Pes 2016 Best Young Players

[Kim Veller]

StrikerEvan Ferguson burst onto the scene in the 2022-23 season with 10 goals in 25 appearances in all competitions for Brighton. Described by Premier League legend Alan Shearer as 'the real deal', the 19-year-old Republic of Ireland international seems like a regen of England legend Harry Kane - and is destined for the very top.

It takes a special talent to become a regular at one of Europe's biggest clubs before officially becoming an adult, but that's exactly what Warren Zare-Emery has achieved. The 17-year-old is a driving force from the base of midfield and has already made more than 50 first-team appearances for Paris Saint-Germain, as well as featuring for France's senior team.

A 77 million transfer to Manchester City ahead of the 2023-24 season continued defender Joško Gvardiol's rise. An excellent World Cup with Croatia in 2022 brought him to the attention of wider audiences, although Bundesliga watchers already knew he was a top talent at former club RB Leipzig thanks to his ability in the air and on the ball.

A devastating dribbler and prime passer, Florian Wirtz took German football by storm as a teenage sensation before a serious knee injury sustained in the 2021-22 campaign saw him miss the 2022 World Cup. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder bounced back in impressive fashion, however, and is Bayer Leverkusen's leading light in their Bundesliga title quest.

One of Real Madrid's exciting crop of hot prospects, midfielder Eduardo Camavinga is a commanding presence, with an ability to progress the ball by passing or running with it. A Champions League and La Liga winner, the 21-year-old's knack of playing in a number of positions makes him a manager's dream.

Jamal Musiala was destined for the top after becoming the youngest player in Bayern Munich's history to feature in the Bundesliga at the age of 17 years and 115 days. An attacking ace capable of playing as a No.10 or on the wing, the Germany international drifts between the lines to create and score goals. Musiala, 20, already has four Bundesliga titles on his CV.

The winner of the Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy in 2022, midfielder Gavi is yet another La Masia graduate to become a Barcelona regular. A hugely intelligent passer, with a terrific turn of foot, the 19-year-old has rightly earned comparisons to Nou Camp legends Andrs Iniesta and Xavi.

A personal-best campaign in 2022-23 continued Bukayo Saka's meteoric rise, and he's emerging as one of the trickiest wingers on the block thanks to his dribbling and finishing skills. The 22-year-old has also been named England Men's Player of the Year for the last two seasons.

It simply had to be Jude Bellingham at the top, didn't it? England's midfield golden boy has enjoyed a dream start to life at Real Madrid, and looks likely to lift silverware with the Spanish capital club sooner or later.

While the 20-year-old is being played further forward by Carlo Ancelotti because of his attacking smarts, the fact he boasts strong tackling skills, positional awareness and an excellent engine enabling him to get up and down the pitch means he's the complete package.

Last year's Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy winner Jude Bellingham is the definition of a Rolls-Royce player. Birmingham were mocked for retiring his number in the wake of his transfer to Borussia Dortmund, but no one's laughing anymore - as he's the most exciting talent in the game. The future of English football is in safe hands.

The annual NXGN lists are back for 2024, as GOAL ranks the world's top teenage talents in men's and women's football, crowning winners that will follow names like Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Jadon Sancho and Lena Oberdorf in being recognised as the best young footballer on the planet.

Covering all five continents and representing 17 different countries, the 2024 NXGN list is a truly global one, featuring established senior internationals, title winners and names that are set to light up major tournaments this summer.

Sometimes it's obvious in football which young players are destined for greatness. Lionel Messi is the one example that immediately springs to mind, although there are many others. It was patently clear that the Argentine had the potential to become a world-class footballer just a few years after he joined Barcelona aged 13.

Similarly, there are a handful of youngsters aged 21 or under in 2024 who appear to possess all the tools to become truly great footballers. We're unlikely to see another Messi emerge any time soon, but that doesn't mean they won't become outstanding players in their own right.

Only players aged 21 or under at the time of writing qualify for the list. This means there's no longer a place on the list for the likes of Erling Haaland, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Vinicius Jr, Bukayo Saka and so on.

Liverpool haven't been shy when it comes to introducing young players to first-team football during the 2023/24 campaign. Conor Bradley was one of the youngsters to benefit from the multiple injury issues the Reds had in the previous campaign.

Stepping in to fill the massive void left by Trent Alexander-Arnold at various points in the season, the Northern Ireland international brought energy and passion to the Reds' title charge. A loan spell at Bolton Wanderers in League One just one year ago was brilliant for the development of the right-back, who now looks extremely comfortable at Premier League level. Not only has he netted his first goal for his club, but Bradley also found the target for his country in the same year.

Evan Ferguson looks primed to be the next big-money sale at Brighton with the Republic of Ireland international already being linked with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal. Roberto De Zerbi got the best out of the striker during his two seasons with the club. Ferguson appears to have everything in his locker, including a dominant presence in the penalty area and an ability to comfortably play with the ball at his feet.

There has been a concerted effort to manage the minutes the 19-year-old has played, with his manager keen not to overplay Ferguson at such a young age. A hat-trick in the opening weeks of the 2023/24 season against Newcastle was probably the highlight for the Irishman to date. More strong performances for the Seagulls could see another bidding war similar to the Moises Caicedo saga from last summer.

One player who may have felt slightly hard done by to miss out on Gareth Southgate's Euro 2024 squad is Chelsea's Levi Colwill. Speaking in September 2023, after Colwill earned his first senior international call-up, Southgate told reporters: "He showed a really good temperament in the league last year, and in the summer with the Under-21s he was outstanding."

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