The best of the best born in 1997.
Looking to the future is something that is becoming more and more prevalent in modern football and here the Guardian lists the 40 best youngsters in the world who were born in 1997.
SEE ALSO:
Chelsea’s best players statistically.
Liverpool’s best players statistically.
Cristiano Ronaldo records 2014.
Guido Vadal, Boca Juniors
Called up to the senior team aged just 16-years-old this Argentine also trained at FC Barcelona’s La Masia a few years ago and was voted Young Player of the Year in Argentina in 2013.
Daniel da Silva, Perth Glory (joining AS Roma at the end of the season)
Made his A League debut aged 15 and his talents have since been spotted by Roma who have paid £1.4m to bring the winger to Italy.
Youri Tielemans, Anderlecht
Already in the first team at the Belgian club the defensive midfielder has won many admirers including Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp.
Malcolm Filipe, Corinthians
Impressed in the prestigious youth tournaments in Brazil and has now progressed to the senior team where he has scored once in 10 appearances.
Gerson Santos da Silva, Fluminense
Juventus and Manchester United are said to be monitoring the progress of this midfielder who is yet to break into the first team at his current club.
Bozhidar Kraev, Levski Sofia
Another who was also nearly snapped up by Barca, Kraev looks set to make a big name for himself in Bulgaria over the coming 12 months.
Li Zhongyi, Guangzhou Evergrande
There is yet to be a truly great Chinese footballer, but Li could well be the first under the guidance of Marcello Lippi.
Alveiro Sanchez, Deportivo Cali
Likened to fellow Colombian Adrian Ramos this powerful striker has been impressing in youth tournaments for some time.
Ante Coric, Dinamo Zagreb
There is a fairly prolific youth setup in Zagreb and this playmaker is just the latest from a club who produced the likes of Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic.
Nikola Vlasic, Hajduk Split
Comes from a great sporting family and is already famed for his pace and stamina, which as drawn the interest of Chelsea, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur.
Mikkel Dueland, FC Midtylland
Described by his club manager as Christian Eriksen with an ego this attacking midfielder could be the latest in a long list of talented Danes.
Dominic Solanke, Chelsea
Jose Mourinho highly rates this striker who he believes should be playing for the England senior team in a few years time.
Ryan Ledson, Everton
Goodison Park has proven to be a hotbed for producing young talent and Ledson is just the latest to follow in the footsteps of Jack Rodwell and Ross Barkley.
Ousmane Dembele, Rennes
Atletico Madrid and Manchester City are among the sides tracking this attacker who scored 15 goals in 20 youth matches last term.
Jean-Kevin Augustin, Paris Saint-Germain
PSG are keen develop their own system that can produce someone of the talent of Lionel Messi and this forward is tipped to be the closest to achieving that yet.
Maxime Baila Lopez, Olympique Marseille
Arsenal and Liverpool are both keeping tabs on the Frenchman who has been likened to fellow countryman Mathieu Valbuena for his small stature and skill.
Benjamin Henrichs, Bayer Leverkusen
Captain of the Germany Under-17s side and a box-to-box midfielder in the mould of Michael Ballack.
Benedikt Gimber, Hoffenheim
A strong centre-back who was awarded the Fritz Walter medal for the best 17-year-old – which has previously be won by the likes of Mario Gotze and Julian Draxler.
Lazaros Lamprou, Panathinaikos
Scored 11 goals for the youth team in Athens last campaign and is on the verge of breaking into the senior side.
Federico Bonazzoli, Inter Milan
Second youngster player ever to represent Inter in Serie A his frame and stature defies his age and looks like a traditional No.9.
Daisuke Sakai, Oita Trinita
Tipped for big things in the J League, Sakai was taken to train with the Japan senior team before the 2014 World Cup to prepare himself for the future.
Erick Aguirre, Morelia
Already in the first team at his club the Mexican bases his game on Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta.
Abdelhak Nouri, Ajax
The Dutch champions have already said that the talents of Nouri means he will be playing for one of the best teams in Europe not too far into the future.
Jari Schuurman, Feyenoord
Just two years ago it didn’t look like Schuurman would make the cut and then as if from nowhere the Dutchman just started scoring and is now tipped for great things.
Sander Svendsen, Molde
Norway’s highest rated young talent behind Martin Odegaard – although the Stromsgodset ace was born in 1998 and therefore does not qualify for this list.
Dawid Kownacki, Lech Poznan
Already scored his first league goal before he was 17 and is looking to follow in the footsteps of fellow Pole Robert Lewandowski.
Ruben Neves, FC Porto
Is the youngest player to ever score for Porto and has also beaten Cristiano Ronaldo’s record as youngster Portuguese player to start a European game.
Cristian Manea, FC Viitorul
Has earned his first cap for Romania already and looks equally adept at either right-back, centre-back, or as a defensive midfielder.
Timur Zhamaletdinov, CSKA Moscow
With a good eye for goal and bags of pace this striker looks set for great things in Russian football.
Luka Jovic, Red Star Belgrade
Likened to Red Devils loanee Radamel Falcao due to his ability to do almost anything in attack and Red Star rejected a summer bid from Atleti for the striker.
Irfan Bin Fandi Ahmed
Not currently with a club the attacker has been training with sides in Chile and big things are expected from the youngster.
Fagrie Lakay, Santos
The emergence of this striker has given hope to the future of South African football and Lakay has been compared to Benni McCarthy.
Seo Jung-hyen, Pohang Steelers
Composed in front of goal and good with the ball at his feet this forward helped his youth team beat Man City’s earlier in the year.
Adrian Marin, Villarreal
A left-back in the modern mould of what is required from that role and someone who loves breaking forward and is useful from the wing.
Julen Arellano, FC Barcelona
Has said that Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale is his hero and as a defender currently perhaps Arellano one day also hopes to play further up the pitch.
Ferran Sarsanedas, FC Barcelona
Catalan born and bred this midfielder is progressing rapidly through the youth ranks.
Erik Andersson, Landskrona Bois
Back in 2012 Henrik Larsson gave this midfield ace his first senior start aged 15-years-old and he hasn’t looked back since.
Enes Upal, Bursaspor
Has a terrific scoring rate at youth level and is considered the most exciting young talent since Hakan Sukur first broke through.
Erik Palmer-Brown, Sporting Kansas City
The youngest defender in MLS history this American is already being targeted by Juve.
Phan Thanh Hau, Hoang Ang Gia Lai Arsenal JMG Academy
Vietnam are up and coming in the world of football and this midfielder is their leading light.