A host of talented youngsters made a name for themselves across Europe in the 2018/19 season.
We’ve selected seven of the most exciting players under the age of 21 who look on track to have long and successful careers at the highest level….
Hailed as the ‘next Cristiano Ronaldo’, Joao Felix certainly has a lot of pressure on his young Portuguese shoulders. But the skilful midfielder lived up to that hype in his debut season with Benfica as he registered 19 goals and eight assists. A playmaking sensation with an incredible passing range, Felix seems to operate with eyes in the back of his head. A man that can create off the striker but also on the wing, he looks set for a big-money transfer this summer
One of the most impressive young players of this generation is commanding centre-back Matthijs de Ligt. A proper defender with fantastic leaderships skills, the strong Dutchman has also proved a threat in the opposition penalty area from set pieces. Ajax made him their youngest ever captain at 18 and, by 19, he had played over 130 competitive matches, plus captained the Amsterdam club to a league and cup double. Already a regular in the Netherlands national team and set to sign with Italian champions Juventus, the sky’s the limit for Matthijs de Ligt.
One of the most talented youngsters on the planet, Vinicius Junior has the lot. Pace, skill, vision and the ability to glide past defenders, the Brazilian has been labelled by many in his homeland as the ‘next Neymar’. The forward’s move to Real Madrid for £38million in 2018 didn’t shock those who had seen him play at Flamengo. Still just aged 19, Vinicius, who’s broke into the Madrid first-team and scored his first goals for Los Blancos in 2018/19, seems to have the world firmly at his feet.
Exciting forward Moise Kean has been turning heads in Italy with his all-action displays. A player that possesses strength, power, pace and intelligence on the pitch, he gives defenders nightmares on a weekly basis. Kean is the first player born in the 2000s to make an appearance and score in one of Europe’s five major leagues, to play in the Champions League, and to score a goal for the Italy national team. The talented attacker has also won two Serie A titles with Juventus and we expect there will be plenty more to come.