The best young players in each position

Gedtillo

Gedtillo

Mediocentro defensivo
13 July 2004
I was thinking that there are lots of great young, experienced and talented players that have still lots of years ahead, and that they represent the next generation of world-class stars, as the Figo, Zidane, Rui Costa, Vieri, Shearer, Kluivert and the likes start to fade away.

I'd suggest trying to build a team of under 25 players and substitutes, to see who do we think are the next Ballon D'Or and FIFA World Player winners... :)

I'll propose some players, as I find me unable of completing the team:

GK: Casillas, Hildebrant
CB: Heitinga, Boulahrouz, S. Ramos, Mejía, G. Rodríguez, Coloccini, Piqué
MF: Fabregas, Kaká, J. Baptista, C. Ronaldo
FW: Rooney, Robinho, Messi, F. Torres, Saviola, Tevez
 
Gedtillo said:
I was thinking that there are lots of great young, experienced and talented players that have still lots of years ahead, and that they represent the next generation of world-class stars, as the Figo, Zidane, Rui Costa, Vieri, Shearer, Kluivert and the likes start to fade away.

I'd suggest trying to build a team of under 25 players and substitutes, to see who do we think are the next Ballon D'Or and FIFA World Player winners... :)

I'll propose some players, as I find me unable of completing the team:

GK: Casillas, Hildebrant
CB: Heitinga, Boulahrouz, S. Ramos, Mejía, G. Rodríguez, Coloccini, Piqué
MF: Fabregas, Kaká, J. Baptista, C. Ronaldo
FW: Rooney, Robinho, Messi, F. Torres, Saviola, Tevez
Click to expand...

I'd add Aguero, Kameni and possibly Guiseppe Rossi and Podolski.
 
Gedtillo said:
:lol:

Yeah, I forgot Agüero, Rossi and Podolski! and Zlatan, of course! :D
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Zlatan will be a very yes/no inclusion.

A no for me i'm afraid.

Do you not rate Carlos Kameni?
 
You mean Kameni the goalie? I find himself too inconsistent, capable of the very best and the very worst in the same game. He's just not as good as Reina or Hildebrant, and of course far from Iker.
 
Senderos should be nowhere near that list.
Toure is twice the defender he is for a start.
 
Please... I'll admit I'm a bit biased but he's 21 years old and has been a rock in a defence which has kept out Real Madrid, Juve and Villareal. How many young centrebacks fall into that category?

Toure is better but he's 25 and a different kind of defender.
 
Agree mate.
Toure has been doing it for so long now though.

If Senderos does it for as good and as long then he too would be in there.
 
Gedtillo said:
GK: Casillas, Hildebrant
CB: Heitinga, Boulahrouz, S. Ramos, Mejía, G. Rodríguez, Coloccini, Piqué
MF: Fabregas, Kaká, J. Baptista, C. Ronaldo
FW: Rooney, Robinho, Messi, F. Torres, Saviola, Tevez
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But Hildebrand has 27 years old, Baptista 25, I don't know if they could be considered as "young players" yet, depends of your criterion.
 
Hildebrand is 27, right. Julio Baptista is 24 as far as I know, at least that's what Wikipedia says. Kolo Toure is 25, so he is not elligible :)
 
Gedtillo said:
Julio Baptista is 24 as far as I know
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Yes mate, sorry, he has 24 years, his birthday is in October yet.

This is a list of players that hasn't more than 23 years old around the world, I think they're the best or the most known.

Goalkeepers

Mariano Barbosa (Argentina) - 21
Óscar Ustari (Argentina) - 19
Germán Lux (Argentina) - 23
Silvio Proto (Belgium) - 22
Idriss Kameni (Cameroon) - 22
Petr Cech (Czech Republic) - 23
Maarten Stekelenburg (Holland) - 22
Gianluca Curci (Italy) - 20
Igor Akinfeev (Russia) - 20
David Marshall (Scotland) - 21
José Manuel Reina (Spain) - 23
Sebastián Viera (Uruguay) - 23

