Top 50 Most Exciting Teen Footballers (2007)
In football, nothing is more valuable than the wonderkid. Managers spent much of their time scouring the ends of the world for these rare gems. And that’s not the end of it, like a rare gem, the wonderkid needs to be polished and nurtured before it is ready for the world stage. In a sense then, he is the human equivalent of the Golden Chocobo.
In this month’s World Soccer magazine, they have compiled the ultimate manager’s buying guide featuring 50 of football’s brightest teenage stars. To make the ranking, a player must be under the age of 20.
Personally, I think it’ll be more interesting to see which one of these so-called “wonderkids” will end up being a majestic flop, like Denilson. I mean, you do remember Denilson, right?
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| Rank | Position | Country | |||
 |
Sadick Adams | Striker | Ghana | ||
 |
Ismail Aissati | Attacking Midfielder | Holland | ||
 |
Alexandre Pato | Striker | Brazil | ||
 |
Anderson | Attacking Midfielder | Brazil | ||
 |
Giovani Dos Santos | Attacking Midfielder | Mexico | ||
 |
Gareth Bale | Left Back | Wales | ||
 |
Sergio Agüero | Striker | Argentina | ||
 |
Bojan Krkic | Striker | Spain | ||
 |
Breno | Defender | Brazil | ||
 |
Gerardo Bruna | Attacking Midfielder | Argentina | ||
| Angel Di Maria | Attacking Midfielder | Argentina | |||
| Diego Buonanotte | Attacking Midfielder | Argentina | |||
| Franco Di Santo | Striker | Argentina | |||
| Macauley Chrisantus | Striker | Nigeria | |||
| Karim Benzema | Striker | France | |||
| Dumitru Copil | Attacking Midfielder | Romania | |||
| Fabio | Left Back | Brazil | |||
| Kermit Erasmus | Striker | South Africa | |||
| Fabio Coentrao | Left Winger | Portugal | |||
| Marouane Fellaini | Midfielder | Belgium | |||
| Guilherme | Attacking Midfielder | Brazil | |||
| Damian Ismodes | Winger | Peru | |||
| Lorenzo De Silvestri | Right Back | Italy | |||
| Nour Hadhria | Midfielder | Tunisia | |||
| Rabul Ibrahim | Attacking Midfielder | Nigeria | |||
| Kerlon | Striker | Brazil | |||
| Toni Kroos | Attacking Midfielder | Germany | |||
| Juan Manuel Mata | Attacking Midfielder | Spain | |||
| Lulinha | Attacking Midfielder | Brazil | |||
| Sapol Mani | Midfielder | Togo | |||
| Cristian Nazarith | Striker | Colombia | |||
| Ransford Osei | Striker | Ghana | |||
| Aaron Niguez | Striker | Spain | |||
| Daniel Opare | Right Back | Ghana | |||
| Fran Merida | Midfielder | Spain | |||
| Nikolay Mihaylov | Goalkeeper | Bulgaria | |||
| Mesut Ozil | Attacking Midfielder | Germany | |||
| Andrea Russotto | Attacking Midfielder | Italy | |||
| Renato Augusto | Attacking Midfielder | Brazil | |||
| Henri Saivet | Striker | France | |||
| Micah Richards | Right Back | England | |||
| Alexis Sanchez | Winger | Chile | |||
| Sergio Tejera | Attacking Midfielder | Spain | |||
| Marek Suchy | Defender | Czech Republic | |||
| Ivan Rakitic | Midfielder | Croatia | |||
| Abdou Traore | Winger | Burkina Faso | |||
| Carlos Vela | Striker | Mexico | |||
| Theo Walcott | Striker | England | |||
| Gregory Van Der Wiel | Defender | Holland | |||
| Ever Banega | Midfielder | Argentina | |||
Kenny maintains a blog personal called “The Meditation Chamber“
“Top 50″ front image and player headshots by Marco Pantanella
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Bojan at #8 is ridiculous. He should be on a list of his own.
November 28th, 2007 @ 15:29One name not on this list who may become a top prospect is Jozy Altidore (USA/New York Red Bull). He featured at the U-20 World Cup for the USA, and had a very good season with New York in MLS.
Last week, he received his first cap at the senior level during a friendly in South Africa.
Here is a video clip of him versus Brasil at the U-20:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYFfq9tecHk
Freddy Adu (Benfica) has received most of the publicity and notoriety; however, in my opinion, Altidore is quite mature for his age (18), and has a combination of physical and technical capabilities rarely seen in North American players.
