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The European football leagues are going in full flow as one-fourth of the competition is already over. While the financial power-houses like Real Madrid, Manchester United, Bayern Munich struggle to stamp their authority in the league, the teams which are backed by youngsters have performed exceedingly well across Europe.
Teams like Borussia Dortmund, Benfica, Toulose, Lyon, Ajax are continuing their system of grooming youngsters into world-class players. This organic style of developing players is extremely vital to counter the negative effects of money-dominated football.
The youngsters like Christian Kouame, Jacob Bruun Larsen, Javairo Dilrosun who have played exceedingly well this season could not find a spot in the top five. However, they deserve a special mention here.
The following are the list of top five in-form youngsters who have stormed their respective leagues with their jaw-dropping performances.
#5 Aaron Wan-Bissaka - Age 20
Club - Crystal Palace
League - English Premier League
Position - Right Back
The right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been in the public eye for his spectacular defensive work for Crystal Palace this season. Everyone is raving about the 20-year old youngster who has helped his side with three clean sheets from the first five appearances. He broke into the first team football only this year.
He was also voted twice as Crystal Palace Player of the month in as many months. The fan-favourite has garnered 48% of Eagles' fans vote to clinch the title in August.
Even the coach rated Wan-Bissaka as a very good player. The England U21 call-up vindicates his meteoric rise as one of the preferred right-backs in England. His stats read 4.4 tackles per game and 2.4 interceptions per game which is well above the benchmark for a good defender.
If he continues his good form, he may soon challenge Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker for the England right-back spot.
#4 Ibrahim Sangare - Age 20
Name - Ibrahim Sangare
League - Ligue 1
Position - Defensive Mid-fielder
Sangare has been lauded by many as one of the greatest young talents in French football. His coach said, "His first touch is one of the best I’ve seen". An African Journalist praised the Ivory Coast mid-fielder "Physically, he’s like Yaya Toure but he reminds me of Michael Essien".
Why he is praised as one of the best midfielders at this young age? He has done 4.3 tackles per game which is the most of by a Ligue 1 player so far. He has also completed 1.4 blocks per game; 1.2 Interceptions per game. His pass accuracy too is at a whopping 83.9% which is the 9th best in Ligue 1.
He has also scored a goal and provided an assist from his 810 minutes of Ligue 1 appearance.
Now his club is using most of his potentials while they can because they know that the European rich clubs have already spotted his talent.
#3 Luka Jovic - Age 20
Club - Eintracht Frankfurt
League - Bundesliga
Position - Forward
The Serbian Striker has been praised by many pundits as a "potential world-class striker" after he scored five goals in a match against Fortuna Dusseldorf. He only needed 55 minutes to score his five goals. He has also become the youngest player in the German Bundesliga history to attain this accomplishment.
So far, in just 229 minutes, the striker has scored seven goals and provided one assist. He has won two MoM awards from just three starts.
His coach Adi Huetter praised Jovic by saying "You always have to be careful with superlatives, but for me, he has the potential to become a world-class striker".
The striker is on loan from Benfica. He got into the playing eleven only because of Ante Rebic's injury. Now the club is trying to sign him permanently.
The player is valued at 10 million Euros. However, after his heroics against Dusseldorf, Benfica will increase his valuation multi-fold.
#2 Jadon Sancho - Age 18
Club - Borussia Dortmund
League - Bundesliga
Position - Left Attacking Mid-fielder
Jadon Sancho is already being considered as one of the best talents of Europe. His breakneck rise in the Bundesliga has earned him a place in the Senior England International team.
The 18-year old youngster is having a sensational 2018/19 campaign for Borussia Dortmund. Despite starting just two games (305 minutes on the field), Jadon Sancho has scored 2 goals and provided six assists. He has a pass accuracy of 84.3% which is an impressive figure for an attacking midfielder.
The boy left Manchester City in August 2017 to look out for first team chance. There is no better club than Borussia Dortmund to groom a youngster. He found the right which provided a right platform for his talent. He has extended his contract with the club till 2022.
Manchester City must be wondering why and how did they let go a gem who will storm the world of football in the next few years.
#1 Kylian Mbappe - 19
Club - Paris Saint-Germain
League - Ligue 1
Position - Attaching Right Mid-fielder
There are no prizes for guessing. Yes, Kylian Mbappe is one of the most in-form players in the world. The French attacker has scored 11 goals and provided four assists in eight (six Ligue 1 games and 2 Champions League games) appearances for the Ligue 1 leaders already this season. In the summer of 2018, he also helped France win the World Cup by becoming the first teenager since the Brazilian legend, Pele, to score a goal in the final.
He is in the shortlist for the Ballon d'Or award. There is a good possibility that he may even win the greatest individual award in football.
PSG goal-keeper Buffon praised Mbappe by saying "If he maintains the desire to be number one, to be a great champion and humility to work to improve, he will have an incredible career ahead of him. And when I say incredible, I mean one of the best in history".
The world has seen the best of Messi and Ronaldo. It's time for Mbappe to rule the footballing world.
