Top 10 Most Promising Young Footballers Worldwide in 2022

Jude Victor William Bellingham was born on June 29, 2003, is a British footballer currently playing as a midfielder for Borussia Dortmund and the England national team.

Regarded as one of the most outstanding young talents in the world, Bellingham began playing for Birmingham City at the age of 8, becoming the youngest player to ever play for the first team. He joined Borussia Dortmund in July 2020, and in his debut match, he became their youngest-ever goal scorer. Representing England at various youth levels, he made his senior team debut in November 2020 and represented his country at UEFA Euro 2020. Moving to the Bundesliga at the age of 17, after starting several matches in the Championship, he faced immense pressure due to his high transfer value. However, Bellingham overcame all odds to shine brightly, earning the trust of Dortmund fans. Last season, he was an indispensable pillar in Dortmund's midfield, playing in 29 out of 34 Bundesliga matches and all 10 Champions League matches.

Against Man City, Bellingham played like a seasoned veteran of top club competitions. Pep had to shower him with praise upon seeing a young player perform with such confidence and excellence.

Barcelona and Spain national team midfielder, Gavi, clinched the Best Under-21 Player in Europe award, the Kopa Trophy, at the 2022 Ballon d'Or ceremony. Gavi's full name is Pablo Martin Paez Gavira, born on August 5, 2004. He showcased his talent early on at the Real Betis academy, scoring 95 goals in 2 years. Subsequently, Gavi joined La Masia at the age of 11 and consistently stood out in Barcelona's youth teams.

In September 2020, Gavi signed a professional contract and was promoted from the U16 to the U19 team at Barcelona. This marked the beginning of Gavi's rapid rise. In early 2021, he debuted for Barcelona B and was soon called up to the first team. On August 29, 2021, Gavi made his first-team debut for Barcelona, replacing Sergi Roberto in a 2-1 La Liga victory against Getafe. He quickly won the hearts of fans, as well as the coaching staff of Barcelona and the Spanish national team. According to statistics, Gavi has played 60 matches for Barcelona and 12 matches for the Spanish national team in just over a year. His remarkable number of appearances reflects the preference that both Xavi and Luis Enrique have for him. The 1.73m tall midfielder possesses physique, ball-playing skills, and creative passing reminiscent of legendary duo Xavi and Iniesta. However, Gavi is not only an artist but also a warrior. The 18-year-old talent always exudes fiery energy, ready to dominate the field and fearless in any physical challenge.

Prior to winning the Kopa Trophy for the Best Under-21 Player in Europe, Barcelona secured Gavi's future with a long-term contract until 2026, with a release clause of up to 1 billion Euros. The massive release clause and the accolade at the Ballon d'Or ceremony underscored one thing: Gavi is the future of Barcelona and Spanish football.

The German national team under Hansi Flick is not just a collection of established stars but also offers opportunities for young players to shine. Florian Wirtz, the emerging talent from Leverkusen, is one such noteworthy name. Despite being a standout player for the German U21 team, it wasn't until the 4-0 victory over North Macedonia that Wirtz got his 4th chance to represent the national team.

Notably, the 18-year-old attacking midfielder was the provider for Timo Werner's goal against North Macedonia. It's no coincidence that Wirtz is attracting interest from giants like Bayern Munich and Chelsea. He rose to prominence at Cologne before Bayer Leverkusen signed him last January, despite objections from Cologne, as both clubs had previously agreed not to poach each other's talented players. Initially, Wirtz only had opportunities with the U19 team. Just a few months later, coach Peter Bosz recognized his potential and promoted him directly to the first team, giving him his debut just one week after his 17th birthday. After becoming Leverkusen's youngest player to feature in a competitive first-team match, Wirtz quickly solidified his place. At the end of the 2019-20 season, he even scored against Bayern Munich, becoming the youngest Bundesliga goal scorer at just 17 years and 34 days old, although that record was later broken by Dortmund's Youssoufa Moukoko. Wirtz is a versatile player, excelling in various positions from central midfield to winger, but he's most suited to an attacking midfield role. At Leverkusen, Wirtz operates as a number 10 in a 4-2-3-1 formation, behind the striker.

Above all, Wirtz is Leverkusen's highest-rated player in terms of transitional play. When his team gains possession, Wirtz immediately finds space to receive the ball, and once he has it at his feet, he progresses quickly before making decisions: either threading through balls for forwards in advantageous positions or taking shots himself when there are no better options.

Harvey Elliott is emerging as Liverpool's new sensation this season. The young talent born in 2003 has started in the last 2 matches, even displacing Thiago to the bench.

