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The 2019-20 European football season is sure to go down as one of the most extraordinary campaigns in the game's history. The coronavirus outbreak led to league football being suspended for nearly four months, as teams returned after what proved to an unexpected break midway through the season.
In terms of football, though, fans were treated to their fair share of drama and controversy in what proved to be the longest season in the history of the beautiful game. Due to a variety of season, several young players burst onto the scene in the past 12 months, while the ones who were already around enhanced their reputations with a string of outstanding performances for club and country.
Chelsea's youth revolution under Frank Lampard bore fruit, as the Blues finished fourth in the Premier League despite being slapped with a transfer ban. The Englishman had no choice but to place faith in his academy graduates, with the likes of Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham also receiving call-ups to the national team squad.
The five-substitutions rule post-lockdown has also led to a handful of youngsters being named in the matchday squad, with Curtis Jones, Neco Williams and Harvey Elliot turning out for Premier League champions Liverpool in recent games.
Even the biggest clubs across the continent have begun trusting their youth players and such a philosophy could lead to a seismic shift to the dynamics of the transfer window.
After a lot of deliberation, we managed to put together a list of top 10 U-23 players in world football currently and rank them based on overall impact in their short careers so far.
Note: All the players are below the age of 23 and have played at least one full season in European football
#10 Dayot Upamecano | RB Leipzig, 21
Dayot Upamecano has quickly become one of the most sought-after defenders in world football, with the RB Leipzig man being courted by the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal, amongst others. The towering central defender produced a string of outstanding performances in the 2019-20 Champions League campaign, as Julian Nagelsmann's side made it through to the semi-finals of the competition.
The 21-year-old is blessed with terrific positional sense and is also capable of playing out from the back, while he has also been lauded for his long passes from his own half.
Didier Deschamps recently handed Upamecano his first call-up to the national team, with the Frenchman looking increasingly like the real deal. Manchester United are looking to snap him up this summer and it remains to be seen if a deal comes to fruition.
#9 Marcus Rashford | Manchester United, 22
Marcus Rashford is already a household name in world football despite being just 22 years of age. The England international burst onto the scene under Louis van Gaal in 2016 and has since then become a key player for club and country. Having initially made a name for himself as a #9, Rashford has played the majority of his games as a winger due to his pace and shooting ability.
The Manchester United academy graduate has gone from strength to strength and enjoyed the best season of his career last time around, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reaping the rewards for staying patient with him.
Rashford has shown incredible maturity on and off the pitch, as the young Englishman's exemplary service to serve the underprivileged children in the UK led to him becoming a nationwide hero.
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#8 Houssem Aouar | Lyon, 22
Houssem Aouar is Lyon's crown jewel and one of the most exciting players in his position. The 22-year-old joined the club's academy at the age of 11 and has risen through the ranks rapidly to become an influential figure at the Ligue 1 outfit.
Aouar turned heads with a series of eye-catching displays in the Champions League, as Lyon defeated the likes of Juventus and Manchester City before eventually losing out to Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.
Renowned for his ball control, dribbling ability and tactical intelligence, the Frenchman has drawn comparisons with Barcelona icon Andres Iniesta for his style of play. Aouar is amongst the most wanted players in world football and is reportedly a target for Arsenal, Manchester City and Juventus this summer.
#7 Alphonso Davies | Bayern Munich, 19
Alphonso Davies' rise to fandom has been one of the success stories of the 2019-20 European football season. The Canadian winger moved to Bayern Munich in January 2019 from Vancouver Whitecaps in his country, as he looked to learn his trade and make an impression.
However, things soon took a dramatic turn, as he was slotted in as a left-back when Bayern Munich's injury woes deepened. The 19-year-old hasn't looked back since and has dazzled fans across the world with his speed and crossing ability, while he is also incredibly hard to defend against due to his devastating change of pace and ball control.
In reference to the road-runner, Davies is fondly referred to as "Meep Meep" by the Bayern Munich squad. The young Canadian is was one of the breakthrough stars of the 2019-20 season and looks set to have a bright future in the game.
#6 Erling Haaland | Borussia Dortmund, 20
Erling Haaland's goalscoring exploits in the past 12 months have been nothing short of extraordinary, with the Norwegian striker quickly establishing himself as one of Europe's most feared marksmen.
