We are edging closer and closer to the “Post Messi-Ronaldo” era and this could possibly be good news for football lovers globally as we would love to see new players steal the limelight in the next few years. Mind you, these two players were not the only ones did shine in the past decade but they were the only ones the spotlights were beamed on most times, making it boring for some. One can argue that the performance of several gifted players weren’t duly rewarded in the past few years as they couldn’t topple these extra-terrestial players among which shared a massive 11 Balon D’or (that could have gone to a whole XI)
The skill Kylian Mbappe possess is not undermined as he is most likely to be the best in his age group and Erling Haaland who has also proven to be great poacher. Mason Greenwood, Ansu Fati, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden and few (yet to be mentioned) have also shown their big potentials.
Well, Netbet Nigeria would be reviewing five young players that possess great abilities and beautiful style of play but have received just a little less hype by the media.
Amad Traore
Plays for Atalanta in the Serie A, Traore is one of the few plausible generational talents born in 2000s. Coming through the youth system, Traoré made his Serie A debut on 27 October 2019, coming on from the bench on the 79th minute against Udinese and scored his first goal for Atalanta four minutes later in a 7–1 home win. Traoré became the first player born in 2002 to score in the Italian Serie A.
A winger who is also capable of playing as a wing-half, Traoré is a quick and dynamic player with a high technical ability and a good vision of the game. His ambidexterity makes him much of a very versatile player.
Eduoardo Camavinga
At just 16 years of age, Camavinga was already regarded by The Guardian as the most exciting teenager to watch in world of football.
He (Camavinga) has been a part of Rennes’ system since the age of 11. He signed his first professional contract with Rennes in 2018, at the age of 16 years, becoming the youngest ever professional for the club.
He is a dynamic and mobile athlete who can play a box-to-box role. Despite his lean physique, he can play a more physical game, bullishly protecting Rennes’ back four as a firefighting sentinel. He is also graceful, precise on the ball and blessed with the technical gifts to play as a deep-lying No 10, where he can astutely pick passes and create opportunities for teammates. On top of all that, he is quick enough to play directly and skillful enough to bamboozle defenders with his sleight of foot.
Takefusa Kubo
Nicknamed the ‘Japanese Messi’, Kubo already holds high expectations on his shoulders. His immense talent has earned many reviews; prompting Real Madrid to sign him last summer for a whooping €4m which looks like a high fee for such a youngster in modern day football.
Despite impressing during pre-season, the former Barcelona youth player signed for RCD Mallorca on a season-long loan deal.
He’s proven his potential in his first campaign of senior football in Europe, making 24 league appearances last season and gaining valuable experience in Spain.
Sandro Tonali
Next up on the best young player’s list is the teenager tipped to succeed Andrea Pirlo as Italy’s newest creative star. This is so easy to understand considering his elegant style of play and great vision of which we know the great Pirlo for.
The rumoured Juventus target is also a strong and capable leader out in midfield, making him invaluable for Brescia.
Billy Gilmour
Is he the next Paul Scholes of Chelsea? The 19-year-old Scottish midfielder has drawn comparisons with the Manchester United legend from his coach Frank Lampard and amid rumoured interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona, Billy is already proving to be a real deal.
The youngster signed his first professional contract with Chelsea last September, which lasts until 2023. He’s since broke into the first-team, debuting in a 2-0 FA Cup win over Liverpool recently.
If you are to predict, which of these youngsters will you have you money on to clinch the Ballon d’Or in the nearest future? To make money off your robust football insight, bet on football on our page.