Lists

30 Promising Young Players In Soccer

Darren Ryding - January 6, 2023

Lists

30 Promising Young Players In Soccer

Darren Ryding - January 6, 2023

Few Things Make Fans Get More Excited Than Young Talent… Check Out the 30 Most Exciting Young Talents in the World Today…

Football fans are a passionate bunch. One thing that makes them very excited is when they sign a young player or produce one from their academy. There is something about seeing a teenager grow before their eyes and develop into a world-class superstar that is just special.

There is talent all across the world. It’s the bravery and fearlessness of young players that makes them so exciting and fresh to watch. When your club throws a lot of money out there to sign one, there’s also some trepidation. Will they be worth it?

Here are the 30 most exciting young players in the world today. Some of them are already established for both club and country. Others have only made a handful of appearances but already have fans anticipating how good they’re going ot be. Enjoy!

30. Ryan Sessegnon

The 19-year-old endured a torrid first campaign in the top flight with Fulham last season, but that was not his fault. He still possesses a precocious talent that could see him become a superstar in the future. Perpetually linked with Tottenham, Sessegnon is able to play all along the left flank. He’s an excellent left back and very good going forward.

Despite his team’s struggles, Sessegnon still made 33 appearances last season, showing how much faith Fulham have put in their teenage gem. He has cited Luke Shaw as an inspiration, saying how he loved the way the Manchester United fullback bombs up and down the ring, scoring and creating goals.

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Timothy Weah. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports.

29. Timothy Weah

The son of former World Player of the Year and the current President of Liberia, George Weah, Timothy is a young man on the rise. While he has a lot to live up to, he’s been slowly but surely learning a lot about football from his own experiences with PSG and Celtic.

The 19-year-old scored 4 goals in 19 appearances for the Glasgow side last season and has just completed a permanent transfer to Lille. A full US international, Weah has a lot of potentials and has the pedigree to become one of the most exciting players on the planet.

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28. Agustin Almendra

Boca Juniors have inserted a $27 million buyout clause in Agustin Almendra’s contract which shows you how highly he is valued by the Argentinian giants. The playmaker is a regular starter in midfield for the club and has become renowned for his tenacity, maturity and ability with the ball.

A confident dribbler who would inject flair into any side he played for, the 19-year-old has been compared to all-time-great, Juan Roman Riquelme. Now that is high praise indeed. He’s still got a long way to go, to prove how high his ceiling is, but there’s no doubting this starlet’s potential.

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27. Paulinho

No not the former Spurs and Barcelona man. Paulinho is another young Brazilian prodigy. He signed from Vasco da Gama to Bayer Leverkusen last summer and hasn’t looked back. The 18-year-old managed 21 appearances for the German side last season, scoring 1 goal.

Those figures might not be massive, but fans are definitely excited by his potential. he broke onto the scene at Vasco da Gama as a 16-year-old and was a star of Brazil’s 2017 U-17 World Cup campaign. Leverkusen didn’t think twice about forking out €20 million for him.

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26. Ethan Ampadu

A full Welsh international, Chelsea fans are crying out to see the 18-year-old get a shot in their starting line-up. A distinctive figure with his head of dreadlocks, Ampadu has remarkable composure and maturity for his age. He’s a ball-playing centre back who doesn’t mind the physical side of the game.

Now that Chelsea has been hit with a transfer ban, he might actually be given a chance at Stamford Bridge. 8 caps for Wales already shows just how good this young man is and how well respected he is by his coaches. He famously made his debut as a 15-year-old for Exeter. That’s insane for a young defender.

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25. Benoit Badiashile

You might recognize Benoit Badiashile for reasons other than his football playing ability. The young Frenchman was taken to task by former Monaco boss Thierry Henry for not tucking his chair under the table at the end of a Champion’s League press conference.

Let’s just take two words from that last sentence: ‘Champion’s League.’ Badiashile is just 17-years-old and has already locked down a place in Monaco’s starting lineup. Sure the former French champions had an absolute disaster of a season, barely managing to hang onto Ligue 1 survival. Badiashile was a rare silver lining in a grim season.

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Tyler Adams. Mandatory Credit: Tyler Adams.

24. Tyler Adams

RB Leipzig fans were devastated when their midfield dynamo Naby Keita moved to Liverpool. They could never have expected the impact of their young American signing Tyler Adams. Just 20-years-old, he’s calm and composed in possession and capable of an incisive pass.

