Top 10 football academies in the world in 2018

#7 Sporting CP

Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe played for the youth side at Sporting Lisbon

The Sporting C.P. Youth Academy has established themselves as the premium hub of talent development in Portugal. Christened 'Escolas Academia Sporting', the institution has also been lauded for its top-quality infrastructure. The facilities are a crucial reason why many European clubs prefer to train at the academy in the off-season.

With the Ballon d'Or winners like Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo passing through their ranks, they are bound to be counted amongst the best, aren't they? Also, the likes of Adrien Silva, Simao and Eric Dier have made it to the top level after learning their trade at the club.

Apart from being a big feeder to their first team, the youth academy has also produced a noteworthy number of players to the national squad. In Portugal's 2016 Euro Cup-winning campaign, the Verde e brancos produced a whopping 10 of the 14 players from the squad that faced France in the finals.

With such an institution that produces a plethora of budding talent, the Portuguese national squad certainly need not worry about their future.

Notable Alumni: Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Quaresma, Nani, Joao Moutinho, Eric Dier.

Upcoming talents: Gelson Martins, Elves Balde, Miguel Luis.