UEFA Champions League 2019/2020: Ranking the top 7 teenagers in the group stage

Club Atletico de Madrid v Borussia Dortmund - UEFA Champions League Group A
Club Atletico de Madrid v Borussia Dortmund - UEFA Champions League Group A

Another season of Champions League football is upon us, and over the next nine months, fans of the beautiful game would be treated to spectacles of world class football as the best 32 teams in Europe battle it out for honours.

The Champions League is the pinnacle of club football, and as such, it comes as no surprise that the very best players on the planet would be paraded, with their performance in the competition going a long way in cementing their legacy and determining who would win the individual prizes.

However, beyond the presence of established superstars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Virgil Van Dijk, Eden Hazard among others, there are also a number of unheralded but talented youngsters who would be seeking to carve a niche for themselves with spectacular performances in the Champions League.

The annals of Champions League are littered with scores of prodigious teenagers making a mark in the competition, from Patrick Kluivert winning the trophy for Ajax in 1995, Raul Gonzalez announcing himself a year later, Messi leaving players twice his age on their backside at Stamford Bridge in 2006 to Kylian Mbappe rewriting history with Monaco in 2017.

The current era is no different, and has more than its own fair share of gifted teenagers who would be strutting their stuff in the Champions League this season. Here we shall have a look at seven teenagers who are likely to star in the Champions League this season.

Note: While Joao Felix might be a prodigiously talented teenager at the moment, the fact that he would turn 20 in November while the group stage is still on disqualifies him from this list.

Honourable mentions - Alphonso Davies - 18 years (Bayern Munich), Sergino Dest - 18 years (Ajax)

#7 Lee Kang-in -18 years (Valencia)

Valencia v Getafe - Copa del Rey Quarter Final
Valencia v Getafe - Copa del Rey Quarter Final

Lee Kang-in began his football development in the academy of South Korean K-League side in 2009, spending two years with Incheon United before transferring to Valencia from Flying FC in 2011.

The 18-year-old was called up to the Valencia B team in December 2017, going on to record his first assist for the side a month later.

History was made on 30 October, 2018 when he made his professional debut for the Valencia senior side in the 2-1 victory over CD Ebro in the Copa del Rey becoming the youngest Korean player to do so professionally in Europe.

Kang was the star of the show in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup as Korea made it all the way to a historic runners-up finish in Poland. He finished the tournament scoring two goals and assisting four from seven matches and was duly rewarded as the Golden Ball winner.

Due to his style of play, the attacking midfielder has drawn comparisons with compatriot Son Heung-min. while he might have some way to go before matching the accomplishments of the Tottenham star, Lee Kang-in is undoubted one to watch out for.

Also check out: Premier League Table La Liga Table Champions League Schedule

#6 Ansu Fati - 16 years (Barcelona)

FC Barcelona v Valencia CF - La Liga
FC Barcelona v Valencia CF - La Liga

A little over a month ago, Ansu Fati was an unknown quantity to the wider football audience, even though he had long proven himself as a potential star of the future owing to his performances in La Masia.

The Guinea-Bissaun had been pressing for more a promotion to Barcelona B to facilitate his integration into the senior team; however, an injury crisis in the attacking department of Barcelona prompted coach Ernesto Valverde to hand Fati a chance with the first team even before he had made his Barcelona B bow.

The former Sevilla youth prodigy was handed a cameo in the 5-2 victory over Real Betis on matchday 2 which made him the youngest player to represent Barcelona in a league fixture since World War II and the second youngest in history. He convinced significantly to warrant a place on the bench in Barcelona's next LaLiga fixture.

The next week, with Barcelona trailing and needing inspiration, Valverde turned to Fati, and the youngster repaid his faith by grabbing a goal within minutes of his introduction from the bench.

The game against Valencia saw him handed his first start in a Barcelona shirt, and it took less than two minutes to make further history as he became the youngest ever goalscorer at the Camp Nou, while his assist for Frenkie de Jong's first Barcelona goal saw him become the youngest player to score and assist in a single LaLiga fixture.

With Messi and Suarez' return to full fitness, Ansu Fati's impact is bound to be limited, but in just three appearances, the 16-year-old has shown that the future of Barcelona is indeed very bright if the youth can be trusted.

#5 Nuno Tavares - 19 years (Benfica)

Nuno Tavares scored a screamer on his league debut for Benfica
Nuno Tavares scored a screamer on his league debut for Benfica

Benfica have made a name for themselves as being not just one of the best talent production hub in Portugal, but one of the very best in the world.

A line that produced Rui Costa in the past and more recent graduates like Bernardo Silva, Nelson Semedo and Joao Felix has Nuno Tavares as the youngster with big things expected of him.

The 19-year-old plays predominantly as a left-back, but his offensive capabilities means that he can be deployed further up the field as a left winger, or left-wing back, while his versatility sees him currently being played as a right-back.

After starring with the Benfica B side in the Portuguese LigaPro (the second division) last season, he was promoted to the senior squad at the start of the current campaign and started at left-back in the 5-0 Super Cup victory over city rivals Sporting Lisbon.

Tavares' league debut came in the first game of the season, and Tavares starred in another 5-0 victory, opening the scoring with a spectacular long-range screamer, while also assisting twice.

With former La Masia star Alex Grimaldo occupying his preferred left-back role, Tavares has been played in the more unfamiliar right-back position, but he has been unfazed and has discharged his duties remarkably, starting all three of Benfica's Primeira Liga matches till date.