November 28th, 2007 @ 15:34gareth bale #6 wtf no way hes better than bojan or aguero and walcotts been under rated
November 28th, 2007 @ 16:51To those commenting on individuals’ positions…having read the magazine, from what I can see they aren’t rated in terms of who is better than the other. It’s not a countdown from 50 to number 1. It’s just a list of fifty, seemingly in no particular order.
November 28th, 2007 @ 17:04This is not ranked in the magazine. There is no ranking, it simply the 50 best without in any kind of order so this article is rather misleading.
November 28th, 2007 @ 18:31Yeah chill fellas, it’s not in order of merit.
November 28th, 2007 @ 20:10However, I’m a abit miffed that Giovinco is not included. Is he too old?
Kenny:
Sebastian Giovinco, who is owned by Juventus but currently on loan to Empoli, will be 21 in January.
November 28th, 2007 @ 20:22how come nani is not in the list?
November 28th, 2007 @ 21:59arsa, Nani is 21 or 22…
It is funny England blame the lack of youth talent on their failures when the two cauntries have the same number of players on that list + Richards is a national team regular.
Also funny how Argentina – who has the best national team – has the most number of players on that list. Most of them I know too and have to admit that they are bloody amazing.
November 28th, 2007 @ 23:23Out of the whole list I’ve only seemed to notice one goalkeeper so another two worth looking out for who played important roles in this years under 17 world cup are Oladele Ajiboye (Nigeria) and David De Gea (Spain). Both have steady nerves and sharp reflexes
November 28th, 2007 @ 23:34Just 1 goalkeeper in the whole list? It’s a shame to see that there are not many goalkeepers in the list…
November 29th, 2007 @ 00:57To arsa:
Nani just turned 21. So obviously he cant be on the list.
November 29th, 2007 @ 07:10Good all round list of players – as stated the order sucks! But as an unordered list I couldn’t fault it much. What about Michael Johnson at Citeh? He looks promising!
November 29th, 2007 @ 07:21How old is Rossi?
November 29th, 2007 @ 09:34Good list, although he plays for Spurs I really like Gareth Bale, he WILL be the next Ryan Giggs.
November 29th, 2007 @ 09:35What about Denilson from Arsenal?
November 29th, 2007 @ 10:08Nice to see one of my own (Rakitić) on the list. Why are there no ages for players 11-50?
November 29th, 2007 @ 10:18Fábio Coentrão? Is a flop! That list was made thinking on the performances on the Under 20 World Cup. Portugal has a lot of players way better than Coentrão who didn´t went to the World Cup. Who como Inter’s Pelé is not here?
Benzema only 15th? They most be joking!
November 29th, 2007 @ 12:50Rhys Murphy should be on there. Scored 17 goals in 21 games for the Arsenal Under 18s last season. Whilst we’re on Arsenal youth players worth mentioning Rui Fonte, Nacer Barazite, Havard Nordtveit, Henri Lansbury and Kieran Gibbs.
November 29th, 2007 @ 14:21A player who will make it in the future is Dean Bouzanis, an Australian goalkeeper in Liverpool. Was rated at the start of the year by Benetiz and the Liverpool GK coach, as the best goalkeeper under 18 (and he only turned 17 in October).
He is the reason why Liverpool are going to sell Carson but another Liverpool keeper is actually on this list.
November 29th, 2007 @ 14:40rabui ibrahims the one 4 me…….Super Eagles next JJ- Cant wait
November 29th, 2007 @ 18:37No Fran Merida? Dont know about that.
November 30th, 2007 @ 00:27gareth bale is one of the promising young talents. anderson fully representing dos santos and borjan also players to watch.
November 30th, 2007 @ 07:52Reynold, Fran is in the list – number 35
November 30th, 2007 @ 09:42I think Giles Barnes deserves a mention
November 30th, 2007 @ 10:33[...] From World Soccer, via SoccerLens. [...]
November 30th, 2007 @ 19:00As Sean says I don’t think the list was meant to be in numerical order.
Good article tho, a few of these players may not fulfill their potential, but even if only half of them do, then the future’s bright.
Richards’ is going to be huge!
December 6th, 2007 @ 16:46sotirios ninis from panathinaikos should be on this list.
December 9th, 2007 @ 14:58he is truly a special player,just turned 17…
one english guy in the whole list!!
December 9th, 2007 @ 17:01whats to follow the “golden” generation i wonder
[...] can also check out our World Soccer Magazine’s Top 50 Most Exciting Teen Footballers article here on Soccerlens. [...]