Defenders

Gonzalo Rodríguez (Argentina) - 22
Emanuel Pogatetz (Austria) - 23
Vincent Kompany (Belgium) - 20
Anthony Vanden Borre (Belgium) - 18
Dani Álves (Brazil) - 22
Álex (Brazil) - 23
François Clerc (France) - 23
Philipp Lahm (Germany) - 22
Marcell Jansen (Germany) - 20
Per Mertesacker (Germany) - 21
Lukas Sinkiewicz (Germany) - 20
John Heitinga (Holland) - 22
Ron Vlaar (Holland) - 21
Giorgio Chiellini (Italy) - 21
Emmanuel Eboué (Ivory Coast) - 22
Taye Taiwo (Nigeria) - 21
Gerard Piqué (Spain) - 19
Philippe Senderos (Switzerland) - 21
Carlos Diogo (Uruguay) - 22

Midfielders

Pablo Zabaleta (Argentina) - 21
Fernando Gago (Argentina) - 20
Lucas Biglia (Argentina) - 20
Fernando Belluschi (Argentina) - 22
Javier Mascherano (Argentina) - 21
Thiago Motta (Brazil) - 23
Diego (Brazil) - 21
Ánderson (Brazil) - 18
Daniel Carvalho (Brazil) - 23
Carlos Alberto (Brazil) - 21
Kérlon (Brazil) - 18
Modeste M'Bami (Cameroon) - 23
Mark González (Chile) - 21
Luis Jiménez (Chile) - 21
Thomas Kahlenberg (Denmark) - 23
Kieran Richardson (England) - 21
Stewart Downing (England) - 21
Jermaine Jenas (England) - 23
Aaron Lennon (England) - 19
Nigel Reo-Coker (England) - 21
Kevin Nolan (England) - 23
Charles N'Zogbia (France) - 19
Rio Mavuba (France) - 22
Hatem Ben Arfa (France) - 19
Franck Ribéry (France) - 23
Jéremy Toulalan (France) - 22
Samir Nasri (France) - 18
Mourad Meghni (France) - 22
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany) - 21
Alexander Baumjohann (Germany) - 19
Mickaël Essien (Ghana) - 23
Sulley Muntari (Ghana) - 21
Rafael Van der Vaart (Holland) - 23
Nigel De Jong (Holland) - 21
Hedwiges Maduro (Holland) - 21
Wesley Sneijder (Holland) - 21
Nicky Hofs (Holland) - 22
Daniele De Rossi (Italy) - 21
Emerse Fae (Ivory Coast) - 22
Mohamed Sissoko (Mali) - 21
Christian Obodo (Nigeria) - 21
Giovanni Dos Santos (Mexico) - 16
Julio Dos Santos (Paraguay) - 23
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - 21
Manuel Fernandes (Portugal) - 20
Ricardo Quaresma (Portugal) - 22
João Moutinho (Portugal) - 19
Marat Izmailov (Russia) - 23
Cesc Fábregas (Spain) - 19
Gonzalo Castro (Spain) - 18
Andrés Iniesta (Spain) - 21
Raúl García (Spain) - 19
Jesús Navas (Spain) - 20
Kim Källström (Sweden) - 23
Tranquillo Barnetta (Switzerland) - 20
Valon Behrami (Switzerland) - 21
Nuri Sahin (Turkey) - 18
DaMarcus Beasley (United States) - 22
Olexandr Aliyev (Ukraine) - 21

