Don Balon's list of the top 100 young players in the world

Le King

The List

Dominic Adiyiah (Reggina)
Toby Alderweireld (Ajax)
Hamdan Al Kamali (Al Wahda)
Jano Ananidze (Spartak Moscow)
Andre Ayew (Marseille)
Khouma Babacar (Fiorentina)
Holger Badstuber (Bayern)
Gareth Bale (Tottenham)
Mario Balotelli (Manchester City)
Ben Sahar (Hapoel Tel Aviv)


Bojan (FC Barcelone)
Bo-Kyung Kim (Oita Trinita)
Ryad Boudebouz (Sochaux)
Dedryck Boyata (Manchester City)
Breno (Bayern)
Sergio Canales (Real Madrid)
Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez (Standard)
Luc Castaignos (Feyenoord)
Diego Contento (Bayern)
Phillippe Coutinho (Internazionale)


David De Gea (Atlético de Madrid)
Alvaro Domínguez (Atlético Madrid)
Giovanni dos Santos (Tottenham)
Douglas Costa (Shakhtar)
Alan Dzagoev (CSKA Moscow)
Gueïda Fofana (Le Havre)
Paulo Henrique (Santos)
Giuliano (Internacional)
Maxime Gonalons (Lyon)
Mario Götze (Dortmund)


Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad)
Eden Hazard (Lille)
Jordan Henderson (Sunderland)
Markus Henriksen (Rosenborg)
Abel Hernández (Palermo)
Ander Herrera (Zaragoza)
Lewis Holtby (Mainz)
James Rodriguez (Porto)
Stefan Jovetic (Fiorentina)
Vaclav Kadlec (Sparta Prague)


Shinji Kagawa (Dortmund)
Gael Kakuta (Chelsea)
Alan Kardec (Benfica)
Simon Kjaer (Wolfsburg)
Maksim Koval (Dinamo Kiev)
Ismail Köybasi (Besiktas)
Toni Kroos (Bayern)
Manuel Lanzini (River Plate)
Adem Ljajic (Fiorentina)
Dejan Lovren (Lyon)


Romelu Lukaku (Anderlecht)
Lukman Haruma (Monaco)
Federico Macheda (Manchester United)
Guido Marilungo (Sampdoria)
Marko Marin (Werder Bremen)
Emmanuel Mayuka (Young Boys)
Thomas Müller (Bayern)
Iker Muniain (Athletic Bilbao)
Marc Muniesa (Barcelona)
Ezequiel Muñoz (Palermo)


Yann Mvila (Rennes)
Tomas Necid (CSKA Moscou)
Neymar (Santos)
Sotiris Ninis (Panathinaikos)
Nikolas N’Koulou (Monaco)
Javier Pastore (Palermo)
Alexandre Pato (Milan)
Pablo Piatti (Almería)
Miralem Pjanic (Lyon)
Rafael (Manchester United)


Yaroslav Rakytskiy (Shakhtar)
Diego Renan (Cruzeiro)
Marco Reus (Mönchengladbach)
Emmanuel Rivière (Saint-Etienne)
Jack Rodwell (Everton)
José Rondón (Málaga)
Victor Ruiz (Espanyol)
Mamadou Sakho (PSG)
Davide Santon (Internazionale)
Georgy Shennikov (CSKA Moscow)


Xherdan Shaqiri (Basel)
Harmeet Singh (Vålerenga)
Moussa Sissoko (Toulouse)
Robin Soder (Göteborg)
Miroslav Stoch (Fenerbahçe)
Yannis Tafer (Toulouse)
Thiago (Barcelona)
Lacina Traoré (Cluj)
Ricky Van Wolfswinkel (Utrecht)
Carlos Vela (Arsenal)


Jelle Vossen (Genk)
Ante Vukusic (Hadjuk Split)
Theo Walcott (Arsenal)
Vladimir Weiss (Rangers)
Georginio Wijnaldum (Feyenoord)
Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Danny Wilson (Liverpool)
Siyanda Xulu (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Andriy Yarmolenko (Dinamo Kiev)
Sercan Yildirim (Bursaspor)

The obvious ones are there Lukaku, Pastore, Hazard, Wilshere, Muller, Rodwell, De Gea etc.

But no Pacheco, McEachran, Eikrem, Pogba, Fabio etc.

What are your thoughts on the list? Who would you add/remove?

Seems like a few names were just chucked in there tbh.

massdebater

Fabio's not there cos he's useless

Le King

Don't really want to double post but I just realised Ramsay isn't there. :eek:

I'd also add Daniel Opare, Ravel Morrison, Iker Muniain, Fabian Delph, Jonjo Shelvey, Davide Santon and Mamadou Sakho.

Paleface

I have yet to see why Macheda is so highly regarded.

everdead.ie

Le King wrote: »

Don't really want to double post but I just realised Ramsay isn't there. :eek:

I'd also add Daniel Opare, Ravel Morrison, Iker Muniain, Fabian Delph, Jonjo Shelvey, Davide Santon and Mamadou Sakho.

