Top 20 Young Footballers to Watch in 2008

Cannot wait to see Pato in action!

I saw Aguero and Giovani Dos Santos in the U-20 World cup, both exceptional and exciting players.

I heard great things of Lorenzo De Silvestri and ofcourse nothing but rave reviews about Pato from Carlo Ancelotti of Milan. Can’t wait to see the kid play with the big club in January.

I think it’s a shame that the young American players tend to get overlooked completely. Now any serious football fan in the US knows that our National team is not currently at the level of any of the leading countries in FIFA but football is the fastest growing the most popular sport with young people here in the US. Personally I was impressed by the likes of Pato and Dos Santos in the U20 World Cup but I think it is sad that shining performances put in by the likes of Jozmer Altidore, Freddy Adu, and Danny Szetela are generally overlooked. Go back and watch the US / Brazil match and tell me why Pato was signed by AC for €22 million and Adu by Benfica for €1 million. Don’t get me wrong, Pato is an amazing player but when quality young Americans have to fight to even get picked up to play in Europe the question must be asked… Is there a pre-conceived bias?

“Is there a pre-conceived bias?”

Yes.

But it’s not ill-meaning. It’s just the way things work in the business. It’s very difficult to earn a reputation to begin with. Once you’ve earned it, things get easier. Brazil has such a strong reputation, that clubs would rather pay €2m for a below average Brazilian talent, than tossing out €1m for Adu.

I can understand your point Jan it just frustrates me (and other American fans) to realize that the bias can even play a role when football could be even more exciting if someone were to give these kids a chance. All the while our young stars languish their early and most malleable years in the below-average MLS whilst waiting for their big break into Europe. I am a Celtic supporter on the club level and personally I wish our scouts would give the US more of a look. We are in desperate need of a tall striker who can hold the ball up and is strong in the air (for a good $$$ deal) but still Josy Altidore is waiting for a European club to come calling. Only time will change the face of football but I still harbor a fools hope that the clubs in Europe will eventually see the USA as a good place to recruit. By the way, Adu, though not played very often, has been playing very well for Benfica. Many of the supporters feel like he should have a more prominent role in the first team.

There’s a young player from Chile, he plays for River Plate (Arg) but has been out with an injury for the last months.
His name is Alexis Sanchez and in my opinion he belongs with the talents named above.

Christopher I agree with you. I feel bad I neglected to mention Altidore as one of the stand outs in the U-20 World cup, who can be mentioned right along with the other young stars.

I was of the understanding that he was offered a contract in Europe already? I went to the American game looking for Adu, who played well but Altidore really shone that game. I don’t really know to much of Danny Szetela.

The MLS is all we have and I think its great that our players have somewhere to go. Our city finally have a team and a stadium (Toronto) and though it’s nothing much compared to European or S. American stadiums, to us in Toronto it’s our “Wembley Stadium”.

If we keep developing the players (Adu, Altidore) believe me European clubs will find them.

Christopher Ill tell you why Freddy Adu was signed for 1, and Pato for 22, and its really simple. Pato came out of a football nation, grew up around football, and was trained since he was a kid by pure professionals. Freddy Adu declined to join a big European club when he was 14 or 15, he thought going pro that early in a below standard league would make him famous, and it did, but it did not make him a good player. As a matter of fact, it made him an average player. Let me remind you, Freddy Adu was supposed to be the next Pele, yet he declined Milan, Inter or any other big club. Look at Messi, he joined Barcelona when he was 12, now he is considered one of the best players in the world. Freddy Adu lost his chance, and not it will be very hard for him to climb to the top, and i dont think he will. We will remember him as one of the biggest disappointments ever!

I saw Altidore play for U20 here in Canada, and I think he should go to Europe right away, not waste time in the MLS, even if it is with a 2nd division team. In order to progress they have to play in Europe!

An example is Jonathan DeGuzman, the Canadian right attacking midfielder who plays in Netherlands, now he is also Dutch, and is deciding between the two national teams, he is a great talent that made it, and we will see more of him in a couple years! Every young American or Canadian player should follow in Jonathans footsteps!

@Eros,

The thing is Jonathan went to the right league, players like Altidore should avoid England, Spain and Italy, even if it 2nd division, they aren’t places that develop talent very well in the lower leagues just because there isn’t the system to do so. On the other hand leagues such as Portuguese and Dutch leagues have famously been known to develop good offensive talent, because there leagues are a great launching ground, for brazalians and mexicans alike. Personally the US and Canada would be smart to join on if they can and get their young players sent to Europe, the MLS will take time to develop still, but the problem is it will still take a longer period to develop proper soccer training facilities like those in Europe that have already been fined tuned to produce such good young talent.

what about MESSI? is he considered a young player since he is 20 year old and all? haha

I can’t wait to see Vela in action for Arsenal and Mexico, the kid is gonna be great!

Kyle, you are right in some ways, but its not all Dutch teams that produce great players, its mostly Ajax, as they are known as a great soccer academy. But when you see what Barcelona is doing, and Arsenal, developing great talents, its hard to say that Spain, England or Italy are not good growing up places. Milan does the same thing, the problem with Milan is that they dont develop GREAT players, they develop good players, that play in teams like Empoli, Fiorentina, etc.

Mr Messay,

Messi is a great player BUT PATO is a phenomenon. haha hahahaha

The entire civilized (and not so civilized) world awaits PATO’s debut for AC MILAN in January. Lot’s of a ss kicking there going to do with Pirlo Kaka and Pato.

