Sports
7 Teenagers Who Could Become The World’s Best In The Post Messi-Ronaldo Era – Forbes
It cannot go on forever. We have already seen Cristiano Ronaldo slip out of contention for major individual awards over the last year although there is always a chance of one last hoorah.
Lionel Messi has the advantage of being 30 months younger but inevitably the time will come when the little magician leaves the world stage.
Kylian Mbappe of PSG and France is seen as the heir apparent to the title of the world’s best and having just turned 21 his best years should still be ahead of him.
But who else might be in contention in four or five years’ time?
Of course, soccer’s scrapyard is littered with players who were over-hyped in their teens and never came close to realizing the great expectations placed on them.
Sometimes it was an injury, sometimes attitude and sometimes it was simply a case of the player being unable to take the next steps needed to be one of the best on the planet.
Being labeled a “Wonderkid” more often than not has turned into a curse. (IMO, the only description worse than “wunderkind” is the gag-inducing “starlet.”)
So without attaching either cliché to any of these players, here are six teenagers (plus Jadon Sancho) who a year ago we had hardly heard of, but who may soon become the world’s best.
Erling Braut Haaland
Date of birth: July 21, 2000
Boot sponsor: Nike
A year ago Haaland signed a 5-year contract for Red Bull Salzburg after spending two years with Molde FK in Norway. Haaland scored 16 goals in 30 games for Molde in 2018 but that was nothing compared to what was in store in 2019.
The teenager scored 29 goals in 27 games for Red Bull including 8 goals in 6 UEFA Champions League games. Haaland also made his debut for the Norway national team a few months after scoring 9 goals against Honduras at the FIFA-Under 20 World Cup.
Not surprisingly Haaland’s goal-scoring exploits attracted interested from all the top teams in Europe – especially when it was made known that Haaland’s buy-out clause was just €22.5m ($25.3m).
Last week, it was announced that Borussia Dortmund had landed Haaland and both parties had signed a contract through to June 30, 2024. Every move in Haaland’s soccer career so far has been meticulously planned and executed.
Ansu Fati
Date of birth: October 31, 2002
Boot sponsor: Nike
Fati just turned 17 in October but his performances have already fueled expectations – perhaps to levels that are unrealistic.
“Wonderkid” makes for a good headline or tag but it wasn’t so long ago the same tired label was being hung on Bojan Krkic.
In August, he became Barcelona’s youngest player since just after the Spanish Civil War when he played against Real Betis and just a week later he scored his first goal for the club in a 2-2 draw against Osasuna.
He also became the Champions League youngest ever scorer when he scored the winning goal against Inter Milan with just 4 minutes to play.
Fati is already well-built and when you add pace and tight control he has the makings of a defender’s nightmare.
He signed a new contract in October 2019 that takes him through to June 2022 with Barcelona. The deal set his release clause at a jaw-dropping $190m. When he signs a full contract his release clause will increase to $450m.
Spanish media have reported that Fati has a two-tiered salary deal – $340,000 when he’s in the “B” squad rising to $1.1m when he’s in the first team squad.
So far this season Fati has made 13 appearances for the Barcelona first team and has scored 3 goals. He was named to the squad against Espanyol for Saturday’s derby that finished 2-2 but he remained on the bench.
Phil Foden
Date of birth: May 28, 2000
Boot sponsor: Nike
Foden is a player that England holds great hopes for but he has played relatively little football for a player of his ability and promise.
When we have seen him he has been impressive but without an extended run some doubts are going to remain.
He made himself known to a broader fan-base when he helped England win the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup hosted by India. Foden scored two goals in a 5-2 win over Spain in the final and subsequently he was named as the winner of the Golden Ball.
It’s difficult to discern whether it is a case of Foden being unable to beat the talented competition for starting places in a gifted Manchester City squad or a case of Pep Guardiola handling the youngster with care.
Perhaps we will have to wait until David Silva retires or leaves next season before we see what Foden is fully capable of.
Foden signed a contract extension in December 2018 that runs until June 2024.
Eduardo Camavinga
Date of birth: November 10, 2002
Boot sponsor: Nike
With more than 23 appearances and over 1,700 minutes of playing time already with Rennes this season Camavinga is already an established player rather than a youngster being given an opportunity here and there.
What is most amazing about this youngster is that he is outstanding in what I would argue is the most difficult position to play – holding midfielder.
The position needs at a minimum positional sense, anticipation, athleticism, and great tackling. So far, Camavinga has shown mastery of each and it comes packaged with elegance and ease.
In August 2019, Camavinga was named Player of the Month in Ligue 1. His contract runs until June 2022.
Alphonso Davies
Date of birth: November 2, 2000
Boot sponsor: Nike
In 2016 Davies made his senior debut for the Vancouver Whitecaps and a year later became the youngest player to play for Canada’s national team. He followed that landmark up by becoming Canada’s youngest ever scorer.
