Football website Goal.com have compiled their annual ‘NxGn’ list – a list of the top 50 U-19 footballers in the world – literally the ‘next generation’.
Ghanaian born Dutch defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah, who plays for Manchester United in England, made the list, finishing 10th on the 50 man list.
Fosu-Mensah, 19, was born in Amsterdam to Ghanaian parents, but has chosen to play for the Netherlands so far, representing them throughout the youth levels. He has also received call-ups to the senior team for some friendly games, but can still switch to Ghana since he’s yet to make an official appearance for the ‘Oranje’.
AC Milan’s Italian goalkeeper Gianliuji Donnarumma placed top of the overall list, with the 18 year old recognised for his scintilating keeping skills. He has been no.1 of the legendary Italian side since he was 16, and sensationally made his senior Italy debut at only 17.
Donnarumma is followed by Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe and Borussia Dortmund’s American wonderkid, Christian Pulisic.
There were many other African born stars on the list representing other countries, but Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr (32), Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi (40) and Nigeria’s Kelechi Nwakali (46) made the cut for Africa in the top 50.
Below are the top ten players in the world born after January 1, 1998 – via Goal.com.
1 Gianliuji Donnarumma (AC Milan, Italy)
2 Kylian Mbappe (Monaco, France)
3 Christian Pulisic (Dortmund, USA)
4 Alban Lafont (Toulouse, France)
5 Alexander Isak (Dortmund, Sweden)
6 Manuel Locatelli (AC Milan, Italy)
7 Malang Sarr (Nice, France)
8 Felix Passlack (Dortmund, Germany)
9 Martin Odegaard (Herenveen, Norway)
10 Timothy Fosu-Mensah (Manchester United, The Netherlands)