The future of the beautiful game.
Football clubs and fans alike are always looking for the next big thing and here Goal has picked out the top 50 best under-18s in the sport at the moment.
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50. Carlos Strandberg, Hacken – 18-years-old
With six goals and five assists in the Swedish top tier this season the striker has been drawing attention from some big sides.
49. Kelechi Iheanacho, Manchester City – 18-years-old
Won the Golden Ball at the 2013 Under-17 World Cup and caught some eyes for City in pre-season when scoring against AC Milan.
48. Allan Saint-Maximim, Saint-Etienne – 17-years-old
A pacey winger who made his debut for St Etienne aged just 16.
47. Emanuel Mammana, River Plate – 18-years-old
The first of the South Americans and this centre-back has already won his first cap for the Argentina national team.
46. Neal Maupay, Nice – 18-years-old
Became the youngest scorer in Ligue 1 history when he netted against Evian in 2012, but a knee injury last year has affected his progress since.
45. Patrick Roberts, Fulham – 17-years-old
Is now a firm fixture in the Cottagers first team squad and is considered one of the brightest prospects in English football.
44. Ezequiel Ponce, Newell’s Old Boys – 17-years-old
Scored four goals in the Toreno Final this year to catch a few eyes.
43. Alberto Cerri, Parma – 18-years-old
A physical striker who has been compared to fellow Italians Graziano Pelle and Luca Toni as a result.
42. Breel-Donald Embolo, FC Basel – 17-years-old
Has already made his mark on the Basel first team and has even scored in the Champions League.
41. Thierry Ambrose, Manchester City – 17-years-old
The second City player now who was snapped up after impressing in the Auxerre academy.
40. Mamadou Tounkara, Lazio – 18-years-old
Made his debut for the senior team at the Stadio Olimpico last season having been signed from the FC Barcelona system in 2012.
39. Jack Harper, Real Madrid – 18-years-old
Spanish born but of Scottish descent this midfielder has been making a big impression in the youth leagues.
38. Vaclav Cerny, Ajax – 17-years-old
Signed from his native Czech Republic big things are expected from his winger who is yet to be given his debut by Frank de Boer.
37. Donis Avdijaj, Schalke 04 – 18-years-old
Schalke appears to be a hotbed for developing young talent and this forward has 10 goals in 17 appearances for the Germany Under-17s.
36. Daniel Crowley, Arsenal – 17-years-old
Started off at Aston Villa before being snapped up by the Gunners in 2013 much is expected of this playmaker.
35. Robert Muric, Ajax – 18-years-old
The Amsterdam ArenA has long found bright, young talent and this former Dinamo Zagreb man has been compared to Arjen Robben.
34. Kevin Mendez, Penarol – 18-years-old
Made his first team debut in early 2014 and has been heavily linked with some of Europe’s biggest sides.
33. Andreas Christensen, Chelsea – 18-years-old
Signed from Brondby in 2012 and made his Blues debut this season in the Capital One Cup.
32. Sergio Diaz, Cerro Porteno – 15-years-old
The youngest player on the list this starlet has an impressive five goals in the Paraguayan top tier.
31. Jairo Riedewald, Ajax – 18-years-old
Back to the Dutch capital now and Riedewald is the youngest scoring debutant in Ajax’s history.
30. Jose Angel Pozo, Manchester City – 18-years-old
Signed from the Madrid academy in 2012 Pozo scored on his Citizens debut in the victory over Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup.
29. Lee Seung-Woo, FC Barcelona – 16-years-old
One of the players that saw Barca punished by FIFA this South Korean is considered the brightest prospect in Asian football.
28. Abdelhak Nouri, Ajax – 17-years-old
A gifted playmaker who is expected to break into de Boer’s first team this campaign.
27. Malcom, Corinthians – 17-years-old
Has made some first team appearances for the Brazilian side and has been inevitably linked to fellow countryman Neymar.
26. George Puscas, Inter Milan – 18-years-old
Has scored an impressive 14 goals in just seven games for Inter’s youth side which has seen Puscas called up the Romania senior side.