Forwards

Nando Rafael (Angola) - 22
Maxi López (Argentina) - 22
Lionel Messi (Argentina) - 18
Sergio Agüero (Argentina) - 17
Fernando Cavenaghi (Argentina) - 22
Carlos Tévez (Argentina) - 22
Fréd (Brazil) - 22
Diego Tardelli (Brazil) - 20
Robinho (Brazil) - 22
Vágner Love (Brazil) - 21
Nilmar (Brazil) - 21
Valeri Bojinov (Bulgaria) - 20
Rafamel Falcao García (Colombia) - 20
Hugo Rodallega (Colombia) - 20
Wason Rentería (Colombia) - 20
Mido (Egypt) - 23
Darren Bent (England) - 22
Wayne Rooney (England) - 20
Jermain Defoe (England) - 23
Lukas Podolski (Germany) - 20
Mike Hanke (Germany) - 22
Georgios Samaras (Greece) - 21
Ioannis Masmanidis (Greece) - 22
Robin Van Persie (Holland) - 22
Arjen Robben (Holland) - 22
Ryan Babel (Holland) - 19
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Holland) - 22
Romeo Castelen (Holland) - 23
Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Holland) - 20
Antonio Cassano (Italy) - 23
Alberto Gilardino (Italy) - 23
Salomon Kalou (Ivory Coast) - 20
Arouna Koné (Ivory Coast) - 22
Goran Pandev (Macedonia) - 22
Marouane Chamakh (Morocco) - 22
Yakubu (Nigeria) - 23
Víctor Obinna (Nigeria) - 19
Obafemi Martins (Nigeria) - 21
Stephen Makinwa (Nigeria) - 22
John Obi Mikel (Nigeria) - 19
Nelson Haedo Valdez (Paraguay) - 22
Paolo Guerrero (Peru) - 22
Jefferson Farfán (Peru) - 21
Ricardo Vaz Té (Portugal) - 19
Aleksandr Kerzhakov (Russia) - 23
Kris Boyd (Scotland) - 22
Mirko Vucinic (Serbia and Montenegro) - 22
José Antonio Reyes (Spain) - 22
Fernando Llorente (Spain) - 21
Fernando Torres (Spain) - 22
Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo) - 22
Halil Altintop (Turkey) - 23
 
GK's- Petr Cech
DF's - Eboue, Kompany, Mexes, Cole
MF's - Messi, Fabregas, Essien, Sulley Muntari
FW's - Carlos Tevez, Fernando Torres

The above will be my team if I had to have a balanced team that I felt could perform optimally. The Eboue-Messi(I know he can also be a forward)-Tevez right side will destroy anyone. Fabregas can orchestrate throough the center and also cover the right side( he does have defensive capabilities. Essien will destroy whatever comes through the middle and Muntari is a well-rounded midfielder who can hold up the ball and has play-making abilities as well. Torres will complement Tevez since he is tall strong and good in the air. The defence with Mexes(who came into his own this season with Roma) and Kompany, both solid in the air and really agile and athletic. Ashley Cole? What needs to be said; the best in the world (or soon to be).

Honourable mention:
GK- Jose Reina
DF- Senderos, Lahm, Chiellini
MF- Ribery, Nolan, Ronaldo
FW- Robinho, Rooney

PS: Obi Mikel is not a forward
 
Pepe - CB made a terrific season at Porto. He is extremely fast, and good aerial game. Started slow but around november last year and till now he has been great.
Juve is reported to be after. Hope it's bull. :)
 
Amazing work, Glavisted! Strange how you did not mention Iker Casillas or Sergio Ramos...
 
Gedtillo said:
Amazing work, Glavisted! Strange how you did not mention Iker Casillas or Sergio Ramos...
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Because both of them has more than 23 years old, Casillas (20-05-81) in some days going to have 25 years, and Sergio Ramos (30-03-81) has 25 years already.
 
Glavisted said:
Because both of them has more than 23 years old, Casillas (20-05-81) in some days going to have 25 years, and Sergio Ramos (30-03-81) has 25 years already.
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Sergio Ramos is only 20 Glav.

And yes Casillas will be 24 on May 20th but still pretty young for a keeper especially a world-class one and hopefully has many great years ahead. (maybe even more than 10 years) so I'd still classify any GK below 26 a young player because they virtually have as many 'good' years remaining as a 20 or 19 year old striker will have more or less so for me they should also be eligible for the "Best young player" list but yeah Hildebrand is pushing it at 27 for this list and this thread's purpose so I agree it shouldn't be there.

Edit: To be honest though for outfield players I don't think we should be naming 24 year olds and more in this thread like Boulahrouz or Baptista! They're not exactly young although it depends on your criteria.

I think it'd be best to set the limit at 22 or 23 for outfield players and 26 for GK! That's what I'd call "young" depending on position of course.
 
