I'm sorry your soccer talents didn't blossom when you were five or twelve. Your soccer may have peaked in high school or your first year of college, yet no major soccer club came calling. I'm glad you're pursuing your little C and big C callings here at Covenant College. We're all glad you're here. Statistically, you're really late to making it to the most elite level -- so enjoy where you are right now and the soccer talent that is developing worldwide.
In a globalized world, we are seeing more amazing talent reaching the shores of the biggest leagues in the world, whereas before they would have gone unnoticed, unscouted. Globalization has increased these clubs’ ability to reach different parts of the world, and national teams are benefitting as well.
I've compiled a small list of the most exciting youth talent in the world right now. The sport is immense worldwide, so I am sure to have missed many more exciting prospects. Most of them are your age or close to it, so it's cool to look at what others in your generation are doing in the soccer sphere.
Ansu Fati | 16 | FC Barcelona
The youngest on this list hails from a West African nation, Guinea-Bissau. He moved to Seville, Spain with his father at age 6 and later signed with FC Barcelona at the age of 10. At 16 years and 268 days, he became the second-youngest debutant for Barcelona’s first team in July of this year. So far, in five games, Fati has scored two crucial goals. It's his poise with possession and flare in attack that have convinced FC Barcelona to place a 100-million-euro price tag on the starlet. FC Barcelona is currently negotiating a new contract, so that price may increase. With Lionel Messi as his teammate and mentor, there is no telling how great Fati will be in the years to come.
Tierna Davidson | 20 | Chicago Red Stars
The youngest player on the 2019 U.S. World Cup winner roster, Tierna Davidson already has 21 appearances, one goal, and five assists playing from the back. Davidson attended Stanford for soccer, where she played center defensive midfield and would later move to center back for club and national team. She is a very influential player when on the field, with her defensive mindset for the ball and key distribution of the ball on offense. She'll be one to depend on for the next world cup in 2023 with fellow 21-year-old starlet, Mallory Pugh.
Alphonso Davies | 18 | FC Bayern Münich
Born in a refugee camp in Ghana of Liberian parents, Alphonso Davies' parents fled the second Liberian Civil War and later moved to Canada when he was 5. At age 14, in 2015, he signed with the MLS Vancouver Whitecaps youth squad where a year later he debuted in the MLS for the first team. With 2018 being his big breakout season, he captured the attention of the barbaric giants, Bayern Münich. He currently has 10 appearances and 2 goals--one being a major goal in the preseason against Tottenham. He'll most likely go on loan in the winter window based on where he stands in the pecking order of attacking wingers at Bayern. At 16, he became the youngest player to debut for Canada's national men's soccer team where he now has 16 appearances and 4 goals.
Erling Braut Håland | 19 | Red Bull Salzburg
The England-born Norweigan has already been through three clubs, and made his first team debut at 15 with Norweigan side Byrne in the first division. It was his performance back in May where he scored 9 goals against Honduras in the U-20 World Cup in Poland that took the soccer world by storm and put his name out there. He currently has 8 appearances with Salzburg and 11 goals this season alone. It has helped his case that he scored a hattrick for RB Salzburg in his Champions League debut on September 17th. His finesse in front of goal and prowess with the ball have categorized him as the most promising striker out there right now. We'll see how long RB Salzburg can keep him before big money clubs come knocking.
Jadon Sancho | 19 | Borussia Dortmund
Going into his third season with German side Borussia Dortmund, Sancho has been clinical. His coldblooded approach to his goals and vital approach on the offensive run make Sancho a promising winger. He will most likely be essential for England’s national squad, which recently have been a disappointment on the international stage. There's been speculation that he may return to the Premier League in England due to his current play of 4 goals in 9 games in all competitions for Borussia this season and 13 goals last season. His abilities are only getting better, as his goal percentage this season shows. His speed and dribbling ability make him appear quite mature on the field, yet exciting like any hungry young attacker trying to make an impact any chance he can. It'll be interesting to see if he returns to Manchester City or snubs them for any other big club in Europe.
Honorable mentions: Ellie Carpenter, 19, Thorns FC | Ferran Torres, 19, Valencia | Gianluigi Donnarumma, 20, AC Milan | Rodrygo, 18, Real Madrid | Nicolo Zaniolo, 20, Roma AS