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#3 Alphonso Davies
It isn't often that a player from Canada grabs the headlines like Alphonso Davies has. The left-sided player has shown quality and maturity beyond his years since making his professional bow.
Davies made a name for himself as an excellent winger with the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS, eventually earning a move to Bayern Munich in 2018. Upon his arrival in Germany, former Bayern boss, Hansi Flick, saw potential in him as a full-back.
Since then, Davies has not looked back and has become one of the most exciting and dangerous full-backs in all of Europe. He has the ability to breeze past players with a combination of his extraordinary pace and dribbling skills. This makes him a tough opponent for any player on the planet.
Davies has enjoyed great success at club and international level and has become an important player for both sides. Davies was included in the FIFPro World XI in 2020, a huge achievement for a player his age.
#2 Vinicius Junior
When Real Madrid splashed €46 million in 2017 on a teenager with limited experience in senior football, they knew what they saw in him. Vinicius Junior has matured and Los Blancos are now reaping the benefits of their investment.
The Brazilian winger joined from Flamengo weeks after making his debut for the club at 16-year-old. His transfer fee set a transfer record for an under-19 player.
The winger endured an indifferent start to life in Madrid as he failed to really shine until the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti in 2021. The Italian manager brought the best out of Vinicius, and the Brazilian is presently one of the world’s best wingers.
His understanding and combination with striker Karim Benzema has helped Real Madrid take a commanding lead in La Liga. Vinicius Junior has 15 goals and 10 assists in 30 appearances in all competitions for Real Madrid this season.
Following the signing of Eden Hazard in 2019, Vinicius was expected to play second fiddle to the Belgian but the reverse has been the case.
Vinicius has completely won over his coach and fans. It won't be long before he starts challenging Neymar for a starting shirt in the Brazil national team.
#1 Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland first rose to prominence for scoring nine times in a 12-0 win for Norway's U-20 team against Honduras at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2019. The striker has grown in leaps and bounds since then to become one of the world’s deadliest finishers.
Haaland made his name as a Red Bull Salzburg player when he scored in each of his first five Champions League appearances for the club. He moved to Borussia Dortmund the same season (2019-20) and scored a hat-trick on his debut for the club.
The Norwegian striker has 80 goals and 21 assists in 79 matches for Borussia Dortmund, and 12 goals in 15 matches for Norway. He has 23 goals in only 19 appearances in the UEFA Champions League, giving him an elite record in the competition.
Haaland was voted as part of the FIFPro World XI in 2021 after a series of brilliant performances for club and country. The striker is expected to move to a bigger club soon, with clubs lining up to secure his signature.
