1) Kylian Mbappe (AS Monaco) – 18 years old
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Another exciting project that is taking shape in Europe is the one at Ligue 1’s AS Monaco. When extravagant spending was not seen as a sustainable option, the club refocused its strategies on the youth players and tasked Leonardo Jardim with the reins.
That was in 2014/15 and the fruits of his labour are clearly visible. The Ligue 1 side reached the Champions League quarter-final yet again (beating Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City) and one of the stars that shone brightly in both legs was young Kylian Mbappe.
Also read: Scout Report – Kylian Mbappe
The 18-year-old forward has turned heads all across Europe with his performances in domestic and European competitions. With two months of the season to go, Mbappe has already scored 19 goals in all competitions. His last nine matches alone have seen him score 11 goals which included a hat-trick against FC Metz.
Among the top 10 goalscorers in Ligue 1, Mbappe is seventh with 12 but has the best goals per game ratio. The next youngest player is 22. It is no wonder then that most top Premier League sides have been linked with the youngster who is already being compared to France legend Thierry Henry (another Monaco academy graduate).