#4 Vinicius Jr - 19 years (Real Madrid)

Real Madrid CF v Levante UD - La Liga
Real Madrid CF v Levante UD - La Liga

Vinicius Jr. signed a contract with Real Madrid just 10 days after making his professional debut with Flamengo in the Brazilian Serie A in 2017, but saw his transfer to the Bernabeu delayed as he had not attained the age allowed for international transfers.

Upon turning 18 in July 2018, the Brazilian joined with his Real Madrid teammates, but had a tough start to life in the Spanish capital, as former manager Julen Lopetegui did not trust his abilities, and refused to field him, demoting him to play for the reserves at one point.

Lopetegui's replacement with Santiago Solari saw an improvement in fortunes for Vinicius, as he got more gametime and was one of very few players who performed creditably in what was a shambolic campaign for Real Madrid.

The 19-year-old has faced criticism for his poor final balls and lack of composure while finishing, but he draws plenty of plaudits for his willingness to take on defenders and direct style of play.

Though he is yet to open his goals account this season, he had an assist in the 3-2 win over Levante and finally made his international debut when he came on for Richarlison in the 1-0 friendly defeat to Peru.

#3 Callum Hudson-Odoi - 18 years (Chelsea)

Chelsea FC v West Ham United - Premier League
Chelsea FC v West Ham United - Premier League

Callum Hudson-Odoi had established himself as a star of the future after playing a starring role in England's Under-17 World Cup triumph in 2017.

He was expected to break into the first team picture last season, but despite his immense talent, former manager Maurizio Sarri showed a distinct lack of faith in him which was a major cause of friction between supporters of the club and the Italian.

Convinced that his long-term prospects would not be served at Stamford Bridge, the England international did all in his power to push through a move to Bayern Munich in January but the Germans' advances were turned down by the Blues hierarchy which was an indicator as to how highly he is valued.

Lampard's appointment as Chelsea manager coupled with the club's transfer ban gives hope that their previously maligned youngsters would play central roles and that has indeed been the case, with academy graduates like Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount, Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christensen and Tammy Abraham serving as stalwarts in Lampard's tenure so far.

However, one name that has been conspicuously missing is that of Callum Hudson-Odoi who has been sidelined since May with an ankle injury.

There are however reports that he is in line to make a comeback in Chelsea's Champions League opener against Valencia, and with contact extension talks also on the table, the stage is set for Odoi to play his way into Chelsea greatness.

#2 Erling Braut Haland - 19 years (Salzburg)

Haland has scored 11 goals from just seven league games for Salzburg
Haland has scored 11 goals from just seven league games for Salzburg

Erling Braut Haland has footballing legacy in his blood, as he is the son of Leeds United legend Alf-Inge Haland.

Whereas his father played primarily as a defender, Erling prefers the art of goalscoring, and went a long way in creating his own legacy at the FIFA Under 20 World Cup in Poland during the summer where he finished as the highest goalscorer, remarkably scoring nine goals in the 12-0 victory over Honduras.

That figure saw him set a record for most goals scored by an individual in a single match at a FIFA organized tournament, and prompted a transfer to Austrian Bundesliga champions FC Salzburg.

The 19-year-old had a decent goalscoring record at Molde, scoring 20 goals from 50 matches in all competitions for the Norwegian side, but he has taken his exploits to new levels in Austria.

Haland has been involved in a goal in every single one of Salzburg's seven league matches till date, assisting in the first game against Rapid Vienna and scoring in every match since then.

In total, the Norwegian international has scored 11 goals and assisted five from just seven league fixtures as Salzburg continue their stroll to yet another league title and it came as no surprise when head coach Lars Lagerback called him up to the senior squad for Norway.

Although Salzburg would come up against much tougher opposition on the continent than what is obtainable domestically, with Erling Haland leading their line, they can fancy their chances of upsetting the odds.

#1 Jadon Sancho - 19 years (Dortmund)

Borussia Dortmund v Tottenham Hotspur - UEFA Champions League Round of 16: Second Leg
Borussia Dortmund v Tottenham Hotspur - UEFA Champions League Round of 16: Second Leg

Jadon Sancho came through the Manchester City academy, and was one of the club's most prized young assets.

However, he feared that his long-term future would not be served by remaining at The Etihad, and his fears were largely justified, as the City first team is replete with numerous world class players, with proven stars like Riyad Mahrez and Leroy Sane even struggling for gametime.

In light of this, Sancho made the decision to go to Borussia Dortmund, and the fact that he was willing to take tentative steps into a foreign land and culture despite being so young was testament to his immense will and strength of character.

He was slowly eased into the first team at the Signal Iduna Park, making 12 appearances in his first half season with the club, but showed his potential, scoring once and assisting four times.

Under Lucien Favre's guidance in his first full season with the club, Sancho exploded to life and became a mainstay of the Dortmund side that pushed Bayern Munich all the way in the Bundesliga title race.

He starred with 12 goals and 14 assists appearing in all of Dortmund's matches as they narrowly missed out on the league title to their Bavarian rivals.

His form did not go unnoticed, and he won he became a full fledged England international during this time, and so far this season, he has continued from where he left off.

After scoring and assisting one each in the Super Cup to help Dortmund defeat Bayern Munich, Sancho has also put in a good shift in the league, scoring two goals and assisting four from four Bundesliga games matches as BVB seek to go one better this term.

The 19-year-old also opened his international account when he scored a brace against Kosovo, and judging by his performance levels so far, Jadon Sancho would definitely mke a mark on the Champions League this season.

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Edited by Kingshuk Kusari