Physically gifted, his defensive attributes are phenomenal. He’s also looking good as a box-to-box option. A full US international, he’s earned 10 caps for the Stars and Stripes. Alongside Christian Pulisic, the future of the US national team is looking very exciting.

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Andre Onana. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports.

23. Andre Onana

The Cameroonian goalkeeper has been a mainstay in Ajax’s scintillating young team and is already being linked to Manchester United as a potential replacement for David De Gea. At 23 years old, he’s one of the oldest players on this list, but just one of two goalkeepers we’ve chosen.

Still very young for a goalkeeper, Onana is the first choice now for both club and country. He’s also an inspirational figure. He’s spoken out vocally about the challenges faced by black goalkeepers and how they have to fight to prove that they don’t make mistakes.

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Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

22. Christian Pulisic

2018/19 was a mixed year for the man seen as the US international team’s leading light. Pulisic found himself behind English sensation Jadon Sancho in the Borussia Dortmund pecking order. Despite his progress appearing to stagnate, there is no doubt that this 20-year-old possesses world-class talent.

The attacking midfielder is known for his direct runs and clinical finishing. Newly signed by Chelsea, he’s going to try and take the Premier League by storm. He’s got 11 goals in 29 appearances for his country and is the US national team’s youngest ever captain.

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Feran Torres. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports.

21. Ferran Torres

Only 19 years old, Torres managed 37 appearances last season for Spanish giants Valencia, which just goes to show how highly he is rated by the La Liga side. If you’re good enough, then you’re old enough and that has proved to be the case for the exciting young winger.

After a successful season, he’s been linked with big money move to the Premier League and to Real Madrid and Barcelona. A powerful runner with a lot of skill, Torres has a bright future ahead of him. His positioning and ability to cross the ball are two of his biggest attributes.

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Morgan Gibbs-White. Mandatory Credit: Youtube.

20. Morgan Gibbs-White

2018/19 was a breakthrough season for Morgan Gibbs-White on Wolves’ successful return to the English top flight. The young man appears to have it all. A left-footed creative midfielder, he oozes class on the ball and has the agility to go past opposition players with ease.

Now he faces the challenge of establishing himself as a consistent starter in Wolves’ matchday line-up. As a young English player in a team dominated by Portuguese, Wolves will be desperate to develop him and turn him into a star. Manager Nuno Espirito Santos believes that they have themselves a gem. Next year is massive for him.

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19. Alphonso Davies

Signed by Bayern Munich from Vancouver Whitecaps, Alphonso Davies is Canada’s next great hope. He arrived in Bavaria for a cool $22 million and made 6 appearances with 1 goal since January. With Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery departing Munich, Davies will find opportunities easier to grasp.

The 18-year-old has already become the first player born in the 2000s to appear at a major international tournament when he starred for Canada in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The fleet-footed winger is a consistent goalscoring threat and will be desperate to get a run in his new side.

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18. Rodrygo

Brazil keeps producing incredible talent, and Rodrygo is no exception. A recent signing by Real Madrid, he’s already become well-known in his homeland where he has lit up the Brazilian league. The national coach Tite is already amazed by his dribbling, finishing and maturity despite being just 18-years-old.

Of course, he’s come from Santos, that bastion of young talent over the years including Neymar, Robinho and even Pele. After achieving success with the signing of Vinicius Jr. Real Madrid were convinced that parting with €45 million for Rodrygo’s services was a good move. It could prove brilliant.

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David Neres. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sport.

17. David Neres

Another Ajax youngster, David Neres is being linked with a whole host of clubs across Europe after lighting up the Champion’s League and the Copa America with his electric performances. The 22-year-old Brazilian is a versatile forward, who has mostly played as a winger for the Dutch champions.

He’s been playing in the Copa America as a replacement for the injured Neymar which says a lot about how highly he is rated. He’s very fast and skilful and capable of moments of magic. Perhaps his most important moment so far was the Champion’s League quarter-final equaliser against Juventus.

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Marcus Rashford. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports.

16. Marcus Rashford

It’s not been the easiest time for Marcus Rashford at Manchester United side which has been totally mismanaged. But there’s no denying that the 21-year-old has been one of their most consistent players over the past couple of seasons. When he broke onto the scene, he basically scored on his first appearance in every competition he played in.

He possesses blistering pace and has managed to score 13 goals in back-to-back seasons. As the players around him improve and as he develops as a player, then surely those numbers are going to go up. Ole Gunnar Solksjaer could be the man to get the best out of Rashford.

