Regardless of whether you’re into recognizing the next generation football stars for your FIFA Career mode or simply a football enthusiast who loves to watch out for promising stars, everybody can enjoy seeing future stars develop from youngsters to superstars.
It’s a normal phenomenon for every footballer to hit maximum playing potential between the ages of 24-27, while a goalkeeper may take more years to attain that height. Some take more time to sustain their ability, while others are opened into the spotlight from their adolescent years, compelled to live up to their potential earlier rather than later.
With Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the dusk of their careers, football fans are worrying about the gaping hole the duo will leave in the game once they leave the footballing scene.
Regardless of their unavoidable departure showing up not too far off, football appears to be in safe hands. The thoughts of every football enthusiast now turn to the new generation youngsters, abound in some of Europe’s finest team, from age 17 to 20 respectively.
The question now is, who would be the next great footballer when the established stars leave the scene?
Here are the 16 of Europe’s next generation football Stars
AGE 17 CATEGORY
- Pedro Lopez (Barcelona) & Jude Bellingham (Dortmund)
Pedro Gonzalez Lopez commonly refers to as Pedri has been one of the new generation youngsters in Spain this season, most especially for Barcelona.
His performances since he officially joined the Catalan giant from lowly Las Palmas has been a matter of discussion for many fans, who are of the opinion that at his age he should still be at La Masia. But then the language of the game is if you’re good, you’re good to play irrespective of your age.
The youngster has not only earned himself a regular spot in Ronald Koeman’s Barcelona team, but he has also made himself an important figure in the team with his surprising performances and the form he has been in since he joined.
Having gone back on loan to Las Palmas when he was signed in 2019, many would have thought he will find it pretty difficult to break into the Barcelona team, but surprisingly he’s been able to do that which also got him his debut call up for the Spanish U21 team.
Pedri’s quick fix has been evident since he was 16 years old when he was called up to the first team of Las Palmas, but no one thought his rise into becoming one of Barcelona’s important players would be as swift as this.
He may not have started scoring a lot of goals for his team, but has shown the manager could always trust in him to deliver.
As for Jude Bellingham, leaving the shores of England and the huge salaries coming into his account is a lot of sacrifices to make in deciding to playtime in Germany, but his decision seems right for his development as a professional player.
As a matter of fact, only a few 17-year-old youngsters are able to command a €25m transfer, but in Bellingham’s case that was exactly what the Westfalenstadion side coughed out to get him.
For what the German Bundesliga is known for in giving youngsters the chance to show what they’ve got, without wasting time Bellingham is already showing the stuff he’s made off with some of his impressive performances.
For a 17-year-old Bellingham to be invited to the English national team beaming with a lot of talent shows his hard work and consistency has paid off.
- Gio Reyna (Dortmund) & Rayan Cherki (Lyon)
Reyna’s father Claudio Reyna is a professional football legend and arguably the best player in the history of the US national team. With the way Gio’s trajectory is going, he could surpass the legendary status of his father.
Talented youngsters such as Dest, Pulisic, Musah, it’s no doubt that the US national team would be one of the best North American sides come 2030 when all of these players would have grown to their full potential, but then it’s left to be seen how some of these players would have grown.
Since joining from New York City FC in 2015, young Reyna has enjoyed a meteoric rise to stardom at Dortmund, and he has since established himself as a regular in Lucien Favre’s senior side.
The US U17 captain didn’t get into Favre’s first team by mistake, it was a cumulation of his impressive 17 appearances in all competitions in his debut season, and that further makes him an important player in the team with two goals and five assists both in the league and Europe.
Gio is already a regular starter at Borussia Dortmund at 17, and he is ticking all boxes in the middle of the park for the Die Borussen. If he continues with his impressive display in the team, he could be leading the US national team in the future World Cup just like his father led the American national team.
Cherki
Cherki is the third of five brothers, born to a father of Italian origin and a mother with Algerian roots in Lyon suburbs. The Lyon youngster was six when his talent was spotted, and he has since gone to local amateur club AS Saint-Priest, where he caught the eyes of Roger Martinez who was his first coach.
Cherki has become one of the most coveted talents in Europe after breaking through Lyon’s first team last season at age 16, his amazing performance against Nantes is still one of the highlights Lyon fans still can’t get over with. The kind of maturity a player of his age displayed has made Europe’s elite clubs want to secure his service.
The Frenchman has made six Ligue 1 appearances for the former Ligue 1 champions thus far, although he’s yet to score this season. However, his impressive trajectory is a testament to him being one of the players to keep an eye on.
READ ALSO: FIFA 20: The Best & Finest Young Players For Career Mode
AGE 18 CATEGORY
- Ansu Fati (Barcelona) & Eduardo Camavinga (Rennes)
The Spanish league has been ablaze with the brilliance of the youngster since he made his debut. To say the teenage sensation has the world at his feet is an understatement, as many have termed him to be the next generation superstar.
The Guinea Bissau born, Spanish international also held the record of being the youngest Barcelona player to score a La Liga goal, eclipsing the record of Fabrice Olinga who also scored at age 16, 98 days, and Iker Muniain age 16, 298 days.
