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Ask young, aspiring footballers what inspires them, and they simply reply, "To be the very best".
The drive, desire and passion motivates them to one day pull on the shirt for the senior side, making it a proud day for the player. The best young players of the world often attenuate as their careers do not pan out as expected. Yet, often, their first sign of brilliance is worth perceiving, as it defines the player they turn out to be a decade down the line.
As a football fanatic, I'm always on the look out for the next great talent. Every fan has their own favorite, but here's an Ultimate world U-23 starting XI, selected from an enormous pool of highly talented players.
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Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan, 18)
A sublime shot -stopper, Donnarumma commands his area and has the strength of a full fledged adult. Finding young goalkeepers is tough as its a position that demands levels of maturity and experience well beyond a 18-year old. Goalkeepers tend to peak much later on in their careers, however, at 18, he's better than most.
Touted as the next Gianluigi Buffon, the young keeper caught the eye having made his debut for AC Milan at the tender age of 16. Having dislodged Diego Lopez as AC Milan's first choice, he's since made the position his own, becoming one of Europe's hottest talents. It's only a matter of time till he's considered the very best.
Right-back: Hector Bellerin (Arsenal, 22)
An out - and - out right back, the Arsenal man burst onto the scene in 2014 and hasn't looked back. Having quickly eclipsed Mathieu Debuchy, Carl Jenkinson and Calum Chambers, Bellerin has cemented a long-term spot in the Arsenal first team. Comfortable with the ball at his feet, Bellerin defends well, and offers a creative threat down the right wing. What sets him apart is his blistering pace, as he possesses the ability to outrun almost everyone in world football.
His impressive attributes have earned him numerous plaudits, and its only a matter of time till he moves on to a bigger club.
Centre-back: Jose Gimenez (Atletico Madrid, 22)
Gimenez combines power, pace and positioning, making him an exceptional talent. Dynamic and forceful, yet he can be intelligent and elegant. Glorified for an impeccable leap, rapid pace and physicality, he outperforms his compatriots in this regard. His solid physique allows him to shackle even the best of strikers.
Despite his youthful pace, he lacks the positional awareness, or perhaps necessary experience, to counter the crafty movement of the world’s finest marksmen. However, still young, a few more years, and am sure we'll see an evolved version, someone who'd instill fear in their opponents.
Centre-back: John Stones (Manchester City, 22)
Despite not cementing a permanent place in the Manchester City line up, Stones has offered plenty of glimses to suggest he has a bright future ahead. Still naive, there have been instances when he's seemed unwilling to clear the ball in hurried fashion, even if it's the best course of action. However, despite his reluctance to change the way he plays, Stones completed an astonishing 21 out of his 22 attempted take ons, giving him a 95% success rate.
Similarly, he boasts the highest pass accuracy rate in the city squad completing 92% of his attempts. A few more years under Pep Guardiola, Stones could end up taking his game to the next level, a potential world beater.
Left-back: Theo Hernandez (Real Madrid, 19)
Competent in defence, Theo provides a dynamic threat going forward, and even has the versatility to start as an out - and - out winger. There aren't many players that make the switch from Athletico Madrid to Real Madrid or vica - versa, but Theo did exactly that. With pace, excellent crossing technique and the ability to dribble around the outside of his opposing marker, he is very much in the mould of a modern attacking full-back.
He may have failed to impress in his unveiling with his failed attempt at kick-ups, but that in no way is a reflection of how talented he really is.
Centre Midfield: Adrien Rabiot (Paris Saint - Germain, 22)
Rabiot is capable of playing anywhere in midfield, from a holding role to a more box to box attacking role. He has the ability to effortlessly shift from the back to the front during the course of the match and also acts as the engine room for the team. He is of a slight built, despite being 6 ft 2 inches, hence, can’t physically beat an opponent, but his vision helps him exploit the smallest of gaps on the pitch as he cleverly finds space to either move forward or pass the ball to a teammate.
The 22 year old is only going to better from here and with regular game time and correct guidance, the Frenchman can go on to become one of the most discerning midfielders in the next five-six years.
Centre Midfield: Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich, 19)
An extremely talented teenager, touted as a wonderkid back home, Renato has come miles since breaking into the Benfica first team in 2015. Known for his tireless running and inspiring energy level, Sanches typically plays in a box-to-box midfield role. Saches's ability to collect the ball, carry it forward and pick out the right pass makes him incredibly impressive in this role.
He dictates play and is not afraid of having a shot from distance. He always wants possesion and tends to do the right thing with it. Having won the 2016 European Golden Boy prize, he's destined for more accolades in the future.
Attacking Midfield: Dele Alli (Tottenham, 21)
“He is probably the best young midfielder I have seen in many years, probably going back as far as Gascoigne.” – Sir Alex Ferguson
A meteoric rise. Dele Alli has established himself as one of the very best in the business.He was the PFA's Young Player of the Year and on the Premier League Team of the Year for 2015/16 after scoring 10 goals, including an incredible overhead flick and shot on the half - volley against Crystal palace that may have been the best goal all season.
His stature grew having starting for the Three Lions at the Euros versus Germany, bagging the man of the Match award in a friendly.With his rapid rise to stardom, some even suggest he's good enough for Real Madrid and Barcelona, and if he continues performing this way, there's no reason to believe otherwise.
Right Wing: Ousmane Dembele (Borussia Dortmund, 20)
Ousmane Dembele has grown in stature under Thomas Tuchel's dazzling Borussia Dortmund side. Dembele is already one of the best dribblers in the world and an assist machine. His efficiency in terms of goals and assists is what sets him apart among other youngsters. Regularly likened to Cristiano Ronaldo, his incredible ball control, allows him to glide past defenders with utmost ease.
His rise to distinction has seen him linked to Barcelona with a move imminent. With a little more hardwork, Dembele for sure is a future Ballon d'Or contender.
Left Wing: Leroy Sane (Manchester City, 21)
Leroy Sane's development under Pep Guardiola has been out of this world. He arrived with a huge price tag, and wasn't able to perform to the best of his ability. Since then , he's accustomed himself to the Premier League and now looks like one of the best players in the Premier League.
Sané is quite fearless with the ball and is constantly looking to engineer a yard of space to attack the opposing full-back, but when the game is tight and space is hard to find, he displays the maturity to retain possession when other players of his age group would not. His talent hits at his potential to become the very best in the world.
Striker: Kylian Mbappe (Monaco, 18)
At the mere age of 18, Kylian Mbappe has the entire football world on standstill, as they eagerly await his next move. Explosive pace, quick feet and excellent dribbling are key attributes that make him a nuisance to defend against. His ability to shoot with both feet, and ability to cut inside before creating a chance showcases his talent.
He’s constantly looking for movement ahead of him from team-mates in better goalscoring positions near the final third, and this is beneficial as it allows the team an attacking outlet to rely on in tricky situations. With all big clubs on notice, a world record move seems very likely.
