Galaxy prospect Efrain Alvarez as a "natural" talent after a win over Toronto last July.