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15. Kai Havertz

No German player is more exciting right now than Kai Havertz. The 20-year-old is the dynamo in Bayer Leverkusen’s midfield. In 2018, he became the youngest player in the history of the Bundesliga to reach the milestone of 50 league appearances and no wonder, because he’s sensational.

Technically gifted and two-footed, Havertz became the highest-scoring teenager in a single Bundesliga campaign when he scored his 17th goal, on the final day of the season against Hertha Berlin. Surely a move to Bayern Munich is imminent.

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14. Nicolo Zanilo

One of a few exciting young Italian players out there today, Zaniolo has what it takes to be a world-beater. The Roma youngster was very impressive last year as he arrived in the capital as part of the deal that saw Radja Naingollan move to Inter Milan. 6 goals in 26 appearances in his first season are decent numbers for the 19-year-old.

You know when you’re being thrown on against Real Madrid in the Champion’s League that you’re highly-rated. He already has two caps for his country and if he keeps going like this, he’ll have a whole lot more soon.

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Gianluigi Donarumma. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports.

13. Gianluigi Donarumma

Surely the heir-apparent to Italian legend Gianluigi Buffon, his namesake has been in possession of AC Milan’s goalkeeping gloves since 2016. He sensationally broke onto the scene as a 16-year-old. Now three years later he’s overcome adversity to grow as a player and a person.

He seems to have every advantage: a large but slender frame, great decision making and mental composure. While he does need to work on his kicking game, that’s a minor gripe. There’s a reason why he’s the youngest goalkeeper ever capped by Italy. Dino Zoff and Buffon have both sang his praises.

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12. Callum Hudson-Odoi

What were you doing when you were 18 years old? Callum Hudson-Odoi is in the incredible position of having two of the biggest clubs in the world vying for his services. A lightning-quick winger is a man in demand. Bayern Munich and Chelsea are having a tug of war over him.

He’s on the books of the latter right now, although he’s entering the final stages of his contract. Called up to the England squad even before becoming a fixture in the Chelsea team, Hudson-Odoi is one of the Premier League’s most talented young players. Teammate Willian believes he can be one of the best in the world.

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11. Achraf Hakimi

It’s mad how many defenders are in the top half of this list when most people think that they come into maturity in their late twenties. Maybe it’s something about the time we live in or how coaching has developed, but there are so many brilliant young men out there right now. Achraf Hakimi is one of these.

He left Real Madrid for Borussia Dortmund and the Moroccan has been a revelation. Despite playing for most of the season on the left side of defence he’s been brilliant. Quick, dynamic and powerful, he was originally a winger but is capable of playing all across the defence. He once got 3 assists against Atletico Madrid in a single match last year.

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10. Phil Foden

Phil Foden has had to be very patient. When you think of English players, this 19-year-old is definitely against type. Highly technical and efficient with the ball, it’s probably the best move for him right now to stay and develop under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola. If he was at any other team he’d probably be guaranteed a starting spot.

At Manchester City, you have to fight for your place. He’s already won five major trophies at the Etihad Arena, and next year looks set to be his year. This man is definitely capable of massive things. Can he deliver?

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Moise Kean. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports.

9. Moise Kean

Moise Kean struggled for game time at Juventus before breaking into the starting line-up in the final quarter of the season. Now it looks like it’s going to take a mammoth effort to remove him because his form has been astonishing. He scored in six consecutive games for club and country and showed why he can be their next big thing.

Quick, tenacious and skilful, Kean is one of Italy’s most highly-rated prospects. He’s even showed phenomenal willpower and maturity by dealing with racial abuse against Cagliari. Kean is very hard-working and is willing to track back and defend. A great all-rounder.

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8. Ibrahima Konate

One of the most highly-rated young defenders in world football today, 19-year-old Ibrahima Konate is a typical RB Leipzig signing. Young, exciting and with a lot of room to develop, he’s exactly what they look for. And he proved to be an inspired piece of business as he’s become a key cog in their defence.

His ability with the ball is clear. Very much the modern centre-back, he can bring the ball forward and distribute passes very efficiently. All of that for a free transfer. He’s surely not going to be in Leipzig much longer if he keeps going the way he is now.

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7. Joao Felix

Everybody seems to want Joao Felix right now. An elegant forward, Felix has lit up Portugal as part of an exciting Benfica team. Capable of playing all across the front line, Felix has been compared to former greats like Rui Costa and Joao Pinto. His best moment so far has been a hattrick against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League.