On September 25, 2018, when Harvey Elliott was just 15 years and 174 days old, he made his Fulham debut against Millwall in the League Cup, becoming the youngest player to feature in this competition's history. A record was set, and from that moment, many experts saw a bright future ahead for Harvey. Harvey came on in the 88th minute in Fulham's 0-1 loss to Wolves. That day, he was just 16 years and 30 days old, setting the record for the youngest player to ever play in the Premier League. Despite the brief minutes on the field that day, he caught Liverpool's eye. At that time, Harvey wasn't old enough to sign his first professional contract with Craven Cottage, so Liverpool had no trouble acquiring him in the summer of 2019. Remarkably, The Reds will never regret the modest amount they spent to acquire Harvey. At Anfield, Harvey continued to develop and quickly became the youngest player to ever grace the field for Liverpool. This season, midfield crisis led Jurgen Klopp to promote Harvey straight to the first team. He started in 2 out of the first 3 rounds, impressing with his speed, technique, and ability to create goal-scoring opportunities with decisive passes.

In the match against Burnley, a superb pass from Elliott helped Mohamed Salah find the net, albeit Salah being flagged offside. Otherwise, Harvey would have had his debut Premier League assist.

Jamal Musiala, born on February 26, 2003, is a German footballer, playing as an attacking midfielder for Bayern Munich and the German national team. Born in Germany to an English-Nigerian father and a German mother, but mostly raised in England, Musiala has represented England in youth levels U15, U16.

Finally, he committed to playing for the German national team in February 2022 in future matches. Jamal Musiala is a young talent, only 18 years old this year, but has quickly asserted his role and is expected to be an important player for both Bayern Munich and the German national team in the future. Despite not having a very bulky physique, Musiala's dribbling and passing abilities are truly excellent, which can help him harmonize well with his teammates at the club. At the age of 18, Jamal can already provide the quality that Bayern's lineup needs right now. That's the level that every Bayern player needs to show in every match, and in the future, he will be a very important player for Bayern. Everyone knows how fierce the competition is in Bayern's midfield. Yet Musiala, a young 18-year-old, still finds a firm place for himself.

Last season, he became the youngest player in history to reach the milestone of 6 goals in the Bundesliga. Musiala's impressive form has earned him an early call-up to the German national team, and he's secured a spot in the 2022 World Cup.

Ajax Amsterdam boasts a renowned talent academy. The recent golden generation with names like Matthijs de Ligt, Donny van de Beek, Frenkie de Jong may not have restored Ajax's continental glory, but they have certainly raised awareness about the club. In defense, they have a gem to fill the void left by Sergio Dest's departure to Barcelona last summer. That gem is Devyne Rensch, aged 18.

Despite only making his first-team debut in November last year, Rensch has become a familiar face on the Ajax training ground. What's more impressive about Rensch is that he wasn't sought after by any professional club until he was 13, while Ajax finds their young talents when they're just 8 or 9. Interestingly, PSV Eindhoven was the only professional club Rensch trialed for, but he was rejected. Last year, Rensch won the Abdelhak Nouri Trophy, awarded to the best academy player at Ajax each year, an award previously won by Christian Eriksen, Donny van de Beek, Matthijs de Ligt, and Gravenberch. Rensch has played as a center-back, full-back, and defensive midfielder, excelling in each position. Ambidextrous, he made his first-team debut against FC Emmen as a left-back, but was later trained as a right-back, with a predicted transition to center-back in the next 18-24 months.

It's no surprise that Devyne Rensch is reportedly a target for Juventus, along with Gravenberch, as part of the Old Lady's rebuilding efforts. Ajax may have prepared for this possibility and already lined up a replacement.

Nabil Fekir, Karim Benzema, and Alexandre Lacazette are Lyon's grown stars from their renowned academy. However, many believe that the Rhone lions possess an even greater talent, and that's Rayan Cherki. Lyon suffered defeat in a recent friendly against Porto. But it was in that match where a glimmer of hope emerged.

17-year-old midfielder Rayan Cherki delivered a stellar performance. He inspired, provided creativity, and made a difference, contributing significantly to Toko Ekambi's goal. Without a doubt, Cherki will be a crucial factor in the upcoming season, especially with Memphis Depay's departure. So far, Lyon feels fortunate to have acquired this valuable talent almost by chance. Last season, Cherki made an impressive breakthrough, featuring in 30 matches across all competitions, scoring 4 goals and providing 4 assists. This led to interest from several top clubs including Man Utd, Liverpool, and Real Madrid. However, Cherki won't be leaving Lyon anytime soon. He understands that it's only the beginning. One of Cherki's strongest attributes is his ability to read the game, sense positions. Therefore, he often positions himself in the best spots to make the next decision. Hence, it's no surprise that Cherki always shows up in crucial moments, even deciding matches. Cherki's favorite position is the number 10 or attacking midfielder, but he has a habit of dropping deep, seeking the ball, and quickly moving into the opponent's final third.

