The Top 5 Teenagers In Football 2017

5. Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford grew up playing in Manchester United’s youth academy and has been their stand out graduate in the last half a decade. In his time spent plying his trade for Umoted’s under 18,19 & 21 squads he scored 29 goals in 58 starts. As a result of his personal influence on their success at youth level he made it onto the bench for United’s Europa League clash against FC Midtjylland on 25th February 2016. An injury to Anthony Martial in the warm-up gave Rashford his first senior start for United. The boy from Manchester proceeded to hit the ground running upon his introduction into Manchester United’s first team, scoring a brace against FC Midtjylland, following that up less than two weeks later with a brace against Premier League giants and long term rivals Arsenal on his Premier League debut. Since then he has been rotated throughout the United forward line, alongside the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Anthony Martial. Rashford now has 17 goals in 61 appearances for Manchester United in all competitions and is starting to look less like a protégé to his striking partners and more like a distinguished premier league forward. He has also bagged himself goals in important fixtures against Manchester City and Chelsea and has also represented England 8 times at senior level as well as bagging himself an international goal against Australia.

4. Renato Sanches

Renato Sanches began his professional career in Benfica’s youth academy where he immediately impressed. After one season playing in the youth league the central midfielder was promoted to the senior squad, just for training at the time, before on the 25th November 2015 he made his senior debut in a 2-2 draw with Astana. He scored his first senior goal on 4th December 2015 aged only 18, a 30 yard rocket which won goal of the month in Portugal. Sanches then nailed down himself a starting position and became a fundamental part of their squad, which in 2015/2016 retained their league title as well as winning the league cup. After his impressive campaign Renato Sanches was called up to Portugal’s UEFA European Championship 2016 side. Sanchez came off the bench in their first game and from there became an influential figure in their lineup due to his composure, energy and maturity he displayed at such a young age. This made him Portugal’s youngest ever-senior national representative, taking the accolade from Cristiano Ronaldo. Sanches then scored the winner in their quarterfinal against Poland which finished 1-0, it was his first senior international goal. Portugal then went on to win the tournament while Sanches was crowned young player of the tournament. After his success for Benfica and Portugal Sanches secured a 35 million Euro transfer to Bayern Munich. Since joining Bayern Renato Sanches has featured 15 times for the Bavarian side and also won himself the golden boy award, which is the most lucrative award for up and coming footballers on the planet. Sanches hasn’t featured as heavily for Bayern as he may have hoped this season but based on his maturity he’s displayed at such a young age and success elsewhere he has a very promising career ahead of him.

3. Kylian Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe began his youth career at AS Bondy before a short stint at the famous Clairefontaine academy. From there he eventually found his way to his current club, AS Monaco. Mbappe hasn’t been on the scene for as long as the other nominees, but since his introduction to senior football has had the stats to reinforce the rumours that he can become of the best footballers in the world. Mbappe made his debut for Monaco on 2nd December 2015 aged 16 years and 347 days. He also scored his first senior goal on 25th February 2016, aged just 17 years and 62 days, both of which are club records, which he achieved at the expense of long term record holder Thierry Henry. Since then Mbappe has managed to earn himself a starting position alongside Rademal Falcao, scoring 12 goals and also notching up 5 assists in the 2016/2017 league campaign so far, which has contributed to Monaco’s current position out at first in Ligue 1. His strike rate this season has him averaging a goal every 89 minutes. At international level Mbappe enjoyed junior success winning the u19 UEFA European Championships in 2016. At senior international level Mbappe has featured once for France after coming on as a sub for DImitri Payet against Spain on 25th March 2017. As a result of his incredible pace and composure in front of goal, Mbappe has adapted to the required level of professional football at a fast rate and can be expected to terrorise defences for years to come.

2. Gianluigi Donnarumma

Aged only 18 Gianluigi Donnarumma is the most well established player on this list. Making his first senior appearance on October 2015 aged only 16 years and 242 days, after an impressive run of results and performances he took the mantle of first choice keeper for Milan. Milan bought Donnarumma from Napoli’s youth academy for 250,000 Euro aged just 14 before situating him in their own academy. He impressed at junior level and developed at an exponential rate both physically and technically. Since establishing himself as Milan’s best shot stopper Donnarumma has appeared 62 times for the red and black of Milan and is revered amongst the best current keepers in Serie A as well as being in hot demand as he has the potential to accomplish impeccable success. Donnarumma has crept his way up the pecking order at international level from the U17s squad in 2015, followed by the U21 side in 2016 before being called up to represent The Azzuri at senior level later that year. On 28th of March 2017 he made his full international debut being subbed on for Gianluigi Buffon in a 3-1 loss to France. Currently second choice keeper for Italy, Donnarumma is learning from Italy’s greatest ever keeper in Gigi Buffon and with Buffon turning 40 in January Donnarumma appears to be set to take over a throne, which his performances vastly deserve.

1. Ousmane Dembele

Ousmane Dembele began his professional playing career for Rennes youth side in 2014. He eventually became one of their stand out players that season scoring 13 goals in 18 appearances, as a result of such performances he subsequently earned himself a promotion to Rennes senior side. On 22nd November 2015 Dembele made his first senior appearance for Rennes and just over a month later had notched up his first goal for the club at a competitive level. On 6th March 2015 he rounded off his impressive debut season with his first career hat trick in a 4-1 win over Nantes. On 12th May 2016 Dembele signed for German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund aged just 18 years 362 days. Now in his first season with the German club the winger has contributed 6 goals and 10 assists in 19 Bundesliga matches for Dortmund. A player whom many thought would have to slowly work his way into first team football has slotted straight into fill the void left by the departing Henrikh Mkhitaryan. On 1st September Dembele made his international debut in France’s 3-1 deficit of Italy, coming on for Antoine Griezmann. He has since represented France 5 times at the highest level and appears set to become a national talisman at the rate he is displaying significant improvement throughout his game on all fronts.