Early Bloomers: Wonder kids who are making an impact

We couldn’t do without looking back at the young hopefuls who will mark the football era ahead of us. 

But why not the very season ahead of us? From the list of the biggest football “stars” on the rise, we left out the ones we already know and about whom we read the news daily and watch their mastery on the “green carpet.” It didn’t make much sense to present Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham, Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Xavi Simmons, etc.

Antonio Silva (Benfica)

He joined Benfica when he was 18 at the start of the 2022/2023 season and very quickly established himself in the starting line-up of the Eagles. A very solid defender who knows how to initiate attacks from the last line but also to send accurate passes behind the opponent’s defensive line. He is the youngest player in the history of the Portuguese football team who played in the World Cup. 

He was only 19 years and 33 days old in Qatar.

Arnau Martinez (Girona)

The offshoot of Barcelona’s “La Massia” helped Girona to reach, probably even for them, unimagined heights and reach the Champions League. Now he will be a very important support on the right side of the defense, but with perhaps even better offensive characteristics. 

He is characterized by exceptional penetration, speed, and sharp crosses that, when they find the target in the penalty area, it’s almost certainly a goal.

Johan Bakayoko (PSV)

The team from Eindhoven won the title in the Dutch Eredivisie last season with a record number of points and started the new championship with maximum performance. PSV scored at least one goal in a total of 55 games, and the young Belgian made a significant contribution to the efficiency of PSV. 

The explosive winger brings pace to his team and is a real “nightmare” for defenders in one-on-one play. 

They immediately recognized this in the Belgian national team, and he has already made 17 appearances and represents the bright future of the new generation of “red devils.” He will try to show his skills in the duel against Liverpool in the Champions League, who are known to be ready to spend money to seriously find Mohamed Salah’s successor.

Karim Konate (Salzburg)

After Erling Haaland and Benjamin Sesko, Salzburg has a new attacking superstar. Konate is faster than the Norwegian and the Slovenian, a different type of attacker, and many would say even more deadly because of his quickness. 

The striker from Ivory Coast has already scored 28 goals for the Bulls in 49 games played in all competitions. 

But he is waiting for his debut in the Champions League, where he made five appearances last season.

Castello Lukeba (Leipzig)

He is one of the oldest players on the list, probably well-known to many because he is a major representative of France. He was at the European Championship in Germany and captain at the Olympic Games in Paris. He is an offshoot of the Olympique Lyonnais school, which has produced many top center-backs in the 21^st century. Lukeba is a modern defender who thinks in both directions, has the body of a stout stopper, and has the characteristics of a rear midfielder. 

He shows improvement year after year, and as we know, central defenders only mature in their later years.

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