Cherki does this confidently due to his exquisite dribbling technique, balance, change of direction, and sharp vision. With delicate touches, acceleration, and ambidexterity, he can leave opponents behind in the blink of an eye or easily escape tight situations.

Benjamin Sesko was born in May 2003, making him only 19 years old. Sesko began his football career in the town of Radece, Slovenia. He has scored goals at the U-15, U-16, and U-17 levels for Slovenia. The talent of this player caught the attention of RB Salzburg's scouting network, and as a result, in the summer of 2019, he signed a contract with Austria's top club.

In his first season playing for RB Salzburg, Sesko was loaned to Liefering, a team playing in Austria's second tier. After 44 matches, the Slovenian player scored 22 goals, and his excellent form earned him a recall to RB Salzburg. In the 2021-2022 season, Benjamin Sesko scored 11 goals across all competitions and helped RB Salzburg maintain their dominance in Austria. Additionally, he made 6 appearances in the Champions League and left a mark when facing opponents like Bayern Munich, Sevilla, and Lille. The 19-year-old player has the ability to quickly adapt to the tactics of coaches, a highly regarded attribute in modern football. Playing as a center forward, Sesko is known to always be present in the penalty area, acting as a wall to open up space for teammates to shoot. Sesko plays exceptionally well with his back to the opponent's goal. Furthermore, he possesses excellent speed and physicality to overpower and bypass opposing defenders. Standing at 1.94 meters tall and with excellent goal-scoring ability, it's not surprising that the Slovenian player is compared to Manchester City's new signing, Erling Haaland. Some even say that he is Haaland 2.0. Despite having very good financial potential, RB Salzburg is known to be willing to sell its key players if the offer is reasonable.

In the past, the departures of players like Haaland and Adeyemi are evidence of this. RB Salzburg has set a €300 million release clause for Sesko at this time, a figure too high for a young player, but Sesko has the potential to become a top-class attacking star. He may leave Austria as early as the summer of 2022.

Youssoufa Moukoko was born on November 20, 2004, is a German footballer, currently playing as a forward for Borussia Dortmund.

The young talent is known for his exceptional goal-scoring ability. Born and raised in Cameroon, he represents the German national team at the youth level. Borussia Dortmund holds a young talent with a very bright future in world football. After breaking every youth record at Signal Iduna Park, Youssoufa Moukoko became the youngest talent to play in the Champions League arena. At a very young age, Moukoko is attracting attention across Europe. This is not to mention the other goal-scoring records he has set in the Bundesliga. The young German talent even surpassed Florian Wirtz's record to become the youngest scorer in Germany's top-tier league, the Bundesliga. It can be said that Dortmund's talent born in 2004 is the king of records, so it's no surprise that the Ruhr representative has high expectations for this striker.

Dortmund's forward Haaland himself has praised the young talent. He once expressed that, at Moukoko's age, he himself was unknown to anyone.

Alongside figures like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Giovanni Reyna, Pepi has emerged as a notable young talent for the U.S. national team in the World Cup. Pepi excels as a forward and has scored 6 goals in 8 appearances for Groningen in the Dutch league this season.

The team with stars and stripes on their chest finally found stability up front. Pepi is strong, good at holding the ball and involving others, moves flexibly, and has a good shooting ability. The current crop of promising players in American soccer is expected to elevate the national team to new heights in the near future. Ricardo Pepi will be a key figure in that journey. The 19-year-old had a memorable 2021, becoming the youngest player ever to score a hat-trick in MLS with 13 goals in his debut season for FC Dallas. He also made a dream start for the national team with 2 goals and 3 assists in just his first 2 games for the U.S. team. That form could earn Pepi a spot in the 2022 World Cup, after securing a move to Augsburg in the winter transfer window. The Bundesliga club paid €17.5 million, a record for the club, to bring Pepi to Germany, making him the second most expensive player to leave MLS, behind only Alphonso Davies.

Opportunities have opened up for this young man, who has been compared to Erling Haaland in physique and finishing skills. Ricardo Pepi needs to prove himself worthy of that price tag in Europe.