25. Adama Traore Diarra, FC Barcelona – 18-years-old
Is expected to be one of the next starlets to earn promotion to Luis Enrique’s squad from Barca B.
24. Enes Unal, Bursaspor – 17-years-old
Already a regular as No.10 for his club Unal has scored six goals in 28 appearances to date.
23. Dominic Solanke, Chelsea – 17-years-old
Top-scorer at the Under-17 European Championships this attacker is highly rated by Jose Mourinho.
22. Andrija Zivkovic, Partizan Belgrade – 18-years-old
Is the youngest ever Serbia international and is also the youngest ever Partizan captain.
21. Isaiah Brown, Chelsea – 17-years-old
Snapped up from West Bromwich Albion where Brown had already become the second youngster player in Premier League history.
20. Riechedly Bazoer, Ajax – 18-years-old
Made the controversial move from PSV Eindhoven to Ajax and is regarded as one of the most promising players in Dutch football.
19. Goncalo Guedes, Benfica – 18-years-old
Has only played one game for his club, but as a skillful Portuguese winger comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo have already been drawn.
18. Sebastian Driussi, River Plate – 18-years-old
Despite his young age this teenager is already an established member of the starting XI.
17. Federico Bonazzoli, Inter Milan – 17-years-old
Made his debut for Inter in the Europa League and has been called up to the Italy Under-21s for his fine performances.
16. Timo Werner, Stuttgart – 18-years-old
Has already made 40 Bundesliga appearances despite his age and has been likened to fellow German Thomas Muller.
15. Zakaria Bakkali, PSV Eindhoven – 18-years-old
The youngest ever hat-trick scorer in the Eredivisie, Bakkali is being frozen out by PSV currently after refusing to sign a new contract.
14. Gedion Zelalem, Arsenal – 17-years-old
Previously playing in the USA this midfielder is highly rated by Arsene Wenger who has already given him his Gunners first team debut.
13. Julian Brandt, Bayer Leverkusen – 18-years-old
Came through the ranks at Wolfsburg before joining Leverkusen in January and is now a firm fixture in their side.
12. Richairo Zivkovic, Ajax – 18-years-old
Impressed with Groningen last campaign and was snapped up by Ajax over the summer as a result.
11. Simone Scuffet, Udinese – 18-years-old
Regarded as one of the most promising goalkeepers in European football Scuffet is expected to be Gianluigi Buffon’s replacement as Italy No.1.
10. Ruben Neves, FC Porto – 17-years-old
Youngest goalscorer in the history of the Primeira Liga and a player who looks set to excel with Porto.
9. Ante Coric, Dinamo Zagreb – 17-years-old
Already a mainstay in the Zagreb side this attacking midfielder is just the latest in a conveyor belt of Croatian talent.
8. Youri Tielemans, Anderlecht – 17-years-old
Made his debut aged 16 and already has 50 appearances under his belt for Anderlecht.
7. Antonio Sanabria, AS Roma – 18-years-old
Let go by Barca which could be a decision they live to regret.
6. Gianluca Gaudino, Bayern Munich – 18-years-old
Despite all the talent available to Pep Guardiola at the Allianz Arena the head coach has already started using this promising midfielder.
5. Kingsley Coman, Juventus – 18-years-old
A player very much in the mould of Paul Pogba this teenage sensation signed on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.
4. Gabriel Barbosa, Santos – 18-years-old
Already a regular for his club great things are expected of this Brazilian.
3. Martin Odegaard, Stromsgodset – 15-years-old
One of the most talked about youngsters in world football Odegaard is the youngest player to earn a senior cap for Norway.
2. Alen Halilovic, FC Barcelona – 18-years-old
A regular for the Croatia national team this midfielder may take a little more time to break into Enrique’s team.
1. Hachim Mastour, AC Milan – 16-years-old
Top of the pile is a hugely skillful youngster who could be set for greatness if he achieves his potential.