Top 5 young players of this football season (2019/20)

Jadon Sancho is one of the best young players in the world
Jadon Sancho is one of the best young players in the world

#3 Jadon Sancho | Borussia Dortmund | Age: 20

Sancho has enjoyed a record-breaking season with BVB
Sancho has enjoyed a record-breaking season with BVB

The second Borussia Dortmund wonderkid to feature on this list, Jadon Sancho is another player who has had a genuinely incredible season in Germany. The English winger already had an impressive 2018/19 campaign, but this year, he's gone on to better his tally and took his game to a new level.

Sancho's record-breaking season saw him become the highest-ever assist-provider for Borussia Dortmund in a season, assisting his teammates 16 times in the Bundesliga alone. Additionally, he's also scored 17 goals in the league, taking his total goal contribution to an astonishing figure of 33 in just 32 games, starting only 25 of them.

There is little doubt that he is one of the biggest talents in world football at the moment, and he is currently at the heart of a transfer saga involving Manchester United. The prospect of him partnering the likes of Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes, and other stars is a devastating one.

Should the move fall through or Sancho choose otherwise, he could still be in for a scintillating season with Dortmund on current form alongside the likes of Erling Haaland and Marco Reus. Ultimately, he's a gifted talent, and the former Manchester City winger has shown that he can succeed regardless of the circumstances.


#2 Kylian Mbappe | Paris Saint-Germain | Age: 21

Kylian Mbappe is Paris Saint-Germain's crown jewel
Kylian Mbappe is Paris Saint-Germain's crown jewel

Undisputedly the most well-established wonderkid in the world, Kylian Mbappe is not just one of the best youngsters right now, but is one of the best players overall. The Frenchman has displayed abilities and an understanding of the game that belies his age, and has been an integral cog for every team he's represented so far.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner has enjoyed a vastly successful career so far, and fired PSG to another league title in 2019/20 alongside Neymar Jr. In a curtailed Ligue 1 season, Mbappe played 1516 minutes of football over 20 appearances (17 starts) — accumulating a stunning 18 goals and five assists in that period. Although he's played more centrally, Mbappe is capable of playing anywhere across the front line.

His performances in Europe have been frighteningly good as well, having racked up five goals and four assists in just 446 UCL minutes. This included a scintillating 22-minute spell against Club Brugge that saw him net a hat-trick and record an assist. Mbappe also registered a hat-trick of assists in another game against Galatasaray, rounding his show off with a goal as well.

The 21-year-old made headlines on Thursday after it was revealed he has recovered from a terrible injury to feature for PSG's UCL clash against Atalanta. Should he win the competition this year, he would have one of the most complete CVs in football.... at the age of 21.


#1 Trent Alexander-Arnold | Liverpool | Age: 21

Alexander-Arnold is one of the best right-backs in world football
Alexander-Arnold is one of the best right-backs in world football

It is generally a bit out of the ordinary to see Kylian Mbappe at any other spot but#1 on lists of this nature. However, that is a true testament to Trent Alexander-Arnold's season, which has been precisely that. It has been out of the ordinary.

The Englishman has been one of the best players in the Premier League this year, running riot down Liverpool's right flank. It really is hard to envisage a right-back doing as much as the gifted 21-year-old does. Deliveries from deep, arrowed passes piercing the final third, absurdly good free-kicks, and so much more — Alexander-Arnold has got it all.

His emergence, alongside that of Andy Robertson on the opposite flank, has allowed Liverpool to dominate football matches like few teams can. Their press-friendly midfield puts the onus on the full-backs to be creative, and they could not have asked for a better pair of players to command the flanks.

Alexander-Arnold broke the record for most assists by a defender in Premier League history this year, setting up an astonishing 13 goals from right-back. The previous record stood at 12, which was set by Alexander-Arnold himself in the 2018/19 campaign. He has been one of the standout players for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool and played a crucial role in their dominant title win.

Jurgen Klopp has created a monster in Alexander-Arnold, and at this rate, he could go on to become the best-ever right-back England and the Premier League have ever produced.


Also read: 10 most valuable Premier League clubs

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