Ranking the 10 best teenagers in world football

#4 Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax)

de Ligt is the latest centre back to come through Ajax's youth system

Ajax have a good record at producing excellent defenders in recent years. Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Davinson Sanchez all began their career with the Dutch giants. Of course, all three have ended up at Tottenham, so the writing may be on the wall for de Ligt. The 19-year-old will certainly go far, if his career up until now is anything to go by.

He may still be a teenager, but he is already a key member of this Ajax side and looks like the real deal. He is calm and composed when defending, and with the ball at his feet, which makes him very much the modern defender. He is another man who is part of the new era of Netherlands football after their World Cup qualifying disaster, and he is a leader at the back, so could really drive that new look team forward.