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Hirayama sota the young japanese (20) desearve to be in the list also . and the speedy Hossein Kaabi from Iran (19 I think) is also a Huge talent .
I don't remember the youth (U20) world cup's best 11 but moroccan libero Youssef Rabeh was in it , you should count him in as you don't have many defenders in you list . from mali there is modibo maiga (18) who is a fantastic MOF/SS . I think faubert (wing back) is 22 , he desearve a place in the list as he played a great role this season with bordeaux which qualified for the champion's league . there is also La gantoise's Mbark Boussoufa (21 , midfielder) who have been crowned best african player in belgium , best young player in belgium , best player in belium and most fair play player in belgium (I'm not lying) .
also you should remove martins as he was revealed to be 27 and not 21 .

ps : here is a video of boussoufa's season with la gantoise (he scored 9 goals and made 18 assist) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH7hDHvNihk
 
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PLF said:
Sergio Ramos is only 20 Glav.
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Yes!!!, definitely my mistake, sorry; I though too time he was over 23 years old, I had a mistake in the squads of footballsquads.com :shock: ; Sergio Ramos is one of the 20th youngest players convocated to WC 2006.
 
Glavisted said:
Yes mate, sorry, he has 24 years, his birthday is in October yet.

This is a list of players that hasn't more than 23 years old around the world, I think they're the best or the most known.

Goalkeepers

Mariano Barbosa (Argentina) - 21
Óscar Ustari (Argentina) - 19
Germán Lux (Argentina) - 23
Silvio Proto (Belgium) - 22
Idriss Kameni (Cameroon) - 22
Petr Cech (Czech Republic) - 23
Maarten Stekelenburg (Holland) - 22
Gianluca Curci (Italy) - 20
Igor Akinfeev (Russia) - 20
David Marshall (Scotland) - 21
José Manuel Reina (Spain) - 23
Sebastián Viera (Uruguay) - 23

Defenders

Gonzalo Rodríguez (Argentina) - 22
Emanuel Pogatetz (Austria) - 23
Vincent Kompany (Belgium) - 20
Anthony Vanden Borre (Belgium) - 18
Dani Álves (Brazil) - 22
Álex (Brazil) - 23
François Clerc (France) - 23
Philipp Lahm (Germany) - 22
Marcell Jansen (Germany) - 20
Per Mertesacker (Germany) - 21
Lukas Sinkiewicz (Germany) - 20
John Heitinga (Holland) - 22
Ron Vlaar (Holland) - 21
Giorgio Chiellini (Italy) - 21
Emmanuel Eboué (Ivory Coast) - 22
Taye Taiwo (Nigeria) - 21
Gerard Piqué (Spain) - 19
Philippe Senderos (Switzerland) - 21
Carlos Diogo (Uruguay) - 22

Midfielders

Pablo Zabaleta (Argentina) - 21
Fernando Gago (Argentina) - 20
Lucas Biglia (Argentina) - 20
Fernando Belluschi (Argentina) - 22
Javier Mascherano (Argentina) - 21
Thiago Motta (Brazil) - 23
Diego (Brazil) - 21
Ánderson (Brazil) - 18
Daniel Carvalho (Brazil) - 23
Carlos Alberto (Brazil) - 21
Kérlon (Brazil) - 18
Modeste M'Bami (Cameroon) - 23
Mark González (Chile) - 21
Luis Jiménez (Chile) - 21
Thomas Kahlenberg (Denmark) - 23
Kieran Richardson (England) - 21
Stewart Downing (England) - 21
Jermaine Jenas (England) - 23
Aaron Lennon (England) - 19
Nigel Reo-Coker (England) - 21
Kevin Nolan (England) - 23
Charles N'Zogbia (France) - 19
Rio Mavuba (France) - 22
Hatem Ben Arfa (France) - 19
Franck Ribéry (France) - 23
Jéremy Toulalan (France) - 22
Samir Nasri (France) - 18
Mourad Meghni (France) - 22
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany) - 21
Alexander Baumjohann (Germany) - 19
Mickaël Essien (Ghana) - 23
Sulley Muntari (Ghana) - 21
Rafael Van der Vaart (Holland) - 23
Nigel De Jong (Holland) - 21
Hedwiges Maduro (Holland) - 21
Wesley Sneijder (Holland) - 21
Nicky Hofs (Holland) - 22
Daniele De Rossi (Italy) - 21
Emerse Fae (Ivory Coast) - 22
Mohamed Sissoko (Mali) - 21
Christian Obodo (Nigeria) - 21
Giovanni Dos Santos (Mexico) - 16
Julio Dos Santos (Paraguay) - 23
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - 21
Manuel Fernandes (Portugal) - 20
Ricardo Quaresma (Portugal) - 22
João Moutinho (Portugal) - 19
Marat Izmailov (Russia) - 23
Cesc Fábregas (Spain) - 19
Gonzalo Castro (Spain) - 18
Andrés Iniesta (Spain) - 21
Raúl García (Spain) - 19
Jesús Navas (Spain) - 20
Kim Källström (Sweden) - 23
Tranquillo Barnetta (Switzerland) - 20
Valon Behrami (Switzerland) - 21
Nuri Sahin (Turkey) - 18
DaMarcus Beasley (United States) - 22
Olexandr Aliyev (Ukraine) - 21

