Ranking the top 5 U23 players in world football currently

Kylian Mbappe (2L) and Erling Haaland (3L) are two of the best U-23 players at the moment.
Kylian Mbappe (2L) and Erling Haaland (3L) are two of the best U-23 players at the moment.

#3 Jadon Sancho

Borusiia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho
Borusiia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho

Former Manchester City academy player Jadon Sancho has set the stage ablaze since his move to the Westfalenstadion.

Most English players have historically preferred to ply their trade at home, but Sancho was one of the few to make the trip abroad in search of regular first-team opportunities.

Manchester City's star-studded squad meant a young player like Sancho was not guaranteed regular game time, which made the Englishman move to Germany in 2017. He soon established his place in the Borussia Dortmund starting XI and has been one of their most prolific goalscorers, along with Erling Haaland.

Sancho missed a chunk of the 2020-21 season due to injury, including both legs of Dortmund's quarter-final against City in the Champions League. In his four seasons with the Black and Yellow, the 21-year old has amassed 50 goals and 65 assists in 137 appearances in all competitions.


#2 Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland

Erling Braut Haaland is currently one of the hottest properties in world football, showcasing his lethal goalscoring prowess since breaking into the scene less than two years ago.

Haaland rose to prominence after a sensational campaign with Austrian side RB Salzburg and his fabulous exploits in his debut Champions League season. The 20-year old previously rose up the ranks at local club Bryne FK and also represented Molde under the tutelage of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

In his breakthrough 2019-20 season at RB Salzburg, Haaland set the European stage on fire, registering eight goals and an assist in six appearances in his debut Champions League campaign.

After joining Borussia Dortmund last year, the Norway international elevated his game to a higher level. He emerged as the highest goalscorer (ten goals) in the 2020-21 Champions League campaign. Nicknamed 'The Terminator', Haaland is one of the game's most exhilarating prospects.


#1 Kylian Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe is a hot favourite for this year's Ballon D'Or award after a stellar 2020-21 campaign.

The French star is one of the best young players in the game and has reinforced that perception with strong individual performances this season. In 47 appearances across all competitions, Mbappe was involved in 53 goals (42 goals, 11 assists).

The star striker was the top goalscorer in the 2020-21 Ligue 1 campaign and almost single-handedly propelled PSG to the Champions League semi-finals.

Mbappe scored eight goals in five matches leading up to the Parisians' semi-final clash against Manchester City, which they lost 1-4 on aggregate. Previously, he became the first player to score four goals against Barcelona in a Champions League campaign and has lodged more assists than anyone since his debut in the competition in 2017-18.

At just 22, Kylian Mbappe has a long list of personal accolades and titles to his name and is already in the radars of top clubs across the continent.

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