A list of the most valuable teenagers in world football looks drastically different after several encouraging displays at the World Cup.
This autumn’s tournament is notable as it’s the first to take place in the winter. It taking place in Qatar after years of controversy feels like a watershed moment.
Regardless of when the World Cup is, what remains constant is the competition’s ability to bring us the next generation of superstars. Players you’ve heard so much about but never been able to sample yourself.
It gives everyone a platform to shine on a global stage. Who has managed to do that most over the last three weeks?
Well, official data from Transfermarkt has seen three players involved at the World Cup take the top three spots. Only one of them remains at the tournament, though.
Check out the entire list below:
10.) Benjamin Sesko (RB Salzburg and Slovenia)
9.) Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich and France)
Tel has already made seven appearances in the Bundesliga this year, scoring three goals. He’s come from Rennes academy, which recently produced Eduardo Camavinga.
8.) Endrick (Palmeiras and Brazil)
7.) Romeo Lavia (Southampton and Belgium)
Manchester City included a buyback clause when they let Lavia join Southampton in the summer. You can understand why. Lavia scored against Chelsea back in August and Thomas Tuchel was very impressed with his performance. He’ll consider himself unlucky not to make Belgium’s World Cup squad given their torrid campaign.
6.) Youssoufa Moukoko (Borussia Dortmund and Germany)
5.) Harvey Elliott (Liverpool and England)
Despite Liverpool’s inconsistency, one player who has managed to shine is Elliott. He’s featured 22 times in all competitions due to injuries at Anfield. A strong comeback after suffering a dislocated ankle in 2021.
4.) Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen and Germany)
A huge miss at this year’s World Cup. Wirtz didn’t manage to recover from an anterior cruciate ligament injury in time to make Germany’s ill-fated campaign. The midfielder has four appearances to his name for the national team. You get the feeling that number will grow in the coming years.
3.) Gavi (Barcelona and Spain)
Gavi’s already a key part of Barcelona’s midfield and is becoming the same for Spain. He scored in a 7-0 win group stage win over Costa Rica, rounding off a lovely team move.
2.) Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich and Germany)
One of Germany’s brightest sparks. Musiala dazzled in every game, attempting to drag his country into the knockout rounds himself. One that got away for England…
1.) Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund and England)
Bellingham’s performance against Senegal sums his entire game up. A midfield clinic, including an assist and pre-assist.
Clubs are queuing around the proverbial block to secure his signature. Dortmund will command a huge fee and you can’t blame them.
Who do you think is the most-valuable teenager in world football? Let us know in the comments.