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While Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are battling it out for the highest individual prizes on offer, there are some young players coming up and are working to reach the same heights with their extraordinary talents.
With half of the season over already, the onus now quickly shifts towards reaching the latter stages of cup competitions and getting results in the respective leagues. It is for moments like these that the players step on to the pitch and there is no dearth of young, raw talent in world football.
But, there a few names who have turned the eyes of the huge network of scouts, distributed among all the clubs over the world, who are bound for greatness.
#5 Youri Tielemans (AS Monaco)
A Belgian international, Tielemans is a 20-year-old midfielder currently plying his trade for AS Monaco in Ligue 1. He made his move to the French Ligue 1 this summer after a spectacular season with Anderlecht as he led his team to win the Jupiler League.
He ended the title-winning season with Anderlecht with 18 goals and 15 assists from the central midfield which is an indicator of his enormous talent. Despite being a defensively-inclined operator, his high football IQ and supreme technique aid him in finding that key pass to the forward line or bursting forward with quick feet.
A good tackler, Tielemans can tend to be overly aggressive in his approach to stealing the ball from the opponents which is a side of his game that needs to improve.
However, the 20-year-old makes up for this with his wonderful range of passing and other attributes and is certainly, one to carry the torch of the Belgian national team in the future.
#4 Justin Kluivert (Ajax)
The Ajax academy has produced real gems over the years and in Justin Kluivert, the academy has unearthed its latest prodigy. The youngster has become a regular starter for their first team at the age of 18.
The son of Ajax legend, Patrick, Kluivert Jr. is one of the hottest prospects in world football and his performances have reflected that.
While his father used to play as a pure forward, his array of skills and rapid pace allows the younger Kluivert to operate on the flanks. His dribbling skills were widely acclaimed last season when Ajax reached the final of the Europa League.
Justin managed to score 2 goals and provided 5 assists in all competitions in his breakthrough season.
His low centre of gravity gives him the balance needed for exceptional ball control and he is able to confuse defenders with utmost ease. His tally of 5 goals and 2 assists this season is bound to increase as the season passes by.
Despite needing more gym time to become a bit more physical in his game, Kluivert is already a force to be reckoned with.
#3 Kasper Dolberg (Ajax)
Dolberg has been stealing headlines from his fellow Danish international teammates as the 20-year-old striker has been in sensational form over the past year. The towering forward is another budding player from the Ajax academy and has managed the expectations of his coaches really well up until now.
Dolberg’s style of play allows the rest of the attackers to come towards the centre of the pitch as he drops in between the lines. His tally of 22 goals and 7 assists in all competitions last season was a testimony to his vast talent.
Nurtured as penalty box predator, Dolberg is improving in every single game and why would he not? Dolberg gets personal training from another legend of the game in the form of Dennis Bergkamp.
With 8 goals this season for Ajax already, Dolberg is on his journey to become a lethal striker at Ajax just like other famous alumni including Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Luis Suarez.
#2 Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham)
One of the most famous youngsters in the English game, Sessegnon is being followed by almost every major club in England along with interest from foreign leagues as well.
The 17-year-old is the perfect example of a modern-day full-back - capable of performing his defensive duties and willing to make runs in the opposition box as well.
In fact, Sessegnon’s attacking statistics are more impressive than his defensive ones primarily due to his tendency to fly into tackles.
According to pundits, the Fulham player will be able to fine-tune his defensive game as he plays more and more. With 5 goals and 3 assists, the English youngster made waves with his performances last season but has eclipsed it already this season.
7 goals and 4 assists in the Championship for a 17-year-old is mind boggling and that is what has attracted all the Premier League giants towards him.
Comparisons to Gareth Bale are already flying about due to the similarity between the two players. Bale started his career as a fullback but gradually moved to the wings to play as a proper attacker. If Sessegnon is to truly fulfils his potential, the same path might be what he needs to follow.
#1 Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund)
Pulisic has been earning plaudits for his performances as a winger for Borussia Dortmund and the USA national team over the past year. The American international is just 19 years of age but has already been headlining the newspapers for his talent.
Recently, he was awarded the USA Player of the Year award for a sensational calendar year where he broke into Dortmund's first team as well as the national team.
The young starlet has been on fire for the national team despite the team failing to qualify for the World Cup next year. He has managed to score nine goals in 20 appearances for the team and he will be primed to make up for lost time in 2022.
The pacey winger is highly rated for his quick dribbling and the ability to take on players and draw fouls in the process.
It's not every day that a teenager is monitored by the European elite for his signature but Pulisic has been on the wishlist of every major club in Europe. With age on his side and the opportunity to flourish at a club renowned for giving youth a chance, he is bound to be the flag bearer for his country in the coming years.
