Picking an Under-19 Dream Team from Europe's Top Leagues
AC Milan's child prodigy Gianluigi Donnarumma turns 18 years of age on Saturday. Despite being so young, he's already made 59 appearances for the first team and has established himself as one of the best players in the current Rossoneri squad.
Few can claim to have matched such swift growth in the game; it takes true skill and maturity to shoulder such responsibility—especially when you play between the sticks, and especially when you play for a club as storied as Milan.
In celebration of Donnarumma's birthday, we've put together an all-star XI compiled of players aged 18 or younger. Such strict age limits rule out the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Marcus Rashford, who are both 19, and hammer home how impressive those who feature are, given they're so young.
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Milan
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If you've accrued in excess of 50 senior appearances before your 18th birthday for a club as prestigious as Milan, it's clear you're a special, special talent.
Gianluigi Donnarumma's a goalkeeper unlike most we've ever seen. Despite his tender years, he boasts a bear-like frame that swamps the goal, and his reach is so formidable he covers all four corners of the goal. To score against him, you have to find an amazing angle or strike the ball extremely hard.
He's already saved five penalties, his most recent coming against compatriot Andrea Belotti to prevent his side going 3-0 down. It sparked a comeback, with the Rossoneri netting two to draw level. That's the kind of impact he's having.
It's arguable Milan are the team who overperformed the most in Serie A over the first half of the season, and that in large part is down to the fact Donnarumma is so hard to beat.
RB: Felix Passlack, Borussia Dortmund
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Felix Passlack has been a dominant force for Borussia Dortmund's youth teams over the years. Now on the cusp of the senior side and sporadically making appearances, that promise shown during his years in the unders is being fashioned into a proven commodity by manager Thomas Tuchel.
He is a born leader; he's captained BVB and Germany through the age groups and regularly sets the tone in games with his fierce, combative style from right-back. He's also eerily consistent in registering goals and assists and is capable of scoring beautiful strikes—as he did at the Under-17 European Championship back in 2015.
Right-back is his natural domain, but his football IQ and tactical intelligence will allow him to move around the pitch as he gets older. He's seen as the heir apparent to Lukasz Piszczek, but he might just be another Philipp Lahm.
CB: Dayot Upamecano, RB Leipzig
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Dayot Upamecano swapped RB Salzburg for RB Leipzig this winter, moving in a deal worth £9 million, per the Daily Mail.
The Frenchman has been downright monstrous since making his senior debut in Austria; his physique is so imposing, even seasoned veterans are wilting in his shadow.
A physical force, he puts his body to good use with robust movements and strong challenges. But he's also shown the more technical edge to his game, dribbling out of trouble and threading neat passes into forward areas to begin attacks.
The initial temptation is to label him another bruising, stocky centre-back, but the reality is he's already arguably more refined than someone like Kurt Zouma. Leipzig are working him into the XI gently, but it won't be long until he's a weekly starter for one of the Bundesliga's best teams.
CB: Malang Sarr, OGC Nice
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Of the myriad positive stories to emanate from yet another extremely successful OGC Nice season, Malang Sarr's emergence is perhaps the most pleasing one.
To see one so young (he was 17 to begin the season) have such a consistent impact on a side genuinely in with a shout for the Ligue 1 title is incredible. He's made 23 starts (of a possible 26) in the league and has scored his first goal in red and black. He's carved out a reputation as a calm, ball-playing centre-back with a strong presence of mind and a sweeping left foot.
His timing in the tackle is excellent, he judges when and where to go to ground well, and his long-range passing can change the point of attack in seconds.
LB: Ryan Sessegnon, Fulham
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Ryan Sessegnon is the most promising left-back England has produced in quite a while. It won't be long before Ashley Cole comparisons start to form in people's minds, and although Fulham are being careful with him, the cat's already out of the bag.
He's so exciting moving forward; he's unafraid to take risks, dribbling past people and dipping inside to find space for a pass. Fulham can be a bit stodgy in possession, but when the ball goes wide to Sessegnon, he'll usually produce a moment of quality.
He won't turn 17 until May, but he's already on the verge of displacing first-choice left-back Scott Malone.