December 29th, 2007 @ 20:37Where is Modric? Is he too old? His 22. Rossi? His 20 like Benzema! I saw Anderson there so what about Nani? His 21..maybe thats a littl to old..and i saw fabio man uniteds future left back frm barzil but what about his twin brother which man united also signed who plays at right back?
December 31st, 2007 @ 03:55Where is Denilson someone asks…LMAO i wonder why his NOT on da list haha..isnt it obvious =P Umm it says teen’s so maybe dats why rossi nd modric nd nani isnt on da list but what abt benzema? his 20 rite? so how is this a list of teens den? nd ppl merida is on da list at 35 i think!
December 31st, 2007 @ 03:59ny1 kno zeefuik of psv he is 1 bull of a striker
January 3rd, 2008 @ 23:25it’s not ordinal… it’s alphabetical
January 8th, 2008 @ 11:48how cn it be alphabetical when banega is the last one
January 9th, 2008 @ 18:53SEBASTIAN GIOVINCO IS THE BEST YOUNG PLAYER IN THE WORLD.HE IS AMAZING
January 27th, 2008 @ 17:43i think anderson of utd is better than any1 outhere (young players)
January 30th, 2008 @ 23:36hendro kartiko from indonesia should be there. he’s only 37!
February 3rd, 2008 @ 11:28why isint, rizwan khan there.. a good player with lots of skill
February 5th, 2008 @ 12:18he got a dodgy hair cut though
i no i m a bit late but really y ain’t dani parejo there??? or the callejon brothers.this list sucks
March 26th, 2008 @ 12:05adams #1, i admit is a good player, but doesn’t deserve to be at the top of the ranking with players like aguero and bojan in the list. Lulinha and Ever Banega shouldn’t be where they are, they should be in and around the top 10 to 15. Can’t believe that Jozy Altidore is not in the list, e is absolutely awesome.
March 27th, 2008 @ 13:58feyernoods wijnaldum should be on the list also fabio’s bro rafael silva, forestieri, remy, bradley johnson and where the hell is nasri?
March 27th, 2008 @ 22:41Good young players are Ever Banega, Hernanes, Ochoa, Gareth Bale, Paloschi, Balotelli, Benzema, Sergio Aguero, Carlos Eduardo, Ben Arfa, Lulinha, Renato Augusto, breno, Toni Kroos, Christantus, Diego Buonanotte, Marek Suchy, Martin Fenin, Akinfeev, Diego Capel, Mihaylov, Ismael Aissati, Mauro Zarate, Yoann Gouffran, Gabriel Obertan, Daniel Opare, Sadick Adams, Thiago Neves, Lionel Messi, Carlos Alberto, Antunes, Cesc Fabregas, Leandro Lima, Andel Di Maria, Tulio De Melo, Dias Felipe, Tiago Luis, Theo Walcott, Franco Di Santo, Arturo Vidal, Alexandre Pato, Aquilani, Anderson, Pique, Carlos Vela, Albin Ekdal, Mezut Ozil, Rodrigo Possebon, Pablo Ledesma, Leandro Grimi, Abdou Traore, Miguel Veloso, Gerardo Bruna, Giovani Dos Santos, aaron niguez, Micah Richards, Juan Manuel Mata, Samir Nasri, Nathan Burns, Freddy Adu, Fabio Coentrao, Luka Modric, Denilson, Dumitru Copil, Fellaini, Fran Merida and of course the extreme talent of Bruno Gama (Vitoria SC, Portugal), Kerlon (Cruzeiro, Brazil), Ivan Rakitic (FC Shalke, Croatia), Alexis Sanchez (River Plate, Chile), Bojan Krkic (FC Barcelona, Spain) and Jeremy Menez )AS Monaco, France).
March 28th, 2008 @ 04:14Aiden McGeady anyone??
April 3rd, 2008 @ 16:04CESC FABREGAS …CESC FABREGAS !!??where is he ? is he dead ? He’s definetly n*1 then i’d say bojan Krik and then LuKa modric n*3 Then karim Benzma For fourth place , Alex Pato as n*5 and then theo walcott as the n*6….Well that’s what I think anyway…
April 16th, 2008 @ 17:04Dude, cesc fabregas is too old. Although he’s a great player:P
look what the title says: most exciting TEEN footballers
and about the order of the list. It’s almost alphabetical, but there are some exceptions….. quite odd…
April 17th, 2008 @ 20:26he’s not too old . He’s 20 years old …..so why is Yoann Gouffran on he list then ? he’s 20 years old…
April 19th, 2008 @ 18:05What about the Chelsea Striker Ben Sahar. He was capped for Israel at the age of 17. Also the midfielder on Barcelona, Assulin, who was capped by Israel at the age of 16! they are both future superstars!