In the summer of 2018, the Whitecaps and Bayern Munich announced that Davies would move to the Bundesliga team in January for a fee of $13.5m rising to $22m with possible add-ons.
When it comes to raw talent and athleticism Davies has been blessed. Regarded and fielded initially as a left-winger Davies is now more accurately described as a left-sided player having also played left-back and wing-back for club and country.
Davies has already racked up over a thousand minutes in playing time for Bayern this season in the Bundesliga and Champions League and his progress looks to be ahead of schedule. Davies’s contract with Bayern Munich runs to June 2023.
Rodrygo
Date of birth: January 9, 2001
Boot sponsor: Nike
Real Madrid officially signed Rodrygo from Santos last summer but the deal was in place for a long-time before that. The only thing standing in the way was FIFA’s transfer regulation governing the transfer of under-18 players.
The fee of $50m tells you everything you need to know about Rodrygo’s potential and it was no surprise when he was promoted to the first team after just 2 games for Real Madrid Castilla.
The youngster also made his debut for Brazil in mid-November in a 1-0 loss to Argentina and then received his second cap four days later against South Korea.
He shows good strength on the ball and is a good dribbler and an intelligent passer.
Rodrygo became the youngest ever player to score a hat-trick in the Champions League in the 6-0 thrashing of Galatasaray in November. His contract runs until June 30, 2025.
Jadon Sancho
Date of birth: March 25, 2000
Boot sponsor: Nike
Sancho was on Manchester City’s books but frustrated with the lack of opportunities he lobbied for a move and signed for Borussia Dortmund in August 2017.
He made 12 appearances in 17/18 but the next season he really hit his stride with 12 goals in 34 appearances and he made his senior debut for England. This season Sancho has already scored 9 goals in just 15 appearances.
Sancho may have some weaknesses in his defensive game but he is blessed with talent when it comes to attacking – both scoring and creating goals.
Sancho goes past defenders with the sole focus of creating a goal-scoring opportunity. He’s under contract with Dortmund until June 30, 2022, but not a week goes by without Sancho being linked to a high priced transfer. Whether it is pounds, euros, or dollars, nine numbers are usually quoted
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Pep Guardiola has stated that he will not take charge of Barcelona for a second spell as he insisted he retains the “desire” to succeed in England.
Guardiola is the most decorated coach in Barca’s glorious history after winning 14 trophies in four years in charge between 2008 and 2012.
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Josep Maria Bartomeu finally bowed to pressure to resign as president of the Catalan giants this week, with one of the leading candidates to take over, Victor Font, saying he wants to bring legends like Guardiola and his former players Xavi and Carles Puyol back to work for the club.
“I said many times, my period as a manager in Barcelona is over. I think in life there is once you have to do things,” Guardiola said after City’s 1-0 win over Sheffield United on Saturday.
“There are incredible people who can be in charge, now for example (Barcelona coach) Ronald Koeman is an excellent manager. It is over.”
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A boyhood Barca fan, Guardiola also enjoyed an illustrious playing career at the Camp Nou and still holds season tickets as a supporter.
“I will come back to my seats to see my club to watch a game. I am incredibly happy here, still I have the desire to do well and this is the most important thing.
“Now there will be elections in Barcelona. Hopefully, they can choose the right board to maintain this incredible club Barcelona in the highest level.”
Guardiola is already into the longest managerial spell of his career with this his fifth season at City.
His side still look a long way off the heights they reached in winning back-to-back Premier League titles between 2017 and 2019, but they are slowly getting up to speed after a start to the campaign disrupted by injuries, coronavirus cases and just a two-week-long pre-season.
Kyle Walker’s long-range effort against his former club was enough to secure City’s fourth win in five games in all competitions as they move up to seventh in the Premier League, just two points off the top.
Without a natural striker due to injuries to Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus, City struggled to turn their dominance into goals at Bramall Lane.
“We played really well,” added Guardiola. “We struggled to score goals for the chances we created, 16 shots, eight on target, is a lot against this team.”
Aaron Ramsdale was busy in the Blades’ goal as he twice denied Ferran Torres from close range, while he unconvincingly parried Rodrigo’s long-range effort behind.
Walker finally broke the deadlock from similar range on 28 minutes as his shot arrowed low past Ramsdale’s right-hand, but there was a muted celebration from the England international against his boyhood club.
“My mum and dad live here, so if I’d celebrated I’d have got a lot of stick,” said Walker. “I’m a Sheffield United fan, so I couldn’t celebrate.”
Kevin De Bruyne flashed a shot wide following another attacking burst from Walker early in the second-half before Ramsdale produced his best save of the game from Riyad Mahrez’s free-kick.
However, City’s failure to kill off the game gave Chris Wilder’s men chances to snatch an unlikely point.
John Lundstram had the best chance for the hosts when he side-footed Sander Berge’s low cross over.
