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Young prospects have become hot properties in the football world at the moment, with the rise of Paris Saint Germain wonder-kid Kylian Mbappe setting a perfect example that young players can also attain exceptional heights in the sport.
While the French attacker continues to set the pace, other fantastic prodigies have also joined the train, stealing the attention of football fans with their incredible performances for both club and country as well as demonstrating unbelievable maturity each time they step on the soccer pitch.
As a matter of fact, the football world is blessed with a lot of fantastic young talents at the moment and big clubs have spent massive fees in acquiring these incredible prospects while others are still attracting interest from these elite clubs.
With more young players rising up to prove their exciting talents to the football world every day, we have decided to look at the 5 best Under-21 youngsters in the game right now, taking out Kylian Mbappe. They are as follows:
#5. Declan Rice
It's been a while since we witnessed the breakout of a young Irish player in the Premier League but the wait seems to be over right now with West Ham midfielder Declan Rice bringing back the old feeling with his exceptional displays in the English top flight this term.
The defensive midfielder, who has also impressed at the heart of the defense has been a huge influence for West Ham United this season, with his performances earning him the trust of his manager, Manuel Pellegrini, who has rewarded him with a whopping 26 appearances so far during the term.
Rice is a player with both physical and technical attributes, a good user of the ball with immense acceleration, and displays incredible tackling. Given his promising displays so far this season, it wouldn't be a surprise if a European elite club comes for his signature during the summer.
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#4. Houssem Aouar
Another young player who is making name for himself with his incredible talent in the football world right now is Olympique Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar, a highly talented playmaker with immense potential and incredible technical skills.
Aouar has been making waves in the French Ligue 1 since the beginning of the term. As a matter of fact, when it comes to rating the most impressive young midfielders in the division at the moment, there is no doubt the 20-year-old belongs in a class of his own.
The right-footed central midfielder organizes play with ease, linking the defense to attack and adding flexibility and composure to the game. Whether he is gliding past opposition players or busting into the box, the playmaker has the ability to pick out the right passes and he doesn't shy away in front of goal with 6 goals to his name already this term.
#3. Kai Havertz
One of the most promising youngsters in German football, Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Kai Havertz ranks among the finest young talents the football world can present at the moment, courtesy of his electrifying displays for the Bundesliga outfit.
The midfield metronome, often compared to German legend Michael Ballack has earned immense reputation in the Bundesliga due to his ability to work between the lines, exploiting open spaces and organizing team play to bring the best out of his colleagues on the pitch.
Havertz is also a specialist when it comes to finding the killer pass, thanks to his brilliant vision affording him the chance to open up opposition defenses within the blink of an eye. He also impresses whenever he finds himself in front of goal, having found the back of the net a brilliant 11 times and setting up another 6 for Bayer Leverkusen across all competitions this season.
#2. Vinicius Jr
Following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus during the summer which caused some struggles, Real Madrid are finally finding their feet gradually as seen with their recent 1-1 draw against FC Barcelona in the Copa Del Rey.
While the team has been able to turn the tables around by sticking together during the past few weeks, the roles played by of their recent signing Vinicius Junior in the resurgence mission cannot be ignored.
In a campaign where the likes of Isco Hernandez, Marco Asensio, and Gareth Bale have all failed to match up with expectations, Los Blancos have reaped bountifully from their summer investment, with Vinicius Junior producing the spark that is needed to fire the team up front.
The 18-year-old has been a huge revelation in La Liga this season, troubling opposition defenses with his sheer pace, incredible dribbling skills, and amazing finishing knack. With his exceptional performances, there is no doubt the attacker is one of the most impressive U-21 players in the world right now.
#1. Matthijs De Ligt
Dutch giants Ajax FC are highly reputed when it comes to the production of brilliant young football talents and they came to the spotlight once again when La Liga champions FC Barcelona coughed up a whopping €75 million to lure talented midfielder Frenkie De Jong from the Johan Cruyff Arena this winter.
However, De Jong isn't the only exceptional youngster in, his colleague Matthijs De Ligt is also attracting interest from some of the biggest clubs on the continent, with the likes of Juventus, Paris Saint Germain, Barcelona, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich all after his signature.
De Ligt is a highly talented ball-playing center-back with immense technical skills and incredible rigidity. His composure, maturity and the ability to lead from the back are those qualities that set him in a class above his fellow young defenders. Such is his performance that he was recently honoured with the Golden Boy award.
