20 Young Soccer Players Who Will Take off in the UEFA Champions League

The UEFA Champions League is the biggest stage in soccer aside from the World Cup. If there is a place where young players can become legends overnight and find themselves in their club fans' hearts forever it is under the lights of a European night.

This year's campaign has many young players that will hope to rise to the occasion for their club this year. With the group stage set for the second round in the coming week, the youngsters from around the European club scene are set to once again have another chance to shine.

Look out for the following 20 young players perhaps even through to the Champions League final next May.

James Rodriguez

FC Porto's Colombian winger James Rodriguez burst into the spotlight during the transfer window.

However, his rumored move to Manchester United did not happen this summer.

The 21-year-old winger scored 13 goals last season for the Dragons and has huge expectations attached to his career.

Andriy Yarmolenko

Dynamo Kyiv youngster Andriy Yarmolenko has the weight of not only his club but his nation on his shoulders.

He has been tipped to be the Ukraine's next Andriy Shevchenko, and with his skill set it is truly possible that he is on the right path and is expected to show that this season in the Champions League.

Mateo Kovačić

Dinamo Zagreb starlet Mateo Kovačić has the makings of one of Croatia's next midfield stars on the international scene. The 18-year-old not only looks set to make his national team debut sooner than later, he looks set to be an integral part of Zagreb's attempt at reaching the next stage of the UCL.

Oscar Dos Santos Emboaba Junior

Chelsea has a host of young players set to have breakout seasons in the UEFA Champions League.

Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Junior already announced his presence with a brace against Juventus, and looks ready to make a huge name for himself.

Eden Hazard

While Eden Hazard already had some European experience with Lille, he has a chance for even more with defending Champions League winners Chelsea. He already has added a major new dynamic to the club and is expected to be one to make the difference to allow them to be considered a club to possibly repeat their success.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Arsenal's young up-and-coming winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has the opportunity to make a huge splash in the Champions League with Theo Walcott out of the club because of contract issues.

The 19-year-old has shown his flashes of brilliance with Arsenal since moving to the club last summer and he is expected to start making his presence known in Europe this campaign.

Lewis Holtby

Schalke 04 winger Lewis Holtby already has bagged one assist in his club's Champions League debut and the 22-year-old has all the tools to be a major asset to his club in their campaign to reach the round of 16.

Stephan El Shaarawy

AC Milan starlet Stephan El Shaarawy already has four goals to his name in the Serie A.

Despite his frustrating club start to the domestic campaign, Milan's opening draw against Anderlecht leaves them room for nothing but improvement with the help of their dynamic young forward.

Rémy Cabella

Montpellier youngster Rémy Cabella has had a strong start to his league campaign in France with two goals and two assists in seven games.

The 22-year-old is no doubt going to be an important part of his club's maiden voyage into the Champions League.

Francisco Alarcón

Malaga's young Spanish midfielder sensation Francisco Alarcon, nicknamed Isco, is already lighting up the stage for the financially strapped club.

This looks to be his breakout season in Europe and Spain, and could signal the end to his Malaga career in the process.

Thulani Serero

Ajax Amsterdam has a knack for creating some of the best young midfielders in the game.

This season it looks like South African starlet Thulani Serero will help the club to show much promise.

Jody Lukoki

Ajax youngster Jody Lukoki is potentially the club's best kept super sub and could be an impact player off the bench in the UCL for the Dutch giants.

With two goals in five appearances for the club this season in the Eredivisie at only the age of 19, he has plenty of time and talent and is likely to make a strong European debut this season.

Ilkay Gündogan

Borussia Dortmund seem to be finding new young midfield talent left and right. This season their breakout star looks set to be Ilkay Gündogan.

After a solid season as a bit-part player last year in the Bundesliga campaign for the club, he is expected to be much more involved this season and take on an important role in the club's UCL campaign.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Shakhtar Donetsk 23-year-old midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has already burst onto the Champions League scene with two goals in his opening match for the club in the group stage.

In the coming campaign the Armenian looks destined to cement his place as the top attacker from his club.

Sofiane Feghouli

Valencia's Sofiane Feghouli has been involved with the Spanish club's Champions League campaign before, but this season he looks poised to finally make his mark.

After already kicking off his La Liga campaign with three goals in six games he will hope to add as much to the club's European campaign as he already has to their domestic league.

Cristian Tello

Barcelona's 21-year-old forward Cristian Tello is another player that has made an impression on the UCL already, but as he matures into the club's first team, he will only begin to shine brighter.

Rodrigo Moreno Machado

Rodrigo Moreno Machado is yet another young player that was a bit-part player for his club last season but is expected to step up this summer.

The Benfica forward has three goals in five domestic matches and is set to have a strong showing for his side in the group stage.

Rafael Pereira Da Silva

Manchester United youngster Rafael Pereira Da Silva looks to be a truly believable No. 2 for the Red Devils.

If the 22-year-old Brazilian's form in the UCL is anything like it has been in the English Premier League than he will be a major standout young player this campaign.

Eduardo Salvio

Another Benfica youngster Eduardo Salvio will hope to make an impression this coming season in his club's European campaign. Last season, he made 14 appearances for Atletico Madrid in their Europa League championship run.

This year he will hope to make a name all for himself once more in a different and more competitive competition.

Ryan Bertrand

Chelsea has one more young rising star that looks ready to make a mark for the Blues this season in the UCL.

In 23-year-old Ryan Bertrand, the Blues potentially have the replacement for veteran Ashley Cole. And should he get his chance, he will make a fine addition to the club's European campaign.