'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#4 Matthijs de Ligt for Ajax (currently Juventus) and the Netherlands
In a shortlist with a fair number of young players, it's difficult to overlook Matthijs de Ligt, who was not only Ajax's youngest captain but an incredibly successful one at that.
A product of Ajax's famed youth academy, the 19-year-old guided the Dutch giants to a league and cup double as well as the semi-finals of the Champions League in the 2018-19 season.
The 2018 Golden Boy winner turned an endearing squad of young players into surprising favourites for the European title, with the dream appearing even closer when he famously netted the winning goal in the quarter-finals of the elite competition to kick Serie A champions Juventus straight out of the competition.
Even as a teenager, De Ligt's intelligence and maturity form much of his calm presence at the centre of the Ajax and Dutch defence. These qualities have earned him several admirers in Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain and saw Juventus eventually signing him for a combined fee of €75 million.
Internationally, the teenager was an influential figure alongside Virgil van Dijk as the Netherlands progressed to the final of the inaugural edition of the UEFA Nations League.
Despite the title-winning exploits of those more experienced than him, De Ligt stands in a league of his own and remains a favourite to win the FIFA Men's Best Player award at the end of the year.