Waiting to see Pato in action again!….

I wd also like to share another very good soccer blog, plz refer to:

http://www.soccerfairy.com

Messay,

Seems that young players who already have a high profile (like Messi or Fabregas) aren’t on the list since most people have already seen them in action.

Wait and see when Chikhaoui and Chermti shows up :P

Brazil has 5 names in the list. Lovely. But I worry when a young guy like Alexandre Pato has already all this big expectation over his shoulders. Imagine what could happen if he is just very good or incredible instead of amazing… people will start criticizing.

Other very talented young players are Fabio and Rafael, the twins. But maybe they are still too young to be seen in 2008.

About them: http://brazil.worldcupblog.org/road-to-africa-2010/talent-in-the-u-17-team.html

Shoot! Wrong link, sorry.

http://brazil.worldcupblog.org/road-to-africa-2010/double-trouble-says-fifa.html

personally i think leandro lima of porto will be quite a player. i know that he doesn’t play in europe, but kerlon…sublime. Infact, i will give you a few players from the brazilian league you need to look out for:
Kerlon, attacking midfielder, cruzeiro, brazil, 19
Marcelo Moreno, foward, cruzeiro, bolivia, 19
Thiago Silva, defence, fluminense, brazil, 22
Thiago Neves, attacking midfielder, fluminse, brazil, 22
Renato Augusto, attacking midfielder, flamengo, brazil, 19
sidnei, defender, internacional, brazil, 18

oh, and i almost forgot:
lulinha, attacking midfielder, 17, corinthains

I think from the french squad, we have:
Nasri from Marseille, amazing young player.

Hatem Ben arfa, Lyon, same age and teamate of Benzema.

Both are in the French National team and amazing players

im really good at kicking the ball in the neyt

liam collins from newry northrn ireland is a real hot player!! must be watchd, big teams are bound to sign him!

yeah ive heard of liam collins.. when is a big club gonna snap him up!!

Albertazzi (16) should become the next nesta-cannavaro in the heart of the italian defence , he is currently owned by milan and bologna . Another milan youngster that should be in the list is alberto paloschi . Not to mention villareal’s Guiseppe Rossi .

Great list have to say it will be aguero or pato’s year both got the potential 2 be great…probaly would have had anderson babel and renato agustuo on the list

Memo Ochoa. Well, he is 22, so he’s not very young, but… he is still an amazing player to watch out for. I suppose, though (as another poster has said about others) that he is one of the more high profile players, so he might not be on this particular list.

Check out his interview from the FIFA website here – http://fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=675512.html.

I am still cheering for France, but in the mean time…
Viva Mexico! :D

wheres anderson from united

i think also eduardo ratinho should be on the list
plays for corinthians in brazil, great prospect

Alexandre Pato is lighting up Serie A upon his arrival and doesnt look like he’ll cool down for another 15 years or so. Sergio Aguero, Bojan Krkic, Giovanni Dos Santos and Giuseppe Rossi are playing splendid football over in Spain and look like future stars in the making. Jozy Altidore would be wise to get out of the MLS as soon as possible. He has the pedigree and ability to be a fine European footballer and make us Americans finally take notice to a homegrown talent who plays “soccer”.

Gareth Bale, Micah Richards, Christiano Ronaldo, Agbonlahor, Aaron Lennon

What about Anderson? Already broken into Manchester United first team. So skillful, can unlock teams with his passing range as well as his frightening pace. His physical game is also top class after the performance against Arsenal showed that. Best player in the world by the world cup in 2010!

there still many good players that you forgot to include among the players to be watch out for in 2008. These players are {BALOTELI> INTER MILAN,MICAL RICHARDS> MANCHESTER CITY, DIEGO> WEDER BREMEN, KALOU MANCHESTER UNITED.

David Capel, 19 years old, Sevilla.

Anderson (ManUtd)is best young player in the world.

Adedoyin wrote: there still many good players that you forgot to include among the players to be watch out for in 2008. These players are {BALOTELI> INTER MILAN,MICAL RICHARDS> MANCHESTER CITY, DIEGO> WEDER BREMEN, KALOU MANCHESTER UNITED.

Kalou is playing for Chelsea. And Diego isn’t too young.

what about ched evans for man city and daniel sturridge

i know ‘ll be onw of the most successful managers in the world in this next few years, i’m from spain and i must say that i’ve enjoy reading this list and my opinion is:

you have forgot GOURCOUFF is the next zidane.

i agree with the following football players:

-aguero,banega,benzema,breno,denilson,macauley,dos santos,BOJAN,kroos,leiva,lulinha,pato,pique,rakitic,taarabt,vela,walcott,KERLON amazingnasri,ben arfa, rossi,micah richards, BALE nice player, lennon, anderson, Capel i dont get on well with him but his a really good players.

the others you’ve said are nice players but they must show it in a stronger way and if its pssible in europe.

yas wee newry creeps..
liam collins,lol…
theo walcott is overrated big time!! just because he was at the world cup WATCHING THE WHOLE THING like thousands of other English he is on these lists…
Saivet of Bordeox (i think u spell it) and Augusto of Flamengo (the next rivaldo/kaka)

How about Jeremy Menez? Seems to be a highlight machine, fantastic skill on the ball.

Where are all the italians?.. Balotelli..Giovinco..Palladino..Aquafresca..etc..
they are all tipped to be greats..
Fran Marida?..he’s ok..

victor sosa is a class act! also christopher scorch. if anyone has any other young footballers to tell me about then put them on here thanks