There are some incredible young players out there in world football at the moment; and some of the finest will be on show again over the next two weeks as International football takes centre stage.
The UEFA Nations League and South American World Cup qualifiers will see some stellar talents strutting their stuff, so let’s take a look at the SBOTOP pick of the four most exciting young players around.
Florian Wirtz – Germany
After smashing Hungary 5-0 and drawing 2-2 with the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League, Germany take on Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday and one of the hottest properties on the planet will be on show as attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz lines up for Julian Nagelsmann’s quickly improving team. The 21-year-old Bayer Leverkusen star made his fair share of Bundesliga 2024 highlights last term as Die Werkself stormed to the title, and he has continued his great form in the new season. With four goals already he is among the early chasers for the Golden Boot and, as a dynamic, speedy forward with the ability to play on the wing or through the middle he is a manager’s dream and looks set to become a world star for years to come.
Rodrygo – Brazil
The CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers are back on the agenda and Brazil have a crucial clash against Chile coming up next weekend. After a dreadful run of four defeats from the last five games the Selecao are down in fifth place, only one point ahead of Bolivia in eighth and five ahead of ninth placed Chile. To be a whopping eight points behind leaders Argentina is not a happy place for Brazil to be in and they will count on their array of stars to pull them out of the mire.
Real Madrid star Rodrygo is one of a number of attacking talents for Los Blancos alongside his Brazil teammate Vinicius Junior, England’s Jude Bellingham and Turkish sensation Arda Guler. With a low centre of gravity, Rodrygo has the pace, technical and dribbling skills which make him difficult to dislodge and he has a lightning change of direction which can tear a defence apart and, like Wirtz, Rodrygo is a versatile player who can operate anywhere across the front line. Real Madrid took on Villarreal on Saturday night when he made a substitute appearance as Los Blancos ran out 2-0 winners and Rodrygo will be raring to go against Chile.
Lamine Yamal – Spain
Another Primera Division star will be on show on Saturday when Spain take on Denmark in the UEFA Nations League. After winning Euro 2024 La Roja have started with a draw against Serbia and a 4-1 win over Switzerland in the Nations League, Barcelona’s wonderkid Lamine Yamal making an assist in the last outing. Still only 17, Yamal was one of a number of standout stars at the Euros, with his penchant for spectacular goals and assists, and with supreme pace, control and passing ability. He is also willing to track back and is defensively astute, which makes Yamal pretty much the complete player in the eyes of Barcelona and Spain fans.
The Blaugrana have started the 2024/25 season well and, while the La Liga 2024 betting odds still back Real Madrid to retain their title, Hansi Flick’s side is top and with a game in hand. The club is desperate to keep hold of its best talent or earn top dollar when they move on and Yamal has extended his contract to stay at the club with a buyout clause of 1bn Euros; that could turn out to be great business for the Catalans.
Cole Palmer – England
Down in the depths of League B, England will be hoping to make it three wins from three under new interim coach Lee Carsley, having recorded 2-0 victories over both the Republic of Ireland and Finland, the latter at Wembley. Well, the Three Lions are facing the Fins next week but before that, they play Greece on Thursday and, in a team blessed with an array of creative talent, surely it must be time to give Chelsea youngster Cole Palmer an extended run. Since signing for the Blues in 2023 his form has been nothing short of exceptional and, last year, Palmer won the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year and the Young Player of the Year, after registering an incredible 27 goals and 15 assists in all competitions in his first season at Stamford Bridge.
His Chelsea teammate Noni Madueke, also 22, is in Carsley’s squad and he too is an exciting talent, but Palmer, with the nickname ‘Cold’ because of his ice cool temperament in front of goal could become a Three Lions legend.
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