Having burst onto the scene at Molde, Haaland sent shock-waves across Europe with his performances for Red Bull Salzburg, as he took the Austrian Bundesliga by storm with his performances. Known for his finishing prowess and ability to run in behind the defence, the 20-year-old also made an excellent impact in his first season in the Champions League, as he broke a series of long-standing records in the competition.
In January 2020, the towering striker rejected advances from as many as 12 clubs across the continent to sign for Borussia Dortmund. Since moving to Signal Iduna Park, Haaland has carried on from where he left off continued to bang in the goals.
#5 Kai Havertz | Bayer Leverkusen, 21
Dubbed as the next big thing in German football, Kai Havertz is a vital cog of an exciting Bayer Leverkusen side under Peter Bosz. The 21-year-old is set to seal a stunning switch to Chelsea in the coming days, with the Blues agreeing to break the bank to secure his signature.
Primarily an attacking midfielder, Havertz's versatility, vision and intelligence allows him to thrive in multiple roles. The German international has also played out wide and as a false 9 for Leverkusen, as he looks set to swap the Bundesliga for the Premier League in the coming days.
Havertz has drawn comparisons with Michael Ballack and Mesut Ozil with his style of play and has the unique ability to score goals as well as create them. The 20-year-old is one of the brightest prospects in world football and is set to add another dimension to Chelsea's gameplay.
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#4 Matthijs de Ligt | Juventus, 21
The fact that Matthijs de Ligt is an indispensable member for club and country at the age of 21 is the most startling example yet of his maturity as a defender.
The Dutchman was the captain of the Ajax side that reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in the 2018-19 season and stood out in a team that contained other star players like Frenkie de Jong, Hakim Ziyech and Donny van de Beek.
De Ligt is very comfortable with the ball at his feet and is capable of starting plays out from the back, having started his career as an attacking midfielder. Additionally, the 21-year-old is dominant aerially and is known for his clean tackling and positional sense.
Juventus broke the bank to secure his signature last summer and the move has paid dividends for them already, as the towering defender played a pivotal role in their Serie A success in the 2019-20 season.
#3 Jadon Sancho | Borussia Dortmund, 20
Hailed as one of the biggest matchwinners in world football, Jadon Sancho is coming on the back of his most productive season as a senior pro. The tricky winger led from the front, as Borussia Dortmund once again finished in the top four and secured a spot in the Champions League next season.
Sancho is known for his crossing ability, flair and ball control, while is also capable of scoring goals and creating them in equal measure. The assists king of the Bundesliga, as he is fondly referred to, is one of the most sought-after players in Europe, with Manchester United leading the race to secure his signature this summer.
The Red Devils have been told that they will need to break the British transfer record to sign the 20-year-old and it remains to be seen if his big-money move to Old Trafford comes to fruition this summer.
#2 Trent Alexander-Arnold | Liverpool, 21
Trent Alexander-Arnold, at the age of 21, has already won the Premier League and the Champions League with his boyhood club and is all set to make the right-back spot his own for a decade. The young Scouser is one of the most gifted footballers of his generation, with Jurgen Klopp's side relying on him for the creative spark more often than not.
Blessed with an incredible ability to cross the ball, Alexander-Arnold's technique has been compared to that of David Beckham's. Additionally, the Englishman is also a set-piece specialist, making him an indispensable member for club and country.
The Liverpool right-back holds the record for most assists by a defender in a single Premier League season, having recorded 13 in Liverpool's outstanding title victory in the 2019-20 campaign.
#1 Kylian Mbappe | Paris Saint-Germain, 21
Kylian Mbappe unsurprisingly tops the list, having made a name for himself as one of the best players in the world despite being just 21 years of age.
The Frenchman is one of the most feared attackers of his generation and has drawn comparisons with Thierry Henry and Ronaldo Nazario for his style of play, while he has also been compared to Brazilian icon Pele for accomplishing so much at such a young age.
The 21-year-old is a gifted finisher in front of goal, while he has also been lauded for his electric pace and off the ball movement. Having won a league title with Monaco, Mbappe secured a record-breaking move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2017 and has since then become a key player for the club.
The Frenchman was also a standout player in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, as he spearheaded Didier Deschamps' side to the biggest prize in world football. Mbappe is by far the most gifted footballer of his generation and looks set to shape a new era in world football.
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