April 26th, 2008 @ 15:52Dumitru Copil is not good enough for top 16, I’m sorry but the kid has the worst mentality in the world, is a flop since the second he went to scotland and is returning to romania right now…
Nevermind they found this kid in liga 4 in Romania.
Gabriel Torje who is 18 years old should be in there, you’ll see him in the UEFA CUP next season. And also should be there is Gai from Barca.
May 10th, 2008 @ 21:27sign wijnaldum when your are in you 2009/2010 season very very helpful i play him for inter milan in the centre
May 29th, 2008 @ 23:02This list is nothing but ridiculous. Aissatti above Pato? I’ve seen Aissati this entire season and he hasn’t showed ANYTHING.
May 31st, 2008 @ 15:37Kermit Erasmus is gonna be big! Going to Feyenoord. Benzema is defenately one of the best on this list.
June 3rd, 2008 @ 18:19Yoann Gourcuff is a flop. Bojan shud be first on the list hes only 18 and is already playing in the team regulary.
June 8th, 2008 @ 18:29Sadik Adams shudn’t be #1 cus he plays in ghana were nobody’s ever seen him
lol. Do you people listen. 2 minutes I’ve been reading the comments, and I’ve already seen 3 different people who have stated that the list is in no particular order, so why are you guys still arguing about positions?
Anyways, that list is excellent. That Diego Buonanotte could be a real star. Understandably, England hardly have any stars, so if Theo Walcott is the only one that could make the list, the future isn’t bright. Some people don’t deserve to be there, Kerlon and Contreao are just showboaters.
The list could do with an update, but most is looking decent
June 17th, 2008 @ 19:38Why not Sebastian Giovinco??He’s short,but quick and has good pass
June 19th, 2008 @ 09:16John Fleck – Rangers .Will be a star player
June 21st, 2008 @ 19:17Robbie Brady, man utd just turned 16 amazing already called the next george best, watch out for him
Also a mention to Conor Clifford at Chelsea
July 10th, 2008 @ 01:32SOTIRIS NINIS? he is a great talent i’m sure he should be in the list.
July 10th, 2008 @ 04:57good list. One change I’d make is Dentinho for kerlon.
September 22nd, 2008 @ 13:35not sure how old these comments are but in oct 2008 this list needs to be updates. Jack Wilshere form arsenal should be there. hes only 16 but has already played for the first team, and dont forget that Arsen Wenger is the coach.
October 8th, 2008 @ 10:52Denilson should also be there (also from Arsnel) he is a first team regular for arsenal and is paired with Fabregas so that should count for something
where’s michael woods? he’s gonna be a top star
October 11th, 2008 @ 21:03John Fleck – Rangers.
Acquafresca – Inter Milan.
Adam Pepper – Liverpool.
October 12th, 2008 @ 17:30Paul Caddis – Celtic.
Firstly, has any of you guys watched Kerlon play before? He is unbelivable!! I can’t believe some people have been slating him!! Everytime i watched him play for Cruzeiro he was their best player by miles!! By the way, Abdou Razack Traore of Rosenborg, is fantastic and will be huge. But he’s from The IVORY COAST (Not Burkina Faso, like this list says!!). My team Newcastle United, has many great young players, like: Kazenga LuaLua (Lomana LuaLua’s younger Brother, he is going to be class!!), Wesley Ngo Baheng, Nile Ranger, Sammy Ameobi (Shola’s Brother), Fabio Zamblera, Tim Krul, Sebastian Bassong (Good player!) and also Tamas Kadar. Charles N’Zogbia is class and will play regular for France in the near future.
October 27th, 2008 @ 15:59how could they forget Bruno Gama of Portugal and on-loan from FC Porto he is massively talented also alberto paloschi and mario balotelli will be huge in a couple of years
October 28th, 2008 @ 00:23Fabio is there but his twin brother Rafael isnt, also Fernando Forestieri…Where is he?
October 29th, 2008 @ 11:34ADEM LJAJIC(PARTIZAN) AND DANIJEL ALEKSIC(VOJVODINA) U-19 SERBIA, REMEMBER THOSE NAMES! Ljajic is linked with Man Utd and Real Madrid and Aleksic is 16-17 but allready plays for u-21 serbia!