The 19-year-old is so highly-rated that Atletico Madrid are ready to smash their transfer record for him. They’ve lodged an incredible €126 million bid for the Portuguese international. Time will tell if he moves to the Wanda Metropolitan, but great things are expected of this young man.

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Matthijs de Ligt. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports.

6. Matthijs de Ligt

Winner of the Golden Boy award in 2018, Matthijs de Ligt was the first defender to receive this honour. It’s been a fast-track to success for the young defender who won his first international cap at the age of 17. The Ajax captain was also the youngest player to start a major European final when he played against Manchester United in the Europa League final.

He captained Ajax to Eredivisie glory in 2018/19 and has become one of European football’s hottest commodities. The 19-year-old already has 19 caps for the Netherlands and looks set to be a mainstay for the future. Right now he’s being heavily linked with mega-money moves to Juventus, Manchester United, and Barcelona.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports.

5. Trent Alexander-Arnold

Two Champion’s League finals in two years, with one win, shows just how good Liverpool’s first choice right-back has been. Since ousting Nathaniel Clyne for the Reds, Alexander-Arnold hasn’t looked back. Very much an attacking fullback, the 20-year-old whips in beautiful crosses and is capable of scoring sublime freekicks.

Despite the fact that his defensive qualities have been questioned, he’s stood up to the likes of Leroy Sane, Franck Ribery and Lionel Messi. He even had a place in England’s 2018 World Cup squad. The future is bright for the Liverpool local boy. He’s surely destined to captain the Anfield club.

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Luka Jovic. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports.

4. Luka Jovic

21-year-old Serbian striker Luka Jovic is another very exciting name on this list. He played a massive role in a resurgent and exciting young Frankfurt side in 2018/19. One of his highlight reel moments was scoring five goals against Fortuna Dusseldorf. He is prolific.

He scored 27 goals in all competitions prompting Frankfurt to make his loan deal permanent. The story doesn’t end there. After an exceptional season, Real Madrid decided that he is just the man they need to light up their attack and signed him in the summer for a cool €60 million.

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Vinicius Junior. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports.

3. Vinicius Junior

Brazil’s next big thing, could Vinicius Junior be the man to replace the gaping hole left behind by t Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Juventus? The 18-year-old was one of the only bright spots at the Bernabeu last season, after a disastrous period where they won nothing.

His trickery, pace and fearlessness were on point against Barcelona in a league game. They paid €45 million for the young man as a 16-year-old. Now that looks like a genius move. He could lead them to glory for the next 14 years.

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2. Jadon Sancho

Sancho could have stayed at Manchester City and earned a lot of money very quickly for doing nothing. Instead, he took a risk and moved to Borussia Dortmund. Since then, he’s been magnificent. The Englishman has been scoring and setting up assists for fun in the Bundesliga.

He’s now commanding a place in the England starting lineup. Sancho has an eye for a pass and a remarkable ability to dribble with the ball. He completed a remarkable 29 in five matches, more than any other player within the same period in Germany. Only 19 years old, he’s loving life in black and yellow.

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Kylian Mbappe. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports.

1. Kylian Mbappe

What a couple of years it’s been for the young Frenchman. After a pair of phenomenal seasons with Monaco and PSG, he announced his arrival on the global stage at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. His display of energy and searing pace against Argentina is destined to become an iconic moment.

Mbappe has been linked away from PSG recently. There’s no doubt that he’s the most exciting young player on the planet today and definitely the most valuable. The striker consistently demonstrates a maturity beyond his years which only adds to how brilliant he is.

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30 Promising Young Players In Soccer

30 Promising Young Players In Soccer

30. Ryan Sessegnon

29. Timothy Weah

28. Agustin Almendra

27. Paulinho

26. Ethan Ampadu

25. Benoit Badiashile

24. Tyler Adams

23. Andre Onana

22. Christian Pulisic

21. Ferran Torres

20. Morgan Gibbs-White

19. Alphonso Davies

18. Rodrygo

17. David Neres

16. Marcus Rashford

15. Kai Havertz

14. Nicolo Zanilo

13. Gianluigi Donarumma

12. Callum Hudson-Odoi

11. Achraf Hakimi

10. Phil Foden

9. Moise Kean

8. Ibrahima Konate

7. Joao Felix

6. Matthijs de Ligt

5. Trent Alexander-Arnold

4. Luka Jovic

3. Vinicius Junior

2. Jadon Sancho

1. Kylian Mbappe

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