Every year football enthusiasts and pundits make bold projections about the next wonderkid, fighting for the rights to their discovery. Many of these promising breakthroughs disappear from stardom, in a fall from grace but a selected handful retain there form and grow into some of the best footballers in the world. Here is a look back at the 10 youngsters we tipped as the next big thing last year. It's only fair now in 2023 that we let you read our predictions and tell you whether these players are actually successes or failures.
Hugo Ekitike:
The 6ft 2, 19-year-old is the most prolific teenager in Europe this season, 9gls in 21 appearances, attracting the interest of Europe’s biggest clubs. In January Newcastle identified the Frenchman as their primary target upfront with a £25m bid accepted on deadline day, but the deal failed to materialise. Rising from the Reims youth setup, 2021-22 has been his break-out season, where he’s integral to his team contributing 38% of goal involvements. He is a traditional box to box poacher who is clinical in front of goal, yet he’s also a workhorse for his team, tracking back, pressuring defenders and executing interceptions. The two-time French Under 20 international has been compared to Kylian Mbappe for his pace and agility, but he is also very physical, even with his slender frame, he protects the ball and links up play to ignite an attack. Averaging a goal every 128 minutes this season demonstrates the consistency in his goalscoring, which has alerted Paris Saint Germain, West Ham and Arsenal for his services where its likely there will be a bidding war in the summer. Ekitike can mature into a world-class striker, but he must show longevity that this season is not a one-off.
Currently at: PSG Success
Karim Adeyemi:
He left Bayern’s academy to hone his ability in the suburbs of Europe at RB Salzburg. This unorthodox route via Austria has allowed Adeyemi to refine his technique and discover his potential to become the hot property of Dortmund, Barcelona and Arsenal. He leads the Austrian Bundesliga with 15 goals in 22 appearances and has journeyed to the Round of 16 in the Champions League scoring 3 goals. The pedigree of Salzburg’s reneowned academy has given the 20-year-old freedom to express himself and flourish as well as the opportunity to emerge onto the scene, in September 2021 he earnt his first senior cap for Germany. That made him the first player from an Austrian club post-war to play for the German national team. He’s a versatile forward who thrives on the left side, offering width and hurting teams with his pace. The crispness of his first touch and comfort to operate in tight spaces, using his acceleration and skill, enables him to draw fouls and open spaces. At 5 ft 9, he’s nimble and sharp on the ball where his movement and intelligence in the box create him chances, which is why he has scored a goal every 103 minutes.
Currently at: Borussia Dortmund Failure
Gavi:
The youngest El Clasico starter at 17 years and 80 days has kept defying the records for club and country, since his Barcelona debut on August 29th, 2021. He joined Barcelona Age 11 in 2015, having reportedly scored 95 goals for the Real Betis youth set-up and was immediately promoted from the U16’s to the U19’s. At 17 he has played 1,587 minutes this season as well as 6 Champions League games, assisting five times with one goal. It reflects the composure and confidence Gavi possesses to step up to this level so young and ease into it with the poise and calmness of his veteran teammates like Sergio Busquets. He inherits a lightness on his feet and balance, allowing him to dribble forward from deep and retain possession in dangerous areas to help his team stay in control. His projection has followed the emergence of teammate Pedri, 18 years old, and they are both shaping the future of Barcelona’s midfield that will look to emulate the longevity and success of Xavi and Iniesta. On September 30th, 2021, he became the youngest player to represent Spain and has since received 5 caps, showing the belief his coaches instil into him.
Currently at: Barcelona Success
Ryan Gravenberch:
At 19 years old, Gravenberch has experienced a decorated early prominence at Ajax. He received the “Nouri” Award for best academy player in 2018 and the Van Basten Award commemorating the talent of the year in 2021. Under Ten Hag at Ajax, he has been injected with a winning mentality and has nurtured the illustrious Dutch attacking philosophy, where he’s a gamechanger operating in an advanced midfield attacking role. His tall and athletic physique deceives defenders, because he is agile dribbling with the ball where he attracts defenders to him, opening spaces and disjointing the opposition. His 34 creations and 56 dribbles this season demonstrate his creativity and flair on the ball, but he’s an all-rounder who can use his strength to hold up play or regain possession. The midfield operates around the Dutchman who was the youngest Ajax debutant aged 16 and 130 days, and he has become an instrumental cog in the team. He has 10 Caps for Holland, where he has transitioned between the U21 setup and senior team struggling to gain a first team place under Louis Van Gaal. His meteoric rise in Amsterdam has seen Bayern Munich storm in for a potential summer deal for around £25m.
Currently at: Bayern Munich Failure
Yuri Alberto:
The Santos Academy prospect switched allegiances, after refusing to renew his contract, to sign for Internacional in July 2020. His 2022 stats 12gls in 33 appearances for a 19-year-old alerted Europe with Arsenal frontrunners in January to sign the Brazilian, but Zenit swooped in to sign him for £25m. He is an ideal long-term successor to 33year old Artem Dzyuba and provides reinforcements upfront following Sardar Azmoun’s January departure. He is a number 9 who likes dropping into midfield or drifting wide, because he loves to get on the ball and create. Its his strength and power that will enable him to adapt to European football, where he is lethal in front of goal with a powerful shot and ability to time his runs into the box. The Brazil international capped at U17, U20 and U23 level is an unpredictable and difficult striker for oppositions because he shifts across the final third into different positions which pulls defenders towards him and makes him hard to nullify. It was a pragmatic decision to venture to Zenit who have a cohort of Brazilian talents like Malcolm, Wendel and Claudinho who can forge relationships and advise Alberto on transitioning and how to improve.