But Sheffield United have still scored just three goals in seven games to start the season and remain second bottom on just one point.
(AFP)
Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s leading marksman in the series will return for next month’s 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone after missing out of this month’s friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia.
Also, midfielder Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, and South Africa –based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, were picked by Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr for the clash against the Leone Stars.
Rohr also called up Captain Ahmed Musa, defender William Ekong, midfield enforcer Oghenekaro Etebo.
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However, Genk forward, Cyriel Kolawole Dessers, was not invited after being capped in this month’s friendly.
Defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Leon Balogun and Chidozie Awaziem, midfielder Alex Iwobi and forwards Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze and Chidera Ejuke are also called.
Switzerland –based goalkeeper Sebastian Osigwe will hope to earn his first cap for Nigeria, while defenders Kevin Akpoguma and Zaidu Sanusi, who impressed in the friendlies in Austria, have been handed opportunities to add to their caps.
There are seven players on standby, including defender Abdullahi Shehu, goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, midfielders Ramon Azeez and Samson Tijani, and forward Paul Onuachu.
“The Super Eagles take on the Leone Stars at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on Friday, 13th November before flying to Freetown for the return game on Tuesday, 17th November at the Siaka Stevens Stadium.
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“Players are expected to report at the Protea Hotel Emotan in Benin City on Monday, 9th November. Victory in both encounters will all but guarantee Nigeria a slot at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations finals holding in Cameroon,” a statement from the Nigeria Football Federation’s spokesperson, Ademola Olajire, added in reports by Punch Newspapers.
THE FULL LIST
Goalkeepers:
Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Sebastian Osigwe (FC Lugano, Switzerland); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
Defenders:
Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Boavista, Portugal); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany)
Midfielders:
Oghenekaro Etebo (Galatasaray, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (FC Twente, Netherlands); Frank Onyeka (FC Midtjylland, Denmark); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)
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Forwards:
Ahmed Musa (Unattached); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Emmanuel Dennis Bonaventure (Club Brugge, Belgium); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia)
Standby:
Francis Uzoho (APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus); Samson Tijani (TSV Hartberg, Austria); Abdullahi Shehu (Omonia Nicosia, Cyprus); Ramon Azeez (Granada CF, Spain); Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland FC); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium)
BBC Sport requested its zillions of readers to rate Pele’s achievements among some other Greatest Of All Times as he turns 80.
The result has been assessed and made public as Pele was ranked the greatest, followed by Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo in third.
Here is the full result:
1: Pele (Santos, NY Cosmos & Brazil)
World Cup wins: 1958, 1962, 1970 European Cup/Champions League wins: 0
Ballons d’Or: 0
League titles: 7
International caps/goals: 92/77
2: Lionel Messi (Barcelona & Argentina)
World Cup wins: 0
European Cup/Champions League wins: 4
Ballons d’Or: 6
League titles: 10
International caps/goals: 140/71
3: Cristiano Ronaldo (Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus & Portugal)
World Cup wins: 0
European Cup/Champions League wins: 5
Ballons d’Or: 5
League titles: 7
International caps/goals: 167/101
4: Diego Maradona (Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, Newell’s Old Boys & Argentina)
World Cup wins: 1986
European Cup/Champions League wins: 0
Ballons d’Or: 0
League titles: 3
International caps/goals: 91/34
5: Johan Cruyff (Ajax, Barcelona, LA Aztecs, Washington Diplomats, Levante, Feyenoord & the Netherlands)
World Cup wins: 0
European Cup/Champions League wins: 3
Ballons d’Or: 3
League titles: 10
International caps/goals: 48/33
6: Ronaldo de Lima (Cruzeiro, PSV, Barcelona, Inter, Real Madrid, Milan, Corinthians & Brazil)
World Cup wins: 1994, 2002
European Cup/Champions League wins: 0
Ballons d’Or: 2
League titles: 1
International caps/goals: 98/62
7: Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern Munich, NY Cosmos, Hamburg & West Germany)
World Cup wins: 1974
European Cup/Champions League wins: 3
Ballons d’Or: 2
League titles: 8
International caps/goals: 103/14
8: Zinedine Zidane (Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus, Real Madrid & France)
World Cup wins: 1998
European Cup/Champions League wins: 1
Ballons d’Or: 1
League titles: 3
International caps/goals: 108/31
9: Ferenc Puskas (Budapest Honved, Real Madrid & Hungary & Spain)
World Cup wins: 0
European Cup/Champions League wins: 3
Ballons d’Or: 0
League titles: 10
International caps/goals: 89/87
10: Alfredo di Stefano (River Plate, Millionarios, Real Madrid, Espanyol & Argentina, Colombia & Spain)
World Cup wins: 0
European Cup/Champions League wins: 5
Ballons d’Or: 2
League titles: 13
International caps/goals: 41/29
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