The best young talents on Planet Football.
For the purposes of this piece we selected players who were born since 1st January 1991.
20. Cristian Tello (Barcelona)
Barcelona have had plenty of talented individuals emerged through the youth system in recent years and Cristian Tello is another of them. Happy in either a wide or central role in attack, he has linked up with Lionel Messi already this season and looks like ensuring the production line continues to come up trumps at the Nou Camp.
19. Marco Veratti (PSG)
A 20-year-old Italian playing at the heart of Paris Saint-Germain’s midfield, he has adapted to life in Ligue 1 with little problems. A relative unknown in terms of the names in the PSG squad, but this guy is as talented as some of his more illustrious team-mates.
18. Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)
Real Madrid splashed out a reported £10million to sign Raphael Varane from Lens and it already looks a steal in the current climate. The centre-back is comfortable on the ball and looks like becoming a permanent part of the Real Madrid backline.
17. David Alaba (Bayern Munich)
Formerly a midfielder, playing anywhere across the middle of the park, David Alaba has found a natural home at left-back in the Bayern Munich side this season. The 20-year-old Austrian has been branded the “next Lizarazu” so he is doing something right in the Bundesliga.
16. Xherdan Shaqiri (Bayern Munich)
A tricky little individual with a seriously low centre of gravity, Swiss international Xherdan Shaqiri is an integral of the Bayern Munich having joined the club in the summer from FC Basel. He may be all left foot, but it is a bloody good left foot.
15. Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea/Atletico Madrid)
The Belgian international goalkeeper cost Chelsea £8million two years ago, but he could leave without playing a single game. That is because his form on loan at Atletico Madrid has caught the eye of the likes of Barcelona.
14. Erik Lamela (Roma)
The latest midfield star to come out of Argentina, the product of River Plate is one of the stars of Serie A. The 20-year-old joined Roma for upwards of £10million and has justified that price tag with his performances in Italy over the last two seasons.
13. James Rodriguez (FC Porto)
One of the best attackers in Prtuguese football, where he plays on the wing or as an attacking midfielder for Porto, Colombian starlet James Rodrguez should go on to play at one of Europe’s top sides. Manchester United, Bayern Munich Juventus and Real Madrid are already thought to be on the 21-year-old’s trail.
12. Paul Pogba (Juventus)
Paul Pogba chose not to renew his contract at Manchester United at the end of last season having failed to force his way into the first-team picture. Old Trafford’s loss has proven to be Juventus’ gain with the 19-year-old having made an instant impact in Serie A this season.
11. Iker Muniain (Athletic Bilbao)
Known as the “Spanish Messi” due to his style of play, Athletic Bilbao’s 20-year-old is a seriously good winger who can also play inside in a forward role – pretty much like the Barcelona star. He has already played more than 160 games in La Liga and his stock is rising at a rapid rate of knots.
10. Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
Liverpool’s talented winger may be lightweight but he is already a Premier League star having burst onto the scene this season. Expect great things from this young man in the years to come, even though he has lost his place in the first-team of late.
9. Isco (Malaga)
The Spanish playmaker was expected to become a Chelsea player in the transfer window but instead opted to sign a new deal with Malaga. That will only delay his exit and the big fish will be circling to grab the signature of this highly impressive midfielder.
8. Lucas Moura (PSG)
British fans got to his talent first hand in Brazil’s friendly with England and he looks the star that Paris Saint-Germain expect him to be. Still only 20, he has a wealth of experience playing for Sao Paulo and the winger can become a household name in Europe. For the record, he is just Lucas!
7. Stephan El Shaarawy (AC Milan)
The man the Italian fans refer to as The Pharaoh has become the focal point of AC Milan’s team since the sale of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Paris Saint-Germain. While the San Siro club may have struggle a little, this guy certainly hasn’t and he remains one of the best forwards in Serie A.
6. Christian Eriksen (Ajax)
He comes with a major reputation, but Christian Eriksen deserves that thanks to his form with Ajax and Denmark. He was impressive against Manchester City in the Champions League and a bright future at one of Europe’s leading clubs beckons.
5. Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund)
Mario Gotze has been a central figure in the success story of Borussia Dortmund over the last 24 months and he is now one of the biggest names in the Bundesliga. The attacking midfielder has been in the Dortmund side for three seasons but is still only 20 and it seems only a matter of time before the likes of Manchester United snap him up.
4. Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
Chelsea were the ones to grab the signature of Belgian international Eden Hazard and he has looked a special individual in his brief time at Stamford Bridge. The kick on the ball boy aside, Hazard has been nothing but impressive in the Premier League.
3. Oscar (Chelsea)
A bright young Brazilian midfielder, Oscar has taken little time to adapt to life in the Premier League with Chelsea. He may be slight, but he packs plenty of ability into his short frame and will be a major figure in world football for years to come.
2. Neymar (Santos)
One of the hottest properties in world football, Neymar is being courted by all and sundry across the globe. He is a Santos player until after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but is then expected to become a Barcelona player. He could be something special playing alongside Lionel Messi.
1. Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Arsenal’s tigerish midfielder has come back from a serious injury without any fuss and is proving to be the star we all thought he would be. He brilliantly showed the Brazilians a thing or two when dominating the midfield for England and will undoubtedly be one of the stars of the game for years to come.