Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
Every year, the world is introduced to a new generation of promising football stars who are destined to shape the future of the sport. In 2024, we highlight the 20 best talents born in 2005 or later. These players hail from 17 different countries across five continents, showcasing a blend of emerging national team players, title-winning stars, and names set to shine in major tournaments like the European Championship or Copa America.
Just like in football, where talent is key, players in the online gaming world also seek to make their mark. If you're looking for a chance to explore exciting casino experiences, CrusinoCasino offers a range of thrilling opportunities for both newcomers and seasoned players.
Here is the 2024 list of top 20 young talents born on or after 1 January 2005:
Jobe Bellingham, the younger brother of Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, has been turning heads with his potential. The 18-year-old, capable of playing as a centre forward or a number 10, left Birmingham City for Sunderland in the summer of 2023. He has since made over 30 appearances in the Championship, attracting interest from Europe's top clubs.
Nestory Irankunda has been heralded as the next big star for Australian football. The striker will join Bayern Munich this summer for a record transfer fee for an A-League club. Known for his strong left foot and set-piece skills, Irankunda has already scored double-digit goals in the A-League and debuted for Australia's national team in 2023.
Training alongside Lionel Messi has been a transformative experience for Benjamin Cremaschi. The 19-year-old midfielder flourished during the 2023 MLS season and faces a pivotal decision on whether to represent Argentina or the USA at the international level, having already debuted for the latter.
Sverre Nypan, a talented midfielder from Norway, has drawn comparisons to Martin Ødegaard for his two-footedness and passing skills. At 17, he is already a regular starter for Rosenborg, becoming the youngest debutant in the club's history. Major European clubs are keeping a close eye on his progress.
Agustin Ruberto, the top scorer at the U-17 World Cup with eight goals, has emerged as a prolific striker for River Plate. The 18-year-old recently made his first-team debut and is attracting interest from European clubs due to his goal-scoring prowess.
After an impressive stint with Borussia Dortmund, Julian Rijkhoff returned to Ajax in early 2024. The 19-year-old centre forward has a remarkable record of 65 goals in 79 games and has already debuted in the Eredivisie for his home club.
Assane Diao, a versatile winger raised in Spain, has made a name for himself at Real Betis. Known for his technical ability and physical strength, the 18-year-old scored in each of his first two appearances for the first team during the 2023/24 season. Premier League and La Liga giants are already expressing interest in him.
Archie Gray, the latest talent from a family of footballers, has become a key player for Leeds United under coach Daniel Farke. The versatile 18-year-old midfielder has also excelled at right-back and is the captain of England's youth national team.
Julien Duranville's journey began at Anderlecht, where he was the second-youngest scorer in the club's history. The 17-year-old forward joined Borussia Dortmund in 2023 and has shown glimpses of brilliance despite injury setbacks this season.
Ethan Nwaneri made history as the youngest player to feature in a Premier League match. At just 16 years old, the forward continues to develop at Arsenal and is seen as a future star by manager Mikel Arteta.
Paris Brunner has had a remarkable 2023, winning both the U-17 World Cup and European Championship with Germany. The 18-year-old striker, known for his goal-scoring ability, is working to overcome off-field challenges as he eyes a breakthrough in Dortmund's first team.
Ben Doak, a dynamic winger, has shown immense promise since joining Liverpool from Celtic in 2022. Despite a knee surgery setback, the 18-year-old Scot remains a player to watch, with fans drawing comparisons to Wayne Rooney.
Franco Mastantuono, initially a tennis prodigy, transitioned to football and became River Plate's youngest-ever goalscorer at 16. The versatile midfielder is on the radar of European giants like Barcelona and Manchester United.
Marc Guiu made an instant impact at Barcelona, scoring on his first touch in a first-team match. The 18-year-old striker is known for his physicality and aerial prowess, making him a unique talent from La Masia.
George Ilenikhena, dubbed the 'new Romelu Lukaku' in Belgium, has been a revelation for Royal Antwerp this season. The 17-year-old Nigerian-born forward dreams of playing for Manchester United and continues to impress in the Jupiler Pro League and Champions League.
Paul Wanner, described as an 'exceptional talent' by former Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann, is using his loan spell at Elversberg to refine his game. The lanky 18-year-old midfielder is determined to become a regular at Bayern in the near future.
PSV are on the verge of going the whole Eredivisie season unbeaten. But their best off-field achievement so far in 2024 was extending Isaac Babadi's contract. His contract was due to expire and the teenager had already attracted interest from clubs like Milan and Atletico Madrid. A box-to-box midfielder, Babadi's ability to successfully dribble through the centre is considered his greatest strength. He is also praised for his leadership qualities, having captained the Netherlands' successful U-national team.
Until recently, Eliesse Ben Seghir described himself as an 'artist' in his Instagram bio. The Monaco attacking midfielder's description of his playing style is quite accurate, as he is capable of great things with the ball at his feet. If it had not been for serious injury problems, his 'art' would probably be known to a wider audience by now. The 19-year-old made his Ligue 1 debut in December 2022 with a spectacular brace against Auxerre. Even after that, he continued to contribute goals and assists throughout the rest of the season. The aforementioned fitness issues have held Ben Seghir back in the current season, but when he has been on the pitch, he has shown why he is considered one of the greatest talents in French football.
In November 2022, Italy's then-national team coach Roberto Mancini showed how he rates Simone Pafundi's potential: he made him the youngest player to ever play for the Azzurri. The forward still has plenty of potential but needed to leave his homeland to kick-start his career. The 18-year-old had spent a year trying in vain to break through at Udinese and so joined INEOS Lausanne on loan in January. Pafundi, who plays as either a deep-lying playmaker or right winger with his powerful left foot, has made a promising start in Switzerland and recently scored his first goal for the first team.
Brighton have built a reputation as one of the most astute teams in Europe when it comes to identifying and developing potential superstars before selling them on at a huge profit. However, one of their home-grown stars who has caught the eye this season is Jack Hinshelwood. The 18-year-old comes from a footballing family and has already impressed in the Premier League in the centre of Roberto De Zerbi's team. He has demonstrated his versatility by also occasionally helping out at right-back. Hinshelwood is also capable of scoring important goals - and if his development continues, he could soon be donning the England shirt.
The 91 biggest football stadiums in Europe. From Manchester to Munich, Villa Park to Valencia - each one with a capacity over 40,000
An in-depth look at the biggest football attendances ever recorded, from the 1950 World Cup to pre-season friendlies in the States and the Scottish ground with dozens of 100,000+ attendances
23 interesting things to do to pass the time until the football season restarts
Taking my son to his first football match was one of the best experiences I've had as a father so far. I've written this article for Alex to read when he gets older.
