Top 5 U-23 Portuguese players in the world

Cristiano Ronaldo might have been at the centre of all limelight for Portugal’s Euro 2016 triumph, but the real credit should be given to Portugal’s talented youngsters who stepped up and performed admirably at crucial intervals.

This current generation of Portuguese youngsters are supremely talented and if they are nurtured properly we could just see Portugal having a golden generation. These youngsters are hot property currently and it will not be much of a surprise if we see the majority of the players on this list playing for Europe’s top clubs next year.

Let us start of with the supremely talented Portuguese youngsters who just missed out on this list.

Honourable mentions

Andre Gomes (Barcelona)

When you are playing for Barcelona and you are just 23, you will be expected to be on this list. However, it speaks volumes of the young talent in Portugal that the supremely gifted Andre Gomes does not make this list.

Joao Mario (Inter Milan)

Joao Mario is one of the key players in the Portugal national side having already made 23 appearances at the senior level. Currently playing at Inter Milan, the young Portuguese midfielder is known for his excellent passing ability.

Gelson Martins (Sporting CP)

Touted as the future Cristiano Ronaldo, Gelson Martins has been giving sleepless nights to opposition defenders with his blistering runs on the wings for Portuguese giants Sporting CP. Already being scouted by Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea, Martins is definitely one to watch out for in the future.

#5 Ruben Neves (Porto, 19)

At the tender age of 19, Ruben neves has already captained Portuguese giants 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.

Neves is a born footballer with great positional sense and an eye for a pass as well. Although Neves, like most players his age lacks the physique to be a proper defensive midfielder at the moment, his skills on the ball and his playmaking skills more than make up for it.

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.

Fast becoming the midfield mainstay at a club of Porto’s stature, Neves definitely has a bright future ahead of him.

#4 Andre Silva (Porto, 21)

While Portugal might have had plenty of talented wingers and attacking midfielders in the recent past, one area where they have struggled is in the striker position. While Hugo Almeida and Helder Postiga might have been decent strikers, they were nowhere near the world class talents of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo and et al.

However. with the arrival of young Andre Silva, Portugal seem to have finally found a striker who is technically proficient and seems to be a natural goalscorer. A first team regular and first choice striker at one of Europe's top clubs, Porto, Silva has had a blistering start to his international career having scored 4 goals in 5 international appearances including a hat-trick in the recently concluded match against Faroe Islands.

His impressive performances for Porto have already caught the attention of Manchester United and latest reports suggest that the Premier League giants see him as a long-term replacement to Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Old Trafford.

#3 Bernardo Silva (Monaco, 22)

One of the most technically gifted midfielders in Portugal, Bernardo Silva is playing so well that he is keeping the more established Andre Gomes out of the Portugal starting XI.

He has caught the attention of various top teams in Europe after his incredible season with AS Monaco in the top tier of French football. Silva is not one of those overhyped youngsters but a talent that has the potential to be world class.

The highlight of Silva’s game is his dribbling skills and it is a joy to watch him when he is on the ball. He is excellent in one-on-one situations and often humiliates defenders as he gets past them with ease. His technique is sublime and he possesses excellent vision. Coupled with his good passing range, Silva has all the attributes to be a perfect creative midfielder.

With Manchester United, Chelsea and Juventus all interested in the Monaco youngster, Bernardo Silva might well be plying his trade in one of Europe’s top clubs after the next transfer window.

#2 Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund, 22)

One of the most impressive full-backs in World football right now, Borussia Dortmund’s Raphael Guerreiro has been extremely impressive for both club and country in the last year. Capable of playing as a left-back, left wing-back and a left midfielder, Guerreiro has been one of the most impressive performers in Thomas Tuchel’s young Borussia Dortmund side.

The Portuguese left back's performance can be seen from the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo picked him as the team-mate he would love playing with at Real Madrid. Speaking to German magazine 11 Freunde, Ronaldo when asked which player from Bayern or Dortmund he would have ar Real, he replied,

“Perhaps my teammate in Portugal, Raphael Guerreiro, I would love playing with him at Real Madrid”.

Another youngster who was absolutely brilliant in Portugal’s miraculous Euro 2016 triumph, Guerreiro is on his way to becoming one of the best left-backs of our generation.

#1 Renato Sanches

The most promising youngster in world football right now, Renato Sanches has put up some extremely impressive performances in the last one and a half years. The 19-year-old midfielder had his breakthrough season last year and quickly became Benfica’s midfield stay.

His good performances with Benfica soon earned him a call-up to the Portugal national team where he played a starring role in their Euro 2016 triumph. Sanches is blessed with good passing skills, dribbling, agility and his imposing physique make him an intimidating opponent.

Having sealed a big money move to Bayern Munich last summer, Sanches will be looking to kick on and earn a regular starting spot with the Bundesliga giants. At just 19, Sanches has already been compared to Clarence Seedorf and if he continues playing in the same manner, those comparisons might well come true.

Sanches is widely touted to be the next true World Class star after Cristiano Ronaldo to emerge from Portugal.

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