This is a list of youngsters that have impressed in the last 12 months Ramsey & Delph have been injured for most of that shelvey hasn't had enough chances to impress to be included but I am not familliar with the others so i'll leave it at that

eagle eye

No sign of Phil Jones from Blackburn there. Jordan Henderson from Sunderland is another one I like.

And the new American superstar of tomorrow Juan Agudelo. Keep an eye out for that name. He has only a couple of appearances for New York Red Bulls, he turns 18 this month. Another young 17 year old is Yaya Sanogo currently with Auxerre.

Seaneh

Le King wrote: »

Don't really want to double post but I just realised Ramsay isn't there. :eek:

I'd also add Daniel Opare, Ravel Morrison, Iker Muniain, Fabian Delph, Jonjo Shelvey, Davide Santon and Mamadou Sakho.

Santon is there...

karma_

McCarthy deserves to be in there, he is a premiership starter and a lot of those guys are reserve team players and bench warmers right now. As for Weiss, he is a City player and is only on loan at Rangers.

keano_afc

Paleface wrote: »

I have yet to see why Macheda is so highly regarded.

Yes, we call that the "Anderson Syndrome", where a player is suddenly world class despite not actually doing anything to warrant it.

Bounty Hunter

How many years have the two southampton boys (Bale, Walcott) been in such lists? would love to see those two playing down opposite flanks for some team....Aston Villa 2018/9

The Rooster

keano_afc wrote: »

Yes, we call that the "Anderson Syndrome", where a player is suddenly world class despite not actually doing anything to warrant it.

Well about 18 months ago he did score what, in my opinion, was the most important league goal of the season, and it was an absolute beauty. But correct that he's done little since.

token56

Paleface wrote: »

I have yet to see why Macheda is so highly regarded.

I'd certainly have Hernandez there over Macheda, Chico is probably Utd's most promising talent right now.

Essien

If I were a United supporter I'd be a hell of a lot more excited by the prospect of Hernandez than Macheda tbh. Though if this list is based on a 12 month period then I suppose he doesn't really warrant a place.
Same goes for McEachran at Chelsea, both he an Kakuta have made a few cameo's this year with McEachran looking the more promising of the 2, I'm certainly not doubting Kakutas ability though.

Johner

HalloweenJack

Griezmann looks class from what I've seen. He has a great celebration too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YynPlY4H6Ko

One guy I saw a bit of last week was Tranmere's Dale Jennings. He's only 17 and he had a stormer for them. I think he only came into the team this season.

peabutler

Shinji Kagawa for Borrussia Dortmund and Sakho for PSG

shano_88

Don Balon's list in 2001:

1. Djibril Cisse (STR, Auxerre)

2. Andres D'Allesandro (AM, River Plate)

3. Leandro Bonfim (AM, Vitoria/PSV Eindhoven)

4. Fernando Jose Torres (STR, Atletico Madrid)

5. Jermaine Pennant (R/WNG, Arsenal)

6. Rafael Van der Vaart (C/MF, Ajax)

7. Florent Sinama-Pongolle (STR, Le Havre/Liverpool)

8. Piotr Trochowski (AM, FC Bayern Munich)

9. Anthony Le Tallec (AM/CFWD, Le Havre/Liverpool)

10. Mourad Meghni (AM, Bologna)

11. Pedro Mantorras (STR, Benfica Lisbon)

12. David Odonkor (FWD, Borussia Dortmund)

13. Darren Fletcher (C/MF, Manchester United)

14. John Welsh (C/DM, Liverpool)

15. Kim Kallstrom (CM, BK Hacken)

16. Philippe Mexes (CB, Auxerre)

17. Johnny Heitinga (CB, Ajax)

18. Juan Andreu Melli (CM, Real Betis)

19. Baldo Di Gregorio (CB, Eintract Frankfurt)

20. Andres Iniesta (AM, Barcelona)

21. Milan Baros (STR, Liverpool)

22. Marius Niculae (STR, Sporting Lisbon)

23. Fabricio Coloccini (CB, Milan/on loan to Alaves)

24. Ricardo Bernardo Quaresma (L/WNG, Sporting Lisbon)

25. Maicon (RWB, Cruzeiro)

26. Hugo Viana (CM, Sporting Lisbon)

27. Arjen Robben (L/WNG, Groningen/PSV Eindhoven)

28. Julio Colombo (CB, Montpellier)

29. Gregory Vignal (LB, Liverpool)

30. Jermaine DeFoe (STR, West Ham United)

31. Gareth Barry (LB, Aston Villa)

32. Marat Izmailov (AM/FWD, Lokomotiv Moscow)

33. Hassan Yebda (DM, Auxerre)

34. Leandro Romagnoli (AM, San Lorenzo)

35. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (CFWD, Ajax)