Before Fati sustained a meniscus injury on his knee, he already showed why he’s one of Barcelona’s important players. With the youngster out due to injury, Barcelona would no doubt miss him having been very instrumental in their matches. If he continues with the momentum he’s started with, then we’re in for a great superstar in the future.
Camavinga
Eduardo Camavinga’s emergence with Rennes was so remarkable and unique that at 16 he was already dictating general play in the front of Rennes defense as a holding midfielder, a very difficult position that requires a lot of experience and know-how.
He became France’s youngest debutant since 1914 after making his debut in Les Blues triumph in the Nations League against Croatia, plus being the youngest ever professional player for Rennes when he made his debut at age 16, which is a clear advantage of trusting him right from age 11 at the youth system.
When a team has a lot of talented players in their rank, it is expected that a youngster at age 18 should be gradually eased into the team. Especially a difficult position as that of a holding midfielder, but in Camavinga’s case he’s been thrown in a position many at his age could have failed to deliver or impressed.
Camavinga’s 36 appearances in all competitions for Rennes last season for the Ligue 1 outfit is a testament to how good the Angola born is. His impressive performances have got him linked to some of the top elite clubs in Europe.
- Reinier Jesus (Dortmund) & Jeremy Doku (Rennes)
Brazilian’s club’s recent history of exporting talented youngsters to Europe’s top team is certainly no doubt why they’re regarded as the best footballing nation. Among thousands, if not millions of Brazilian players that were exported to Europe, the likes of Ronaldo De Lima and co, a large chunk of those players did succeed in Europe.
The former Flamengo midfielder Reinier, also added to that list of his predecessors when he sealed a move to Real Madrid before going on loan to the Westfalenstadion, having proved himself worthy in the Braziliero as one of the best youngsters in the land.
Reinier has already been dubbed the best player in his age group by renowned scouts, and he has been tipped for the top.
Reinier has been a serial award winner throughout his youth football career, case in point was his five-star performances at the South American U17 Championship in Peru where he scored four goals in three matches. The tall attacking midfielder at 6.3ft, has the ability to dribble and play a defense-splitting pass to his teammates, and he has been compared to former AC Milan and Real Madrid star Kaka.
Doku
Who is Jeremy Doku? Doku is a Ghanaian-born footballer, Belgium international who plays for Rennes. Doku emerged on the football scene in 2018, playing for the Belgian giants Anderlecht, having been at the club since age 10.
He played five top-flight games for Anderlecht and further got more opportunities to increase his cap to 24 first-team appearances for the Belgian giant in the 2019-20 season before he sealed a move to Rennes for a transfer fee reported to be around €26m.
Since he made his debut with Anderlecht senior team, the youngster has proven himself capable of playing on either flank, as well as living to the tag of being the next Mane due to his strength, ability to take on defenders.
Reminiscent of Mane’s style of play, he’s been tipped to be one of the next generation stars that could end up playing for the big teams.
Doku’s market value is reported to be around €20m when he was with the Belgian side, a considerable fee for any club interested in his services, due to his impressive performance he’s been linked with Liverpool in time past, Chelsea, Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, and some other Europe elite clubs, but Rennes were lucky enough to snap him up.
Anderlecht is quite known for their famed for producing quality players, which includes the likes of City legend and former captain Kompany, Inter Milan forward Lukaku, and Leicester City high flying midfielder Youri Tielemans, with Doku joining the list he could also end up been the next poster boy of Belgium football.
AGE 19 CATEGORY
- Takefusa Kubo (Villarreal) & Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Real Madrid youngster, Villarreal loanee may still be waiting to make his Real Madrid debut. However, he is no doubt the best youngster from the Asian country Japan, and he has been making a name for himself outside the four walls of Bernabeu, first with a loan move to Real Mallorca last season, and now with Unai Emery led side, Villarreal.
Although there are many raw parts of his game, his ability to take on defenders is one unique part of his talent which also makes him a thrilling prospect to watch out for. The former Barcelona’s La Masia youngster is definitely on the same route to becoming a great player for Japan just like the legendary Hidetoshi Nakata if he keeps developing.
Kubo would likely return to Madrid next season and go on to be the next generation star for Japanese football for at least the next decade.
Saka
Arsenal youngster Bukayo Saka is currently one of the youngest players in the English topflight league. The England international who made his Premier League debut in January 2019 has since then become an integral part of Arteta’s Arsenal team with a lot of versatility to his game.
Saka was so impressive for Arsenal in a standout breakthrough campaign, in which he scored four goals and provided 11 assists in 39 games across all competitions, which got him a call up into the fold of the Three Lions national team.
With Saka’s trajectory as it stands, he has given the football world a glimpse of what to expect as one of the amazing youngsters in football. If he continues with this development then Arsenal and England are in for a prospective world-class player.
