They may not be able to drink or even vote legally, but these kids are making more money than most of us can even dream about.
Topping out at a ripe 20 years of age, the following players are fantastic talents that are sure to delight football fans for years to come.
Alexis Sánchez, Udinese (FW/Winger) — The talented Chilean debuted for his national team in 2006 at the age of just 16. That same year, during the summer break, Serie A squad Udinese snapped him up.
A talented winger with fantastic pace and skill, Udinese has already placed a 20 million euro price tag on the Chilean, before he has even played a single minute in Europe.
Carlos Vela, Arsenal (FW/Winger) — Arsene Wenger's eye for talent has been proved time and time again, and it was no surprise that after the 2005 U-17 World Cup, the Mexican was immediately signed by the Arsenal manager.
Plying his trade in Spain for three years on loan forged Carlos' skill with the ball, allowing him to play on the wing as well as up front as a striker.
In his Carling Cup debut for Arsenal, he scored a hat-trick against Sheffield.
Carlos Vela.
Alexandre Pato, AC Milan (FW) — Moving back to Italy, we find the youngest of the talented Brazilians in Carlo Ancelotti's side.
Along with Kaka and Ronaldinho, Pato is part of an offensive triangle that—if not for Milan's weak defense—would run away with the Serie A this season.
Jozy Altidore, Villarreal (FW) — Altidore has eclipsed Freddy Adu as the most promising American talent in recent generations with his constant, mature play and sometimes spectacular goals.
A strong showing for New York Red Bulls landed him in La Liga in 2008. He's poised to break through a talented front line that includes Guillermo Franco, Nihat, and Giuseppe Rossi.
Emiliano Insúa, Liverpool (DF) — The Argentinian wasn't even allowed to debut for South American giants Boca Juniors before being snapped up by Liverpool.
At the age of 18 he debuted for the English side, impressing manager Rafael Benitez enough to buy out his loan and send a fellow compatriot, Gabriel Paletta, to Boca in his place.
Gavin Hoyte, Arsenal (DF) — Hoyte captains both England's U-18 squad and the Arsenal reserves team.
Debuting for Arsenal in the Carling Cup this season, he posted a clean sheet for Arsene Wenger's squad.
Equally dexterous with both feet, he can play on the right and left wings—as well being naturally equipped to play as a centre back.
Rafael Pereira da Silva, Manchester United (DF) —
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2 months ago
Aguero, Krikic are the stars of tomorrow..Aguero is already a star though! Perhaps, Palluschi might be included..a good overall list, Eric.
from 2 months ago
Yeah, Aguero's fantastic. I wonder if his unborn child has already signed a contract with one of the world's top clubs...
from 2 months ago
haha.lol.
2 months ago
You could have had a few more Arsenal's to be honest. Maybe you could have taken Hoyte out and it would have been better to replace with these (in order of best potential): Ramsey, Wilshere, Merida, Nordtveit, Barazite, Coquelin.
The sporting player, Ibrahim sounds like he could be exciting though maybe just a reason to sell him for loads of cash.
from 2 months ago
Arsenal's definitely taken the lead in young player development amongst big clubs in the world. I added Hoyte because the list was a tad heavy on offensive players, and Hoyte is an excellent defender.
I've seen Ibrahim in highlight reels. He's a very, very exciting player. He might be the best player to come out of Africa since Okocha or Drogba.
2 months ago
Some really good exciting players in there in particular Bojan, Aguero, Walcott and Pato.
from 2 months ago
Oh and Vela
from 2 months ago
Definitely a who's who of young talent around the world. I'm high on Vela, he's fantastic.
2 months ago
To add some flavours from the Benelux and Germany...
Mesut Özil
Marko Marin
Toni Kroos
Neven Subotic
Carlos Eduardo
Steven Defour
Alex Witsel
Ibrahim Afellay
Nordin Amrabat
Jonathan de Guzman
Luis Suarez
from 2 months ago
Nice catch with Jonathan de Guzman and Suarez, especially. I'm not too sold on Afellay, to be honest. I've seen him struggle with PSV time and time again. He's not ready to carry a Champions League caliber team yet, in my mind.
from 2 months ago
Playing Football Manager?
Personally I think Arsenal's youth system is overrated in the way that they focus more on poaching youth from other clubs. For me- it is the dutch clubs like Ajax PSV Feyenoord etc. and also many French Clubs that have the better youth systems. I find it annoying that when a club like City or Villa develop genuiune talented first teamers like Michael Johnson and Agonbahlor they don't have as much of a high profile as someone like Walcott who has never shown the ability to perform consistently and quite overrated.
Arsenal and Wenger should take a lot of credit for their youth system and the players that come out of it, but it is overhyped somewhat by sections of the media.
from 2 months ago
I am an FM die-hard, yeah ;-) Still, all of these guys are the ones setting their domestic leagues on fire with stellar performances this season. I don't base my opinions on football on the data of a football game, even though it is one of the best management games ever.
from 2 months ago
No, I'm watching football. What are you doing?
I'm looking at three players from a very talented youth squad. Now while I don't doubt that there's a lot of players strewn about the Premiership with oodles of talent, but what's your grief with Walcott? Did you not see the hat-trick against Croatia? Wenger saw something in him, Capello sees the same thing. I trust them over most anyone.
2 months ago
GREAT list here, Eric.
Keep your eye on the young American Joseph Gyau. Soccernet did a good writeup on him a little while back. He's on the US U-17 squad, and will be playing with one of Bayern Munich's youth teams next year.
Love the call on Rafael da Silva, too. Did you see him play against Aalborg? I'm no Man U supporter, but he was the most entertaining player on the pitch for me.
from 2 months ago
Rafael was 66 minutes of terror against Aalborg, a fantastic prospect. I'll keep an eye on Gyau. Hadn't heard of him.
from 2 months ago
Here ya go, the article on Gyau:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=575144&sec=us&root=us&cc=5901
Went to Zico's camp as a 7 year old...I was still trying to figure out how to ride a bike.
2 months ago
great list you got here mate! all of the players are exciting prospects .. hope they deliver to their potentials!
from 2 months ago
Thanks a lot! I hope so, too. (Especially in the case of Vela)
2 months ago
Mario Balotelli anybody???? Started for Inter as a 17-year-old. Mourinho loves him. Scored in his Italy U-21 debit. And he just turned 18.
from 2 months ago
Nice catch. I'll have to write another article.
2 months ago
great list! arsenal dominating in this category of course :P that wenger definitely has a special eye for talent
from 2 months ago
Yeah, and he definitely has some devoted global scouts.
2 months ago
Pato is great to watch, I hope he has a good career!
from 2 months ago
It's tough to take the guy you're guarding seriously if he looks like a 13 year-old wearing braces.
Then he dribbles over you and scores an incredible goal.
That's Pato.
2 months ago
Since when Bojan Krkic have anything to do with Croatia? He's father is from Serbia, mother from Catalunya and he's Spanish.
from 2 months ago
Potato, potahto?
Just kidding. My mistake.
about 1 month ago
Relatively unknown, but Scott Spencer, Everton youth player, is something special to look out for. good list, Aguero has been on the bubble for years.
from about 1 month ago
I'll check him out. Aguero couldn't do much against the Barcelona train last weekend.
about 1 month ago
I'm a big fan of Aguero!
from about 1 month ago
A fantastic player, no doubt. Hopefully he'll follow his father-in-law's advice on the pitch, and not off of it.
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