36. Dean Ashton (CFWD, Crewe Alexandria)

37. Ednilson (AM, Benfica Lisbon)

38. Chris Kirkland (GK, Liverpool)

39. Emilliano S. Dudar (CB, Velez Sarsfield)

40. Helder Postiga (STR, Porto)

41. Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam (STR/LWNG, Ajax)

42. Joaquin Sanchez (L/WNG, Real Betis)

43. Diego Ribas (AM, Santos)

44. Jay Lucas (CFWD, Southampton)

45. Niko Kranjcar (AM/CFWD, Dinamo Zagreb)

46. Christian Petereit (RB/CB, Schalke 04)

47. Ewerthon (STR/FWD, Borussia Dortmund)

48. Gael Givet (CB/LB, Monaco)

49. Francesco Lodi (AM, Empoli/Parma)

50. Massimo Donati (DM, AC Milan)

51. Gatti Ribeiro (RWB, Blooming)

52. Jeremie Aliadiere (STR, Arsenal)

53. Francesco Tarantino (LB/CB, Athletic Bilbao)

54. Lourenco Da Silva (FWD/LWNG, Sporting Lisbon)

55. Alexander Ludwig (L/WNG, Werder Bremen)

56. Landon Donovan (STR, San Jose Earthquakes)

57. Ricardo Costa (CB, FC Porto)

58. Filip Trojan (L/WNG, Schalke 04)

59. Carlos Martins (CM, Sporting Lisbon)

60. Serhat Akin (STR, Fenerbahce)

61. Johnnier Montano (AM/FWD, Parma-on loan to Verona)

62. Mark Fotheringham (C/MF, Celtic)

63. Rubinho (GK, Corinthians)

64. Michael Chopra (STR, Newcastle)

65. Edward Johnson (STR, Dallas Burn)

66. Johnny Van Beukering (STR, Vitesse)

67. Santino Quaranta (STR, DC United)

68. Andreas Hinkel (RB/RWB, Stuttgart)

69. Bojan Djrodjic (L/WNG, Manchester United)

70. Matteo Brighi (CM, Juventus)

71. Cherno Samba (CFWD, Millwall)

72. Hassan Ahamada (LWNG/STR, Nantes)

73. Theo Janssen (LM, Vitesse)

74. Derik Boateng (AM, Panathinaikos)

75. Mauro Rosales (R/WNG, Newell's Old Boys)

76. Dulee Johnson (STR, BK Hacken)

77. Fernando Macedo Nano (L/WNG, Barcelona)

78. Michael Essien (D/MF, Bastia)

79. Andres Oliveira (STR/FWD, Perth Glory)

80. Candido Costa (AM, Porto)

81. Tuomas Aho (CB, My-Pa)

82. Dimitar Berbatov (STR, Bayer Leverkusen)

83. Thijs Houwing (CFWD, Twente)

84. Labinot Harbuzi (AM, Malmo FF)

85. Michael Zepek (CM, Bayer Leverkusen)

86. Mika Vayrynen (AM, FC Jokerit)

87. Ramon Calliste (STR, Manchester United)

88. Christoph Preuss (RWB, Eintract Frankfurt)

89. Keith Kelly (CM, PSG)

90. Aldo Jara (FWD, Cerro Portano)

91. Kieran Richardson (L/WNG, Manchester United)

92. Leonardo Santiago (L/WNG, Feyenoord)

93. Shaun Maloney(STR, Celtic)

94. Azar Karadas (CFWD/CB, Brann Bergen)

95. Kaka (AM, Sao Paulo)

96. Benjamin Auer (CFWD, Borussia M'Gladbach)

97. Daniyel Cimen (LB/CB, Eintract Frankfurt)

98. Erdal Kilicaslan (CFWD, Bayern Munich)

99. David Prutton (D/MF, Nottingham Forest)

100. Alexander Hleb (AM, Stuttgart)

1mcampo1

Just done a quick scan of the list from 2001 and you see the likes of Torres, Essien, Ibrahimovic, Kaka and then the like's of Michael Chopra and David Prutton...

Not sayng the latter is bad or anything but they are a far cry from Torres/Essien!!

Bubs101

1mcampo1 wrote: »

Just done a quick scan of the list from 2001 and you see the likes of Torres, Essien, Ibrahimovic, Kaka and then the like's of Michael Chopra and David Prutton...

Not sayng the latter is bad or anything but they are a far cry from Torres/Essien!!

Yeah but it's like a draft in an American sport. Around half of the top 20 rated players will be playing at a top level in 4 years, 8 of them will be major dissapointments and 2 will absolutely dissapear. Then you'll have some of them from down the list who explode to prominence like Tom Brady or something

GavRedKing

The two lists are just like a Football Managers guide to the best young talent.

The second list, from 2001, is gas just looking at some of the names who are now household names and global stars, Essien, Ibra, Iniesta, Torres, etc etc

Wolfe Tone

*Runs off and buys said players in fifa/fm*