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Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have dominated the last two decades of football. The duo's exploits in the sport have provided them with legendary status in the history of the sport. Experts feel that no player will be able to surpass the achievements of Ronaldo and Messi.
While this claim seems palatable, it isn't necessarily going to be true. Football is an ever-evolving sport. Thanks to sports science and sports analysis, the career span and quality of performances of a footballer can be improved as time goes on.
At the turn of the millennium, football aficionados believed that Maradona and Pele would forever be the two greatest players. It took just two decades for that statement to be proven wrong as the legacy of Ronaldo and Messi was secured.
As we enter 2022, numerous young players are starting to make a name for themselves on the biggest stage. In this article, I'll list 22 top football players under the age of 22 as of 22-2-2022.
#22 Jurrien Timber
Age: 20
Club: Ajax
Nation: Netherlands
Position: Centre-back/Right-back
Academy: Ajax
Market Value: €30 million
Jurrien Timber is one of three Ajax players to have made the cut. The Dutch centre-back has established himself as one of the first-choice centre-backs at the Johan Cruyff Arena. He has been an ever-present in their backline this season.
The defender's pace and relatively short height allow him to operate equally efficiently at right-back. Despite the presence of Denzel Dumfries and a handful of quality centre-backs in the Dutch national setup, Timber managed six appearances in 2021.
#21 Sandro Tonali
Age: 21
Club: AC Milan
Nation: Italy
Position: Defensive midfielder/Central midfielder
Academy: Brescia
Market Value: €35 million
Sandro Tonali has been around for quite some time and is unsurprisingly one of the oldest players among the 22. The AC Milan midfielder has drawn comparisons to San Siro stalwarts Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso for his control in midfield.
The "regista" burst onto the scene at Brescia due to his exemplary displays in both Serie B and Serie B. Since his move to Milan in 2020, which was made permanent last year, Tonali has played 50 Serie A matches and has become a Rossoneri regular.
#20 Antony
Age: 21
Club: Ajax
Nation: Brazil
Position: Right winger
Academy: Sao Paulo
Market Value: €35 million
Antony is just a couple of days away from his 22nd birthday. However, as he is still 21, the Ajax man is a shoo-in among the most talented youngsters in the world. The Brazilian has made six goal contributions in the Champions League this campaign.
Antony has featured in 72 games for Ajax, despite only joining them in 2020. His reluctance to use his weaker right foot makes him a one-dimensional player at times. With that being said, the right-winger is still a significant threat to opposition defences.
#19 Karim Adeyemi
Age: 19
Club: RB Salzburg
Nation: Germany
Position: Centre-forward
Academy: Bayern Munich
Market Value: €35 million
Karim Adeyemi would have found it hard to make a list of this kind at the start of the campaign. However, since Patson Daka's departure, the young German has taken the onus of goal scoring on himself. Adeyemi has recorded 18 goals in all competitions this season.
The striker was a part of the Bayern Munich academy from 2010 to 2012. He spent most of his youth career at the sister club of the Bavarian giants, SpVgg Unterhaching. The 20-year-old could follow in the footsteps of Daka and Halaand and leave Austria in the summer.
#18 Ryan Gravenberch
Age: 19
Club: Ajax
Nation: Netherlands
Position: Central midfielder
Academy: Ajax
Market Value: €35 million
Already the third Ajax wonderkid on this list, Ryan Gravenberch is one of the best young midfielders in Europe. The Dutchman has been a part of the Ajax family since 2010, transitioning from the Ajax Youth Academy to Jong Ajax to the main team.
Gravenberch has represented the Netherlands at almost all age group levels. At the tender age of 19, he has already racked up ten caps for Ons Orange. His all-round ability makes him a complete modern midfielder, something all top clubs are looking for.
#17 Wesley Fofana
Age: 21
Club: Leicester
Nation: France
Position: Centre-back
Academy: AS Saint-Etienne
Market Value: €40 million
The sheer number of talented French centre-backs in recent times has been remarkable. Considering Wesley Fofana is the only defender from his country to feature among the 22 players shows the ability and potential the Leicester prodigy possesses.
Fofana blew up during the 2020-21 Premier League season. The 21-year-old was The Foxes' best defender and inarguably the most promising young centre-back in the league. Despite being injured for a long time now, he is one to watch out for in 2022.
#16 Nuno Mendes
Age: 19
Club: Paris Saint-Germain (on loan from Sporting CP)
Nation: Portugal
Position: Left-back/Left midfielder
Academy: Sporting CP
Market Value: €40 million
Nuno Mendes is the only player here who is currently on loan. To improve their deficiencies at the left-back position, PSG loaned the Portuguese international with an option to buy. Mendes has significantly enhanced their fortunes on the left flank.