November 11th, 2008 @ 01:55d.costa-gremio
January 17th, 2009 @ 11:13bojan kikic-barclona
lulinha
adem ljajic-man.united
g.dos santos-tottenham
I’m glad that aissati is there, he’s a great player! Benzema should be on the list, walcott is outstanding. Right now the best is Messi, although he’s 21. But it’s a good list.
January 21st, 2009 @ 01:34Anybody seen Denilson play this season for Arsenal ? that’s why he is not on the list
January 29th, 2009 @ 18:38He’s been awfull
ninis-panathinaikos……the best
February 5th, 2009 @ 17:44how can you have Fabio (brazil left back) and not his twin brother Rafael who play exactly the same
March 13th, 2009 @ 16:42Every player from Sporting CP under-21 team should be on this list!!!
April 19th, 2009 @ 22:09douglas costa new ronaldinho gremio why he not on it hes 16
July 27th, 2009 @ 21:16sotisris ninis atter mid rigth center. age 17 greece panathanikos
July 27th, 2009 @ 21:182oscar trejo striker . age 19 mallorca argintina / italy
3Marvin Angulo defender/wing bk/midfield right.age 20 club herediano costa rica
4toni kroos amc germany.age 17 fc bayern munchen
5ryndell poepon 19 ducth ajax amc / st
6georginio wijnaldum amrlc ducth 16 feyenoord
7steven jovetic 17 amc / st partizan montengro
8johnny evans 19 dc n ireland man united
9breno dc 17 fc bayern munchen brazil might need a work permit
10mario balotelli 16 inter milan italy
11 karmin benzema st age 19 lyon france
12 guilherme amc/st age 18 cruzeiro fc brazil work permit neeeded
13 kerlon amc/st 19 cruzeiro fc brazil work permit needed
14bernando mc 17 cruzeiro fc brazil work permit needed
15adrien mc 18 sporting cp portugall
16joao moutinho 20 amc sporting cp portugall
17krisztian nemeth 18 st liverpool hungary
18anderson 19 amc man united brazil work permit might need 1
19zdravko kuzmanovic mrc serbia fiorentina my need work permit
20genero zeefuik 17 st ducth psv
21 micheal johnson 19 mc england man city
22rhys murphy 16 st england arsenal
23james dunne 17 england arsenal
24necar barazite 17 ducth arsenal
25ched evans 19 st wales man city
26pavel komolov 18 russia amc zenit peterburg
27lubos kalouda 20 czech republic amrc fc kobenhavn
28Nickola 1Matek 7 serbia ofk beogard goal keeper
29dioniso 19 dmc brazil santos wp needed
30 bruno neves 18 dmc brazil bahia wp my neeeded
31Jean Paul Pineda Age: 17 at start Club: Palestino my need wp chilli
32 john joe o toole 18 english club watford mybe next carrick
the player should be on the list:
1.Fabian Delph(England)(Aston Villa)
August 6th, 2009 @ 14:492.Alex Kacaniklic(sweden)(Liverpool)
3.Davide Santon(italy)(internazionale Milan)
4.Steven Defour(belgium)(Standard Liege)
5.Lewis Holtby(Germany)(fc Schalke 04)
6.Marc Muniesa(spain)(barcelona)
7.Nicolas Lodeiro(uruguay)(nacional)
8.Nikola Saric(denmark)(Liverpool)
9.Daniel Aquino(spain)(real murcia)
10.Vurnon Anita(dutch)(Ajax Amsterdam)
I believe Nafiu, should b included in d list, a budding star for d future of Nigerian soccer, cos his simply amazing, believed to b d next big thing in Nigerian football
March 11th, 2010 @ 11:20Rafael Pereira Da Silva ( Fabio Pereira Da Silva’s Twin Brother) Should be on there, brilliant player.. also Nicklas Barkroth .. the Flano twins are also good player – and the Bender twins.
March 21st, 2010 @ 20:45I am happy with d inclusn of rabiu ibrahem bcs he’s going higher like master(almighty mikel)
March 28th, 2010 @ 16:12Where is nigeria azeez and emmanuel both are 3rd and 1st in the last u17 tornmt
March 28th, 2010 @ 16:22U people are sentimental,bcs mikel turns 22 by 2010 & he’s chelsea’s best young player and instead of anderson why not ds small wizard and u shouldnt 4get babel
March 28th, 2010 @ 17:20