Top 10 Best Football Wonderkids 2019
This 20 year old Frenchman has been a rock at the heart of RB Leipzig's defence for the past few seasons, racking up 55 appearances and over 4,000 minutes played, featuring at centre-back and right-back in the Bundesliga since 2016. Last season Upamecano helped RB Leipzig finish 3rd in the Bundesliga with the lowest 'Goals Conceded' in the league. He's also had experience playing in the Champions League, Europa League and at international level for France U21s. Standing at 6 feet tall Upamecano possesses a surprising speed at which he can recover from mistakes and hunt down opponents. He's sure to become one of the world's finest defenders if he keeps up his consistent form.
Valuation (transfermarkt) - €30 million
Future Ballon d'Or winner? - 3/10
This speedy 20 yr old American winger had his breakout season in 2016 with Borussia Dortmund. He proved valuable with his technical ability on both feet and made 90 appearances with the BVB before moving to Chelsea in January this year for a fee of €64 million euros, making him the most expensive American player ever. He also holds the record for youngest player to captain the US National Team. Will Pulisic inspire a surge of young talent to emerge from the US and become the USA's greatest ever player?
Valuation (transfermarkt) - €60 million
Future Ballon d'Or winner? - 5/10
Rashford has had a scintillating rise to glory, having joined Manchester United's academy at the young age of 7. He's now leading the line of a new-look Manchester United team. With electric pace, skillful flicks and tidy finishing, Rashford is the new hero at United. At the age of 21, the young English forward has already made 113 appearances, scored 29 goals and made 15 assists in the Premier League. He's also represented the England national team over 30 times and has scored 7 international goals. Marcus Rashford has already started the season off sensationally, scoring 2 in the first match of the season in a 4-0 battering over Chelsea. Can he fire Manchester United back to their former glory?
Valuation (transfermarkt) - €80 million
Future Ballon d'Or winner? - 7/10
The highly touted brazilian wonderkid is only 19 years old and he's already playing with the best of the best at Real Madrid who signed him only 2 weeks after his professional senior debut for Flamengo. Insane! His quick feet and trickery will prove invaluable for taking on defenders on the wings this season. Vinicius Júnior has the potential to emulate the form and class of his compatriot Neymar and is definitely on his way to becoming one of football's elite.
Valuation (transfermarkt) - €70 million
Future Ballon d'Or winner? - 7/10
Jadon Sancho is only 19 years of age yet he seems to have the passing vision and creativity of legends like Xavi, Pirlo and Scholes. His amazing skill with the ball allows him to create space for himself and provide masterful passes to his teammates to finish it off. Sancho signed for Dortmund from Manchester City in 2017 and made 7 appearances, providing a goal and 4 assists. Last season Sancho caught the eye of several big clubs as he scored 12 and assisted 14 in 26 games for Dortmund in the Bundesliga. Achieving an incredible statistic of 1 direct goal involvement per game. He has already scored a goal and provided an assist in the first Bundesliga game of the season and it will be a huge struggle for Dortmund to try and keep him come June next year.
Valuation (transfermarkt) - €100 million
Future Ballon d'Or winner? - 7.5/10
5. João Félix - Forward
At just 19 years of age, João Félix is already looking like a deadly goal threat after scoring 15 goals and bagging 7 assists in his debut season, where he made 21 appearances in the Primeira Liga and helped guide Benfica to the league title. This gives him a goals per game ratio of 0.7, more than a goal every two games! He has huge expectations this season after signing for Atletico Madrid from Benfica for €126 million, the 3rd most expensive transfer signing in the history of the beautiful game. Is João Félix the next Cristiano Ronaldo?
Valuation (transfermarkt) - €70 million
Future Ballon d'Or winner? - 9/10
Arguably one of the best midfielders in the world, Frenkie de Jong is up there with the likes of Ballon d'Or winner Modric and Premier League architect de Bruyne. Frenkie de Jong shone with brilliance last season with Ajax and the Netherlands, ultimately resulting in his 75 million euro transfer to European giants Barcelona. Frenkie de Jong is a keystone of the midfield, he can spray the ball to wingers, play tiki-taka and his defensive reading of the game is phenomenal, making him a key asset in terms of offense and defense. He has been dubbed 'the Dutch magician' and is likely to become the next Iniesta at Barcelona. Watch out for him this season!
Valuation (transfermarkt) - €85 million
Future Ballon d'Or winner? - 9/10
At 20 years old, Donnarumma stands at 6 foot 5 inches tall, making him incredibly intimidating for opposing strikers. He is seen by football fans everywhere as the next Gianluigi Buffon after a stunning breakout season with AC Milan in 2015 where he made 30 appearances in Serie A at the age of only 16. He has established himself as Milan's first-choice goalkeeper for the past 5 years and has 142 Serie A appearances and 48 clean sheets under his belt. However, he deserves the chance to get away from a dull Milan side, prove himself at one of Europe's elite clubs and build a name for himself.
Valuation (transfermarkt) - €55 million
Future Ballon d'Or winner? - 9/10
Last season he captained a young, exciting Ajax side to the semi-finals of the Champions League, beating Real Madrid in an incredible fashion along the way. Ajax also won the Eredivisie last season, keeping 16 clean sheets in 33 games with de Ligt at centre-back. He is known for his tackling, aerial ability and leadership on the pitch and was awarded the Golden Boy award, which has previously been awarded to players such as Messi, Mbappe and Pogba. Now at the age of 20, the Dutchman has recently moved to Juventus for €75 million. With de Ligt in defense, Juventus can definitely expect to win trophies this season.
Valuation (transfermarkt) - €75 million
Future Ballon d'Or winner? - 9.5/10
1. Kylian Mbappé - Forward
I mean what can I say. The whole world already knows his name. A crucial part of the France squad that won the World Cup in 2018, 3-time winner and top scorer of Ligue 1 last season, Mbappé is well on his way to global domination. At only 20 years old Mbappé has already been voted as one of the top 5 contenders for the Ballon d'Or, not long now til he wins it. Mbappé's lightning speed helps him ghost past defenders and his clinical finishing provides goals in crucial moments. He's got skills, he's got speed and he's got flair, Mbappé is every manager's dream forward. Having scored 4 goals at the World Cup, scored 4 and assisted 5 in the Champions League, scored 33 goals and set up 7 assists in just 24 games in Ligue 1 last season, Mbappé has already proven himself as one of the world's best.
Valuation (transfermarkt) - €200 million
Future Ballon d'Or winner? - 10/10
Thanks for reading! Comment down below if you agree / disagree or have any suggestions for future posts.
Please share if you enjoyed it would be appreciated greatly :)
Kevin @ Football: The Next Generation
Actually I read it yesterday but I had some thoughts about it and today I wanted to read it again because it is very well written.Superbly written article, if only all bloggers offered the same content as you, the internet would be a far better place..
ReplyDeleteBest Midfielders in the world