READ ALSO: Kai Havertz: Europe’s Best Young Midfielder
- Rodrygo Goes (Real Madrid) & Mason Greenwood (Manchester United)
The Osasco-born attacker is another Brazilian youngster on the payroll of Los Blancos, Rodrygo is a player with much quality and one of the future star that could lead the Samba Boys to future World Cup championship.
Rodrygo can operate mostly on the right flank, likewise on the left side when needed, he’s also known for his threat and composure inside the box, which is quite evident in some of his performances couple with goals for Los Blancos.
The 19-year-old winger €45m move from Santos to Madrid in 2019 really put a lot of weight on his shoulder amid comparisons with some of Selecao legends, such as Ronaldo De Lima, Robinho, and Brazil’s current poster boy Neymar. His talent as one of the most exciting youngsters in world football hasn’t gone unnoticed, which has earned him recognition as Goal’s NxGn 2020 award winner.
Rodrygo has only appeared in 5 matches this season in the league and 3 in Europe, playing a total of 155 minutes. He’s been able to average 1.74 assists for every 90 minutes he plays on the pitch which is relatively a decent stats for a player of his age in a team full of great players.
Polishing all of his skills is very important, if he does that the world should watch out for yet another Brazilian superstar.
Greenwood
Mason Greenwood is one of the most impressive youngsters to emerge within the English Premier League for Ole Gunner Solsjkaer led side Manchester United. He has already established himself as a potential goal poacher who could go on to lead the line for the Red Devils for many years, especially with his performances.
With him, and the likes of Rashford, Bellingham, Foden, Saka, and Sancho, the Three Lions oozes a lot of great talent who would make them proud in the future. They’ve all announce themselves to the world through their performances, with dedication and consistency, Greenwood could perhaps be the next Harry Kane or Rooney for England.
Since his emergence, he has enjoyed a lot of recognition and that has to do with scoring 16 goals in his debut season. Seeing such from a player who is two-footed, quick, smart, and precise in front of goal, perhaps we should expect much more from him as a real deal of English football.
AGE 20 CATEGORY
- Jadon Sancho (Dortmund) & Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)
When talking about a potential world-class player, then you can boldly add the Borussia Dortmund forward to that conversation. Over the past two seasons, he has proven to possess that status with his performances for the Westfalenstadion side since he moved to Germany, and also rank arguably as one of the finest wide players in Europe.
His consistent, flamboyant but effective dribble has often made him one of the most sought-after players in the transfer market. The Englishman is destined to move to a bigger club in the future, where ever he moves, such a team certainly has a quality player in their squad.
The talented Englishman may not be as impressive and explosive this season as he was last season, scoring goals aplenty and making assists for his teammates. However, that doesn’t mean the former Manchester City star isn’t a good player any team could bank on to deliver on the big stage.
Alphonso
The young Canadian left-back, Alphonso Davies is one of the enterprising youngsters that took the Bundesliga by storm this year, having broken into the senior team at Bayern Munich under Hansi Flick.
Davies was a teenage winger looking to force his way into the Bavarian giant squad despite the tough competition for places in his favored position. But right now he can boastfully say that’s a thing of the past, as he has become the first point of call for the left wing-back position in the Bayern Munich team.
Since he made his debut, he’s been arguably considered to be the most exciting young left-back currently, with his attacking attributes combined with his ridiculous recovery speed when attacking, defending, which has no doubt mark him out as a potential world-class in the mold of Marcelo.
- Phil Foden (Manchester City) & Erling Haaland (Dortmund)
Foden has not only been an integral member of Pep Guardiola City’s side, but he has also been regarded as one most exciting youngsters that could help the English national team challenge for trophies in the future.
Talent-wise, he is probably the best around in the English league at his age. With the style of football Pep play, if he continues to play under Guardiola, Foden could end up being among the best midfielder in the world. However, he needs to play more to develop fully but also has to be patient due to the star-studded squad at City.
At 22 or 23 he should have developed enough to start fulfilling his potential for club and country, fortunately for him he’s well surrounded by fantastic players that would help him in fulfilling his potential. We can only hope his trajectory won’t be like that of Jack Wilshere.
Haaland
Erling Braut Haaland is certainly not a stranger to every football enthusiast who saw him paint the Austrian league with goals at age 19. The Norway international is a countless goalscoring records holder, as a matter of fact, he’s only getting better which other players of his age still find it difficult to reach his level.
Since he moved down to Dortmund from Salzburg he has shown he could also flex muscles with the big boys of the game, painting the Bundesliga with goals, which has placed him among the players that could challenge for the Goal individual award.
Haaland is the son of a former Norwegian international and has proved to be an obvious natural talent from the start.
Been a natural finisher with a superb vision and an understanding of the game, he might be the next generation star that would take over from Ronaldo and Messi. Surprisingly he’s started showing glimpses of that and what to expect from him.
Conclusion
All of these players have shown they’re exciting youngsters to watch out for. However, history did make us understand that not all exciting youngsters end up being a world-class footballer. Such as the stories of Bojan Krkic, Adu who has tagged the next Pele, Christians Macaulay and many other who has failed to live up to expectations.
But then, we might end up seeing the next superstar among them in years to come.
