The Rising Stars of Football

Football is at the heart of the sports industry, and it enjoys the biggest fanbase across the globe. Soccer players are treated like celebrity royalty in a class of their own, and those with masterful skills go down in history as legends just like Hollywood stars. As we usher in a new decade, we can’t help but wonder which new players will wow us on the field like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and several others did in the past decade. Below we assess some of the new entries in the world of football that have the potential of being golden boys and creating legacies of their own instead of play real money slots for a living:

• Kylian Mbappe

At only 22 years, Kylian Mbappe is quickly making waves in the football realm with skills that are sending him straight into the legendary status league. The footballer got to shine during the FIFA World Cup in 2018 when he played for France. At the beginning of the tournament, Mbappe was already considered to be a potentially promising athlete, and his performance on the field did more than prove the point. The young player not only helped France win its second World Cup but also joined the record books as the second teenager ever to score in a World Cup Final, a record that was set by Pele in 1958. This performance even outshone that of his PSG teammate and veteran footballer, Neymar Jr.

• Arthur Melo

Brazil has produced its fair share of star football players, and Arthur Melo is well on his way to becoming a star player hailing from the region. The soccer player was signed by Barcelona, which is a powerful La Liga club in its own right. The player was bought for a whopping 40 million dollars, a price that Arthur has proved was well worth the trouble. The midfielder’s skills are often compared to the likes of Andres Iniesta and Xavi, both of whom are skilled in making smart passes and showcase exceptional cerebral control. The player has also worked wonders in the field for his home country Brazil and even helped it win the Copa do Brasil in 2016 and the Copa Libertadores in 2017.

• Andreas Pereira

Andreas Pereira is another rising star that hails from the South American country of Brazil. When this midfielder appeared hesitant at the idea of playing the 2017 season in Manchester United and instead went to Valencia, a lot of people considered his move as cowardice. However, Andreas came back from his season-long loan to feature as a capable starter by showcasing just how much he had grown in his time away. During Manchester United’s game against Leicester, where they won 2-1, Pereira was praised for his composure. The player continues to display stunning attacking moves and versatility on the field.

• Alphonso Davies

Alphonso Davies started his professional career in football at the tender age of 14. From his time with the Vancouver Whitecaps of Canada, the Ghanaian-born player was already showing skills that destined him for stardom. In 2018, Alphonso got his big break when he was transferred to Bayern Munich once the MLS season came to a close. The deal cost 22 million dollars, which is the highest amount ever paid for an MLS player. Alphonso was also the second teenager to enter Bayern Munich last summer.

• Musa Barrow

Power, pace, and skill are commonly used words when describing the young player Musa Barrows. The footballer who hails from the Gambia was signed in 2016 but did not join the Atalanta team until 2018. This was after he already had 19 goals to his name after playing 15 games. Barrow used his lethal skill to rack up four goals, which included a hat trick when playing against FK Sarajevo. He is also credited with two assists in the qualifiers for the Europa League.

• Alphonso Davis

Alphonso Davis is a Canadian player that currently plays for Bayern Munich as a winger. The player has made about four appearances so far and scored one goal. Alphonso’s agility on the field makes him a promising name that deserves a spot on this list.

• Samuel Chukwueze

Samuel Chukwueze does not hail from a big club in the Premier League or La Liga, but he has managed to build a big name for himself in the international football scene under his Nigerian team. The player was labelled one of the 50 youngsters to watch by UEFA after he led Nigeria to finish third in the Africa Cup of Nations. The player also snubbed the Young Player of the Year award from the Nigeria Football Federation the same year.

The Bottom Line

Luca Pellegrini, Rodrygo, Ferran Torres, Joao Felix, and Andrea Favilli are other young footballers that are well on their way to becoming football royalty. Most of these players have already been inducted into major leagues while others are still waiting on their time to truly shine.