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Real Madrid is undoubtedly one of the greatest clubs in world football. Los Blancos have attained the pinnacle of club football over the decades, their rich history being a testament to their might.
Real Madrid have been crowned champions of Spain 34 times in their illustrious history. They are also unmatched when it comes to European success, winning the Champions League 13 times.
In the current campaign, the Spanish giants have endured a slump in form after starting on a bright note. Carlo Ancelotti's men are second in the La Liga table with 21 points after 10 matches with a game in hand.
It goes without saying that a club of Real Madrid's stature have had the presence of jewels in their squad. While many youth prospects have shone at the Santiago Bernabeu, there are also talents who have failed to reach their true potential.
The Spanish giants have continued to produce and invest in top youth prospects over the years. On that note, let us take a look at
Top 5 youth prospects at Real Madrid right now (2021)
Note: We will only be considering players who are 21 or below 21 years old.
#5 Antonio Blanco
Real Madrid has produced some of the most legendary footballers in football history - Emiliano Butragueno, Raul, Guti and Iker Casillas - to name a few. The famed Real Madrid academy continues to develop talent and Antonio Blanco is one of them.
Coming up from the ranks of Real Madrid's youth teams, Blanco showed his worth whenever he got the chance for the first team. Even with a limited number of chances, the young Spaniard has impressed the Bernabeu faithful with majestic displays. He has made five appearances for Los Blancos in La Liga last season and this season so far.
With a playing style which reminds of Xabi Alonso, Blanco has impressed both Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti.
Operating as a defensive midfielder, Blanco is known for his well timed tackles, passing range and ability to initiate attacks. While the 21-year-old's offensive approach is praiseworthy, he has to improve his defensive game to be a regular name on the team sheet.
#4 Miguel Gutierrez
Competition for the left-back position has always been high at Real Madrid. This has caused talented players like Theo Hernandez and Reguilon to move elsewhere in recent years. Yet Miguel Gutierrez shone through and broke into the first team.
Miguel enjoyed a breakthrough season under Zidane last campaign. With the absence of Ferland Mendy, Miguel went up the pecking order with former boss Zidane choosing the young player over Marcelo.
In addition to solid defensive abilities, Miguel has been effective while overlapping on the left flank. The 20-year-old links up well with wingers and takes darting runs forward to help out in attack. His crosses from the left have troubled opponents' defenses, helping Miguel rack up two assists in his 10 appearances for Real Madrid.
#3 Rodrygo Goes
Real Madrid have made significant investment in securing Rodrygo Goes and the Brazilian has showcased his potential so far. Since his arrival in 2019 from Santos, the Brazilian youngster has shown immense promise and delivered for his team during crucial moments.
Rodrygo is extremely versatile, as evident with his exploits on both the flanks. The 20-year-old possesses a bag full of tricks to beat defenders and a calm head in front of goal.
Besides his attacking qualities, what sets him apart is his defensive workrate and his unselfishness in the final third. That's one of the reasons Rodrygo has been so effective on the right, linking up well with the rest of the team.
For his exploits, Rodrygo has racked up 11 goals and 12 assists for Real Madrid so far, with seven of his goals coming in the Champions League.
In the current campaign, Rodrygo has scored a winner against Inter in a 1-0 win in the Champions League. He also provided an excellent assist against Barcelona in the El Clasico in La Liga.
#2 Eduardo Camavinga
France's youngest player in a century, Eduardo Camavinga, is a rare prospect. With many top European clubs behind the player, Real Madrid made a lucrative deal (€40m) on the last day of the summer transfer window to sign Camavinga. Since his arrival, he has already showcased his talent with some strong performances on the pitch.
On his debut against Celta Viga, Camavinga scored a goal to announce his arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu. The French talent again had an impact after coming on as a substitute against Inter, providing an assist to Rodrygo's late winner in the Champions League. He has remained unfazed under pressure so far, which will explain why Carlo Ancelotti relies on him.
Considering his abilities, Camavinga is a total package. The 18-year-old is great at tackles, possesses sensational passing range and is a dribbler, too. His tactical intelligence is praiseworthy as Camavinga always has a penchant for running into space and creating space for his teammates.
It is still too early to predict but the sky is the limit for Camavinga if he keeps on improving.
#1 Vinicius Junior
It comes as no surprise as Vinicius Junior takes the #1 spot in our list. The Brazilian wunderkind is already a star at Real Madrid, impressing his fans and critics alike with some sensational displays so far.
With a jaw-dropping skillset under his belt, Vinicius has wreaked havoc on opponents' defenses from the left. The 21-year-old beats defenders with utter ease due to his raw pace, dribbling skills and trickery. His marauding runs on the left flank spells trouble for defenders, which makes it harder for them to mark him.
The only criticism against Vinicius earlier was his poor efficiency in the final third. The Brazilian winger has managed to prove his critics wrong, scoring seven goals and providing five assists for Real Madrid in all competitions so far this campaign.
