'%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)
Matthijs De Ligt (Juventus & Holland)
This is a man who needs little introduction. Last year, he bagged the Golden Boy award thanks to a string of impressive performances at the heart of the Ajax defence.
The former Ajax skipper continued to dazzle well after bagging the award, leading the club on a fairy tale run last season in the UEFA Champions League. The sight of him barking instructions to senior players as well as inspiring them with a string of impressive individual performances will not be forgotten soon.
The remarkable run saw the youthful side beat the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus en route the semifinals. De Ligt headed in the winner against Juventus in the second leg of their quarter-final clash last season, sending Ajax through to the last four of the tournament for the first time since 1996-97.
His impressive performances for Ajax last term reportedly prompted a bidding war between European heavyweights like PSG, Juventus, Liverpool, and Manchester United. Eventually, he agreed on a move to the Old Lady after months of speculation.
Ansu Fati (Barcelona & Spain)
Ansu Fati is the latest gem to have come out of the mine that is Barcelona's famous La Masia academy. At just 16 years of age, the Guinea Bissau born winger has been receiving plaudits from some of the best minds in football, including Barca legend, Victor Valdes who said:
"He's pure anarachy when he plays, and you needs to give these kinds of talents liberty, not hide them out wide: they need to do what's natural to them. He's the jewel of La Masia."
Fati had a wonderful outing in the UEFA Youth League last term, as he played nine times, picked up three assists, and scored four goals.
This season he was fast-tracked to the Barcelona first team with injuries to heavy hitters like Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Ousmane Dembele. On August 25, 2019, he made his debut for Barcelona as a substitute, becoming La Blaugrana's youngest debutant in 78 years.
Fati was like a fish in water, adapting impressively to his new surroundings. He went on to score his first goal for the club six days later. He has made six appearances for the Blaugrana this season in both the UCL and La Liga, scoring two goals and bagging an assist.
Barcelona is reportedly set to insert an astronomical release clause into his contract, warding off interest from some of Europe's top clubs. The 16-year-old is seen as a long term successor to the likes of Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi.