Wing: Christian Pulisic, Borussia Dortmund
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Despite being just 18 years of age, Christian Pulisic represents the perfect combination of poise and explosiveness any manager looks for in a winger.
Allowed to flourish in Thomas Tuchel's Borussia Dortmund side, his rapier-like dribbling puts Bundesliga full-backs on their backsides regularly. He can burst past players with ease, penetrate space and drag his side into the final third.
His crossing is considered, with many balls into the box from him delivered low and accurate into strikers' feet. Rather than just run and whack it, everything Pulisic does has clear intent and purpose.
Dortmund is the perfect place for him to continue honing his talents, and while Dembele steals the headlines emanating from Signal Iduna Park, Pulisic can continue to work quietly on his craft and improve exponentially.
CM: Brahim Diaz, Manchester City
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It has surprised some Manchester City fans that Brahim Diaz hasn't been more involved with the senior side this term. Perhaps it's a case of maximising his game time with the unders, or perhaps the mini-crisis the club suffered during the winter period prevented Pep Guardiola experimenting as he'd like to.
That Diaz only has 10 first-team minutes to his name this season (in the EFL Cup against Swansea City) is a big shame, but it's a matter of time before he's more involved. City youth aficionados believe he could even be the long-term successor to the mercurial David Silva.
He's one of the most technically sound midfielders you'll see at any age, with his deft touches and flicks just to die for. He's also adding goals to his game, as evidenced by his brilliant hat-trick against Chelsea in Saturday's PL2 game.
CM: Kai Havertz, Bayer Leverkusen
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"I refuse to believe Kai Havertz is 17," B/R's Lars Pollmann tweeted in February. Already such an accomplished, composed attacking midfielder, Pollmann won't be the only one in disbelief at how inexperienced the Bayer Leverkusen man really is.
Almost everything he touches seems to turn to gold. It's almost as if he plays in slow motion, as despite being closed down and harried in dangerous areas, he never rushes, never alters his stride, and he almost always delivers an accurate pass or cross.
Javier Hernandez's goal drought has come to an end, and Havertz's creativity is a big factor in that. He and the Mexican have a connection on the pitch, and manager Roger Schmidt's willingness to play Havertz so close to him at the top of the midfield is delivering results.
Wing: Kylian Mbappe, Monaco
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Kylian Mbappe's explosive, scintillating, deadly performance against Manchester City on Tuesday announced his presence to the world. This 18-year-old Frenchman is one of the most talented teenagers in the game.
He's still not quite first choice for Monaco's attack, but he's made the most of the minutes Leonardo Jardim has given him domestically, registering seven goals and five assists from just eight starts. He also netted on his first Champions League start.
His lanky, loping legs make him a strange sight in full flow, but his effectiveness cannot be doubted. He's so fast in behind, so hardworking off the ball, and his build-up play continues to improve by the week.
ST: Moise Kean, Juventus
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In November, Moise Kean became the first player born this century to play in the Champions League. At the age of 16, he stepped off the bench to replace Miralem Pjanic for the final six minutes against Sevilla, having done the same thing three days previously against Pescara, this time replacing Mario Mandzukic to make his Serie A bow.
This indicates serious faith from the management team in a young player, and that faith is well placed. Kean is a hulking great forward who is probably the closest thing to Romelu Lukaku since, well, Romelu Lukaku.
He's been playing against players several years his senior throughout his time in the youth system because he's so physically developed, showing an ability to power toward goal and finish chances confidently. He's also got quick feet and frequently treats us to step-overs and feints—although there are a few rogue touches to iron out there.
ST: Rui Pedro, FC Porto
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Rui Pedro has used the UEFA Youth League as a springboard to early success at FC Porto this season.
He netted six during the group stage despite making just four appearances, convincing manager Nuno Santo to move him to the senior setup. He then made his mark in the finest of styles, netting the winner against Braga on his debut in the 93rd minute, dinking a beauty of a finish over the goalkeeper after being sent through one-on-one.
Pedro's a true predator—a proper No. 9. He comes alive in the box, sniffing out half-chances and converting them reliably, and scores all manner of goals—be it with his head or feet. He's not that fast, and he's by no means strong, so he's learned to outfox his opponents with great movement and quick thinking.
All statistics via WhoScored.com