Currently at: Corinthians Failure
Aurilen Tchouamei:
The 22-year-old is already an established France international earning 8 caps, where he has surpassed N’Dombele, Rabiot, Tolisso and Lyon’s Aouar in Deschamps team selection. His multifaceted game has likened him to the inaugural defensive midfielder N’Golo Kante, because he has incredible stamina and work rate allowing him to have large coverage of the field and quick reactions. At 6 ft 1 he has a commanding presence in the centre of the park and enhances the attacking exploits of his teammates, because he does the dirty work; intercepting, tackling and absorbing any pressure so that they can advance. His 71 interceptions for Monaco this season in 27 appearances have provided his team with a solid foundation in front of the defence, where he adds reinforcement for his centre-backs through filtering out oppositions counterattacks and runs. Monaco paid just £16.2m on the young prospect in January 2020, and he has successfully joined their long line of outstanding defensive midfielders such as Bakayoko, Fabihno and Kondogbia. The former Bordeaux academy graduate is on the summer Wishlist of all the top clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus with his price tag set at around £50m. Where will he go this summer?
Currently at: Real Madrid Success
Endrick:
The Brasilia born 15-year-old joined Palmeiras aged 11, after his father used to put videos on YouTube of his son’s football skills. Most 15-year-olds are glued to their consoles and at school, but Endrick is tipped to sign for Real Madrid and become a superstar. It was reported he scored a staggering 169 goals in 165 games for the Palmeiras academy, before he was voted player of the tournament at the Sao Paulo De Fuetbol Junior. He’s not permitted to play with the senior team, because of his age but has shined for the Under 20 setup scoring 6 goals in 7 games. He is a traditional skilful Brazilian who plays like he is showboating on the streets of Sao Paulo, he loves a golazo and is at his best when he’s one on one taunting the defender. This year he was nominated for the famous Puskas Award for an acrobatic overhead kick, and he has been compared to Brazilian icons like Neymar and Ronaldinho, being tipped the next generational talent. There is always immediate hype surrounding a promising South American footballer and it can often never materialise, but Endrick seems like he’s around to stay, he possesses star quality.
Currently at: Real Madrid Undetermined
Jesus Ferreira:
USMT have watched an exodus of young homegrown talents disperse across Europe, creating a resurgence for the national team. One of those stars is 19-year-old Columbian born Ferreira, who has emerged to step up and fulfil the vacant number 9 position for his country. He has thrived for FC Dallas in the MLS, scoring 3 goals in 4 appearances, with a 57% goal involvement for his team, where he has become their talisman following Ricardo Pepi’s January departure. The 6ft forward is a powerful carrier with the ball, where he is decisive in possession often generating the creative spark for his team and providing momentum in the final third. While he is awaiting his European break, he is emulating his footballing father who also played for Dallas, where he is a very versatile playmaker, with the vision capable of unlocking teams and benefiting his teammates. Recently he has secured a starring role for the USMT, while they reached the Qatar World Cup, where he has offered his international manager a new style, because of Ferreira’s intelligence and work rate where he always harasses opposition. The 8 timed capped international has continued to develop since debuting for Dallas on November 2016.
Currently at: FC Dallas Failure
Malo Gusto:
The 18-year-old has relished a break-out season under Rudi Garcia in 2021-22, appearing 22 times as well as 5 appearances in the Europa League. He joined Lyon at Under 14 level, featuring alongside a star-studded group including Ryan Cherki, Yaya Soumare and Florent Da Silva where he progressed to earn his first pro contract in 2021. Starting out as a pacey winger, has elevated his role as a full-back, because he brings an overwhelm on the overlap going forward, and his early crossing trait is a striker’s dream in the box. His athleticism and agility signify the new generation of attacking fullbacks such as Alphonso Davies, where he has technical skill on the ball and is able to bring width to his team’s attacks with his support. He is assured defensively too, winning 57% of his tackles and 23 interceptions, and he recently nullified Kylian Mbappe against PSG, as a result of his quick reactions, speed and awareness on the pitch. While the young prospect has filled Lyon’s weakness at left-back he is yet to feature for France except 9 U21 caps where he did captain the side, but its only a matter of time before his first senior debut.
Currently at: Lyon (Joins Chelsea in summer) Success
Yeremei Pino:
In his break-out campaign last season he became the youngest Spaniard to start a European final and the youngest player to win a European Cup aged 18 years and 218 days. Unai Emery has relied upon the Spanish teenager throughout this season, Pino has played 27 games scoring 6 goals and assisting 4 times, as well as being pivotal to Villarreal’s progression to the Champions League Quarter Final. He replicates the compact and strong body type of Xerdan Shaqiri, but he is light on his feet and a trickster down the wing where his trademark is to slow play down before bursting past the opposition. He appears a passionate and tenacious player eager to express himself on the pitch, which is why he declined Barcelona in 2017 following his rise from Las Palmas’ youth set-up to join the Yellow Submarines. His gametime has offered him a chance for Spain, debuting in October 2021, since earning 4 caps with 1 goal. It’s clear he has a positive influence on his teams because the energy he invests into games. He can be darting down to the by-line or sneaking into the box for a poacher’s goal, he’s always on the move!
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