Some players have just burst onto the scene immediately, showcasing their talents right from the word go, while some players might not have made a huge impact previously but it might have just clicked for them this season.
There have been some amazingly talented youngsters who have made us sit up and take notice while there have also been some players who have surprised everyone with their displays this season. Some of these players are already sought after from the biggest clubs in Europe.
Trending
These players with their performances this season are on their way to becoming the biggest names in world football.
#10 Ruben Neves – FC Porto
At the tender age of 19, he is already the captain of Porto. Neves primarily plays as a defensive midfielder although he is not afraid to go forward usually being the catalyst for Porto’s attacking moves.
He has already featured in 33 games and has two assists to his name. Neves is a born footballer with great positional sense and an eye for a pass as well. If he continues playing in this fashion, there is no doubt that one day he will be leading his national team as well on the world stage.
The youngster has also represented the Portugal national side having made 2 appearances for the senior side. Neves has shown consistency and maturity which belies his young age and he has already proven that he is a natural leader.
#9 Kelechi Iheanacho – Manchester City
The Nigerian caught the eyes of clubs across Europe when he helped his country to the final of the 2013 African U-17 Championship where they lost to Ivory Coast on penalties. Later that year he won the Golden Ball award at the U-17 World Cup after helping his side lift the trophy.
Iheanacho has been described as a player with excellent close control but is not the fastest of players. The Nigerian is also very good with both feet and has scored several goals with his right foot despite being a left-footed player. Another key trait of his is his versatility; he is capable of operating as wide forward, a centre forward and as an attacking midfielder.
Iheanacho made his senior debut only this season, but he has already played 26 times this season scoring 9 goals in this campaign. His performances have been so good this season, that he is already ahead of Wilfried Bony in the Manchester City pecking order.
The arrival of Pep Guardiola will only make this talented youngster even better.
#8 Joshua Kimmich – Bayern Munich
Bayern suffered an injury crisis this season when their regular centre-backs Jerome Boateng, Mehdi Benatia and Sedar Tasci were all unavailable before a game against Bayer Leverkusen.
Pep Guardiola had no choice but to throw the 21-year old Joshua Kimmich, a young midfielder into the thick of things as a makeshift centre back. The youngster rose to the occasion and put in a fine and mature display, earning plaudits from his manager for the performance.
Since then Kimmich is playing regularly at the back despite both Benatia nad Tasci being available. Such is the confidence of Guardiola in the youngster that he has constantly chooped and changed Kimmich’s position playing him in defense and midfield and the young German has put in solid performances whenever he has played.
Kimmich has shown a great eye for a pass as well as being extremely composed in possession. The youngster has featured in 28 matches this season already also collecting an assist along the way. He continues to improve and play at a consistent level which will only propel the youngster to achieve even more success.
#7 Inaki Williams – Athletic Bilbao
Inaki Williams has had a season to remember for Atheltic Bilbao. The young forward rose up through the ranks at Bilbao and he has captured the imagination of fans with his powerful performances.
Inaki Williams has scored some stunning goals this season and he along with Aduritz have ensured Atheltic Bilbao have not faced any problems in the goalscoring departments. The young forward has played 28 games this season scoring an impressive 12 goals.
In late January 2016, having been scouted by the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, Williams agreed to an extension of his contract until 2021. The deal included a €50m buyout clause showing how much he is worth.
His performances for Athletic earned him his first national call-up and he is one of the key members of the Spain U-21 side.
#6 Gianluigi Donnarumma – AC Milan
At 17, Gianluigi Donnarumma is living the dream representing the club he passionately supports. His performances have been so impressive that he has effectively displaced the experienced Diego Lopez as Milan’s first choice between the sticks.
Keepers are generally considered to get better with age but that rule apparently does not apply to this young phenomenon. The stopper has been a picture of concentration and consistency every time he has been given the opportunity this season pulling off stunning saves regularly.
In 22 appearances he has conceded only 17 goals and has 7 clean sheets to his name. Italian great Gianluigi Buffon also lauded his performance after seeing him in action when Juventus played Milan.
Donnarumma also became the youngest ever keeper to start a Serie A match when he was 16 last year. There is no doubt he will follow in Buffon’s footsteps if he continues to perform at this level of consistency.
#5 Renato Sanches – Benfica
Highly rated youngster Renato Sanches has been continuously linked with a move to Manchester United. The Portuguese midfielder is just 18 years old and he has already been capturing everyone's attentions with his eye-catching performances.