Capable of playing as a left-back and left-midfielder, the PSG number 25 has already earned 11 caps for the Portugal national team. The Sporting CP product has been a virtual ever-present in the Parisians' lineup, featuring 25 times in all competitions.
#15 Gavi
Age: 17
Club: Barcelona
Nation: Spain
Position: Central midfielder/Left winger
Academy: Barcelona
Market Value: €40 million
Born in August 2004, Gavi is by far the youngest footballer to make the cut. Having made his Barcelona debut just days after turning 17, the midfielder has been fast-tracked to the senior Spanish setup, already featuring four times for La Roja.
Gavi hasn't taken long to become a Camp Nou favourite. The central midfielder has been a part of nearly 30 first-team games this season. Considering he has already become such an essential member of the Barcelona team, his talent cannot be understated.
#14 Emile Smith Rowe
Age: 21
Club: Arsenal
Nation: England
Position: Attacking midfielder/Central midfielder/Left midfielder
Academy: Arsenal
Market Value: €38 million
Emile Smith Rowe is one of two versatile midfielders at Arsenal who has the capacity to conquer English football. ESR has built a reputation for being a hard-working midfielder who is direct in his football.
He spent a season on loan at RB Leipzig. ESR operates best in the number 10 role. However, he has the versatility to play as a winger as well. Despite being only 21, Smith Rowe is one of the regular players at the Emirates this season.
#13 Jamal Musiala
Age: 18
Club: Bayern Munich
Nation: Germany
Position: Attacking midfielder/Central midfielder//Left midfielder
Academy: Chelsea
Market Value: €55 million
Jamal Musiala is a German-born midfielder raised in England who is set to represent Die Mannschaft internationally. Musiala has played at various age-group levels for The Three Lions, having been a part of Chelsea's youth academy at Cobham.
Musiala was snapped up by Bayern Munich at the age of 16 and has only grown in stature ever since. Getting into the German and Bayern Munich starting XI at such a young age is no easy task. However, Musiala has become a regular for club and country.
#12 Eduardo Camavinga
Age: 19
Club: Real Madrid
Nation: France
Position: Stade Rennais
Academy: Central midfielder/Defensive midfielder
Market Value: €55 million
Already the sixth midfielder listed, Eduardo Camavinga is arguably the best of the lot so far. After bursting onto the scene at Stade Rennais, a big-money move was always on the cards for the young Frenchman. Real Madrid signed him for €31 million.
Camavinga is a tireless runner who is not only good at winning the ball back but is also proficient at progressing the ball into the attacking third. The Los Blancos midfielder is equally adept at playing as a defensive midfielder and a central midfielder.
#11 Ansu Fati
Age: 19
Club: Barcelona
Nation: Spain
Position: Left winger
Academy: Barcelona
Market Value: €60 million
Having made his debut back in 2019, Ansu Fati is still only 19. The Barcelona left winger has been among the most promising youngsters in world football over the last couple of seasons. However, the Barcelona number 10 has only played 53 club games.
Fati has had his fair share of troubles regarding injuries. The African-origin forward has already missed 75 games due to injury, including a meniscal laceration that kept him out for 305 days. Despite all this, Fati is touted to become a great player.
#10 Ferran Torres
Age: 21
Club: Barcelona
Nation: Spain
Position: Right winger
Academy: Valencia
Market Value: €45 million
Ferran Torres beat his Barcelona teammate Ansu Fati to feature in the top 10. The Spanish forward is seldom mentioned when speaking of the most promising footballers in the world. He is already so mature and experienced that fans and critics often forget that he is still only 21.
The former Valencia man joined Barcelona from Manchester City for a fee of €55 million. Torres is already a regular for Spain, scoring 12 goals in 22 appearances. Born on February 29, Barcelona's marquee signing will turn 22 in a week's time.
#9 Bukayo Saka
Age: 20
Club: Arsenal
Nation: England
Position: Left midfield/Right midfield/Left-back
Academy: Arsenal
Market Value: €65 million
Bukayo Saka is the definition of a versatile footballer. In his fledgling career, the Arsenal prodigy has played more than 20 times each as a left midfielder, right midfielder, left winger and left-back. Surprisingly, he is equally productive in each of the attacking roles.
The Englishman is arguably Arsenal's most important player at the moment. He won the Arsenal Player of the Season award in 2020-21. Despite facing stiff competition in the attacking areas at national level, Saka has racked up 14 appearances under Gareth Southgate.