Forwards

Nando Rafael (Angola) - 22
Maxi López (Argentina) - 22
Lionel Messi (Argentina) - 18
Sergio Agüero (Argentina) - 17
Fernando Cavenaghi (Argentina) - 22
Carlos Tévez (Argentina) - 22
Fréd (Brazil) - 22
Diego Tardelli (Brazil) - 20
Robinho (Brazil) - 22
Vágner Love (Brazil) - 21
Nilmar (Brazil) - 21
Valeri Bojinov (Bulgaria) - 20
Rafamel Falcao García (Colombia) - 20
Hugo Rodallega (Colombia) - 20
Wason Rentería (Colombia) - 20
Mido (Egypt) - 23
Darren Bent (England) - 22
Wayne Rooney (England) - 20
Jermain Defoe (England) - 23
Lukas Podolski (Germany) - 20
Mike Hanke (Germany) - 22
Georgios Samaras (Greece) - 21
Ioannis Masmanidis (Greece) - 22
Robin Van Persie (Holland) - 22
Arjen Robben (Holland) - 22
Ryan Babel (Holland) - 19
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Holland) - 22
Romeo Castelen (Holland) - 23
Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Holland) - 20
Antonio Cassano (Italy) - 23
Alberto Gilardino (Italy) - 23
Salomon Kalou (Ivory Coast) - 20
Arouna Koné (Ivory Coast) - 22
Goran Pandev (Macedonia) - 22
Marouane Chamakh (Morocco) - 22
Yakubu (Nigeria) - 23
Víctor Obinna (Nigeria) - 19
Obafemi Martins (Nigeria) - 21
Stephen Makinwa (Nigeria) - 22
John Obi Mikel (Nigeria) - 19
Nelson Haedo Valdez (Paraguay) - 22
Paolo Guerrero (Peru) - 22
Jefferson Farfán (Peru) - 21
Ricardo Vaz Té (Portugal) - 19
Aleksandr Kerzhakov (Russia) - 23
Kris Boyd (Scotland) - 22
Mirko Vucinic (Serbia and Montenegro) - 22
José Antonio Reyes (Spain) - 22
Fernando Llorente (Spain) - 21
Fernando Torres (Spain) - 22
Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo) - 22
Halil Altintop (Turkey) - 23
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u pretty much covered all the best around. I agree with the list.:applause:
 
Mehmet Topuz
Gokhan Unal
Gohkan Gulec
Ugur Boral
Ibrahim Toraman
Tuncay Sanli
Volkan Demirel
Fahri Tatan
Gokdeniz Karadeniz
Jefferson
Ibrahim Akin
Wederson
Tita

Players are based in Turkey.

theres more which i cant think off. The TURKish league has MANY promising talents coming up you'd be suprised. But because the lack of media coverage they are unknown. I can say this safely and knowingly that if Mehmet Topuz played in the Spanish, English or Italian league, he'd be a superstar!
 
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