Many reports claimed that Manchester United already had a deal to get this Portuguese starlet to Old Trafford, however, Benfica denied all these claims saying that they wanted to keep Sanches for the foreseeable future.
After the international break in November 2015, Sanches signed a new contract with Benfica until 2021, with a release clause set at €45 million.
Renato Sanches has quickly become a crucial player for Benfica. Before his debut for the senior side in October, Benfica had only won eight out of their 14 matches in all competitions. However, after his debut, they have won 16 out of the 19 matches he has played in.
His energy, drive and incisive passing have really helped Benfica reinvigorate their season and he might just be the box-to -box midfielder Manchester United need to change their fortunes.
#4 N’golo Kante – Leicester City
Kante has been absolutely superb this season and he along with Vardy and Mahrez is one of the main reasons for Leicester City’s Premier League challenge. Playing in midfield, Kante's all-action displays for Leicester have been key for his side's high-intensity style of play.
Signed for €8 million from French side SM Caen, he has proved to be one of the bargain buys of the summer. His impressive displays this season earned him his first national cap as he made his debut for the France national team against the Netherlands in the recently held international friendly.
Kante is so valued by his manager that Ranieri compared him to one of the best midfield enforcers to ever play the game, Claudio Makelele:
"I think Kanté can achieve this position. He is a good midfielder, a very good midfielder. He is quiet but he can improve a lot because he can play as a central midfielder like when I had Makelele.
“Kante is the soul of this Leicester team.”
Although he has been compared to Makelele, Kante’s idol is Lassana Diarra.
#3 Julian Weigl – Borussia Dortmund
Julian Weigel is one of the surprise talents of the German Bundesliga this season. He was signed from 1860 Munich in the second division in the summer of 2015, but no one expected the player to play such a crucial role in Dortmund's midfield this season.
Despite the likes of more established stars such as Gundogan, Nuri Sahin and Moritz Leitner being present in the Dortmund team, Weigl has gone on to become an integral member of the impressive Borussia Dortmund side.
The young German reads the game very well and is effective in retaining position and starting off attacks at the centre of the pitch for Borussia Dortmund. Weigl has an incredible passing accuracy of 92% and he has even managed to get praise from Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola.
The youngster is well suited to play a passing game and is very composed in possession. Dortmund have been transformed this season to play a brand of possession and attacking football under their new coach and Weigl has been an important part of the team’s new strategy.
His impressive performances have seen him being linked with Barcelona and Manchester City with Pep Guardiola reportedly a huge admirer of the Dortmund starlet.
#2 Riyad Mahrez – Leicester City
The Algerian winger showcased some glimpses of his talent and dribbling skills last season, but, this season he has been simply mesmerising creating numerous chances and leaving the opposition defences flat-footed.
In 30 Premier League appearances so far, Mahrez has scored 16 goals with many of them being simply brilliant solo efforts. He has also been one of the most creative members of this wonderful Leicester side, grabbing 11 assists in a stellar campaign.
Leicester are on the verge of creating history and they have the 25-year-old Algerian to thank for. From being relegation contenders to Premier League title challengers, Mahrez has played a key role in Leicester's incredible rise.
His performances have been so good this season that he has been linked with a move to the best club side in the world currently - Barcelona. From playing in Le Havre two years back to a potential move to Barcelona at the end of this season, Mahrez’s rise has indeed been meteoric.
The Algerian has definitely had a breakthrough season this year.
#1 Dele Alli - Tottenham Hotspur
Dele Alli‘s rise to fame is similar to that of fairytales. A youth prospect at his former club MK Dons he made his debut aged only 16. The midfielder was part of the team that famously thrashed Manchester United 4-0 last season.
Since then several scouts from big clubs tracked his progress but Tottenham Hotspur beat their competitors to his signature in January of 2015. That itself was a big thing for a youngster like Alli but he has surprised everyone by cementing a first team position this season under Mauricio Pocchetino.
He has already received an England call-up aged 19! Alli has played a crucial role in Tottenham’s title charge this season. In 29 appearances in the league, he’s scored 7 goals and assisted a further 9.
He is also one of the players who has clocked a lot of minutes, playing in almost all of Spurs’ games in various competitions. If Tottenham do win the league this season it will be thanks in no small part to this young man’s heroics.