#8 Florian Wirtz
Age: 18
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Nation: Germany
Position: Attacking midfielder
Academy: Koln
Market Value: €70 million
Florian Wirtz's rise to prominence for Bayer Leverkusen has been well documented. The attacking midfielder has already registered 74 appearances for his club in all competitions. Although he is still in his teens, Wirtz contributes a goal in every other game.
The Bayer Leverkusen playmaker has carried his club this term with seven goals and ten assists in 21 Bundesliga encounters. Despite having the capability to play in various attacking positions, the German youngster is best suited as an attacking midfielder.
#7 Jude Bellingham
Age: 18
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Nation: England
Position: Central midfielder
Academy: Birmingham
Market Value: €75 million
Aged 16, Jude Bellingham started making waves at Birmingham in 2019 and participated in a whopping 41 league games in his debut season. He joined Borussia Dortmund, arguably the best club to hone young talent, in 2020 for €23 million.
The 18-year-old has already turned into one of the most intelligent midfielders in Europe. Bellingham has represented England at various youth levels and is set to be a regular for the foreseeable future. With several clubs vying for his services, a big-money move could be in the works.
#6 Alphonso Davies
Age: 21
Club: Bayern Munich
Nation: Canada
Position: Left-back/Left winger
Academy: Whitecaps
Market Value: €70 million
Alphonso Davies is one of the best left-backs in the world despite being only 21 years old. The Canadian defender took a fair share of the limelight when Bayern Munich won the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League trophy.
Given Davies' proficiency in bombarding up the field, he was the ideal long-term replacement for David Alaba at the Allianz Arena. "Phonzie" has already played over 200 times for club and country. In fact, he has also scored 10 times and provided 16 assists for Canada.
#5 Jadon Sancho
Age: 21
Club: Manchester United
Nation: England
Position: Left winger/Right winger
Academy: Manchester City
Market Value: €85 million
Jadon Sancho would have ranked higher in this list had it not been for his indifferent season at Manchester United. The former Manchester City winger moved to Borussia Dortmund in search of regular game time as a teenager.
The move worked wonders as Sancho became an instant hit in Bundesliga. He scored 50 goals and laid down 64 assists in 137 outings for BvB. Sancho had a good partnership with Erling Haaland, who is himself a youngster.
His red-hot form at Dortmund caught the attention of several clubs in England, with Manchester United signing him last summer for €85 million.
Sancho has had six goal involvements in 28 matches for the Red Devils this season.
#4 Pedri
Age: 19
Club: Barcelona
Nation: Spain
Position: Central midfielder/Attacking midfielder
Academy: Las Palmas
Market Value: €80 million
Pedri's growth over the last 18 months has been exemplary. The Barcelona man is part of a host of youngsters at the club, four of whom have featured on the list. Since the start of the 2020-21 campaign, he has played a whopping 63 times for the Catalan giants.
The central midfielder, who is also comfortable in an advanced position, was brilliant at Euro 2020. His fine displays were rewarded with the Euro Young Player of the Tournament award. The 19-year-old also won the Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy in 2021.
#3 Phil Foden
Age: 21
Club: Manchester City
Nation: England
Position: Attacking midfielder/Left winger
Academy: Manchester City
Market Value: €85 million
Phil Foden is arguably the brightest midfield prospect in European football. A Cityzen through and through, Foden had to wait a long while before getting a shot at regular first-team action. Despite that, he has played over 150 matches for the Premier League champions.
The attacking midfielder has adapted to playing across a variety of midfield and attacking positions due to the dynamics of Pep Guardiola's side. Foden has scored 40 goals and recorded 28 assists for City so far.
#2 Vinicius Junior
Age: 21
Club: Real Madrid
Nation: Brazil
Position: Left winger
Academy: Flamengo
Market Value: €100 million
Vinicius Junior would have found it hard to crack the top 10 if the list had been formulated at the start of the campaign. The Brazilian winger has been sensational this season. His ranking at number two is more than justified by his 13 goals and six assists in La Liga this term.
The former Flamengo star became the most expensive 18-year-old when Real Madrid bought him for €45 million. After a couple of misfiring seasons, Vinicius finally came into his own last year. Overall, the left-winger has 16 goals and 10 assists this campaign.
#1 Erling Haaland
Age: 21
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Nation: Norway
Position: Centre-forward
Academy: Bryne
Market Value: €150 million
Without a shadow of a doubt, Erling Haaland is the best player under the age of 22. The Norwegian international has scored 80 goals and supplied 21 assists for Borussia Dortmund in just 79 games. The center-forward has 12 goals in 15 national appearances.
It is no secret that Haaland is set to become an all-time great. However, the 2020 Golden Boy will have to move to a bigger club to achieve that. With a market value of €150 million, top European clubs will have to break the bank to obtain the signature of the serial goal scorer.
