Top 10 Youngsters of the European Football 2012-2013 Season
This is a list of the most impressive young footballers from the 2012/2013 season. To qualify for this list, a player must have been 23 years old or younger during that season.
Eden Michael Hazard, born January 7th, 1991, is a Belgian professional footballer who plays for Real Madrid CF and captains the Belgium national team. Questions were asked before he joined Chelsea about whether he could perform against the physical approach of most English clubs. The Belgian superstar is not blessed with a massive physique, but he is definitely blessed with immense talent. Eden Hazard has flourished in the EPL and added the flair that Chelsea needed. The numbers don't lie - Eden has a staggering 19 assists and 8 goals so far this season, contributing to 28 Chelsea goals.
Obvious choice. Hazard had to be in the top!
Marco Reus (born 31 May 1989) is a German professional footballer who plays for German national team and captains German Bundesliga team Borussia Dortmund. The German international superstar is enjoying a stellar debut season with Dortmund. He signed in the summer for a €17 million fee, which seemed a bit too high for him. Halfway through the season, we can see that Marco is worth double or maybe even triple that amount. He has been brilliant for Borussia, scoring 15 goals, one of them a wonderful volley against Madrid at the Bernabeu. Reus also has 8 assists to his name.
Reus is better off than Hazard since he is dependable, believable, a good dribbler, and one of the best controllers. Furthermore, he's got good finishing power and is a great playmaker whom you can trust when inside the opponent's box. In fact, he should be contending with Messi and Ronaldo.
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, born 5 February 1992, commonly known as Neymar or Neymar Jr., is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and the Brazil national team as a forward or winger, and is also the captain of the national team... read more Are you crazy!
Don't say he is overrated because being the player of the Confederations Cup says it all. Neymar is soon joining Barcelona, so watch how he humiliates Ramos, Pepe, and many other good players.
The most skillful player in history.
Neymar has the speed to defeat 11 vs. 1.
Milan's little Pharaoh has been outstanding this season. He was denied any real opportunities to break into the first team prior to this season, but when he had the chance, boy, did he take it. EL92, as Milan fans call him, is currently the team's top scorer this season with 19 goals, and he also has 6 assists to his name. However, the most astonishing aspect about this prodigy is that he is just 20 years of age.
Gareth Frank Bale is a retired Welsh professional footballer who played as a winger for English club Tottenham Hotspur and the Wales national team. We were all wondering when Gareth Bale would fulfill his potential. Believe it or not, that time is now. Bale has been monstrous throughout this campaign for Spurs, scoring and creating goals for fun. He can do things very few players can. Sometimes, he's a one-man show. His performances against Lyon and Aston Villa show us what he's all about. On his day, Gareth Bale can single-handedly win his team a match.
Unlike other players who play alongside world-renowned teammates, Bale single-handedly made Tottenham a competitive team in Europe. This new season, Bale will be playing alongside stars such as Ronaldo, Isco, Benzema, and Marcelo. I'm sure he will be considered not only one of the best young players in the world but also one of the most important players of all time.
The young Brazilian playmaker was relatively unknown to most European fans last season, but the kid has made a name for himself in a very short amount of time. He signed for Chelsea from Brazilian giants Internacional for a £20 million fee. He has scored 9 goals and assisted just as many so far this season. The 21-year-old has also shown a knack for scoring outrageous goals, as seen against Juventus and Shakhtar in particular.
Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez, commonly known as Isco, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Real Madrid. Malaga's young Spanish playmaker is having a remarkable 2012-13 season. The youngster has been said to highly resemble Barca superstar Andres Iniesta. Isco has scored 10 goals and assisted 6 so far this season. He has also made his Spanish international debut in midfield, which, at the tender age of 21, is a huge achievement in itself.
What an amazing playmaker - an Iniesta in the making.
Mario Götze (born 3 June 1992) is a German footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Eredivisie club PSV Eindhoven. The second Dortmund youngster to make the list, Mario Gotze has been an outstanding performer this season for his club and the German national team. Gotze has a strong 14 goals and 8 assists for his club so far this season. He has also been a regular starter for the German national team.
He has proven his skills and assets in the toughest of situations, unlike players like Neymar, who haven't performed well in tougher matches. For some people, Gotze might be the next Messi, and for others, the next Ronaldo. However, he will remain an amazing talent.
Jack Andrew Garry Wilshere is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bournemouth, on loan from Arsenal, and the England national team. An Arsenal legend in the making. Jack Wilshere suffered a horrendous injury in the late stages of last season, which suggested he wouldn't be able to play up to his standards when he recovered. The shocking thing is, he improved! That alone shows the determination of this young man.
Wilshere has a great impact on the Arsenal squad. He lifts the team forward with his desire to push forward and has a vision that no one else his age can compare with. He is the next greatest legend for England and will soon captain them to a World Cup trophy.
David de Gea Quintana is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Manchester United and the Spain national team. One of the best young goalkeepers in the world, alongside Manuel Neuer. A star for Manchester United last season, he displayed remarkable and athletic saves using not only his hands but also his legs, head - well, practically any body part. He has amazing dribbling skills too!
He is one of the young superstars now and will soon become the biggest goalkeeper in the world.
The Newcomers
That guy is fantastic, especially at long-range shots.
He's the star of my Dream League Soccer team!
Balotelli looked like an absolute monster in the 2012 Euros, which gave us the impression that he was going to spring into life at Manchester City. However, it did not work out at all, and in the winter, Super Mario signed for Milan. He made an instant impact, scoring 4 goals in his first 4 Milan games.
I don't know why he's not in the top 5. He's arguably one of the best.
Paul Labile Pogba is a French professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Manchester United and the France national team. Pogba won the Hyundai Young Player Award in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Aaron James Ramsey is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Arsenal and the Wales national team.
Raphaël Xavier Varane is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Spanish club Real Madrid and the France national team.He previously played for French club Lens and, ahead of the 2010–11 season, began training with the senior team and appeared on the bench in several league... read more The only defender on the list, Raphael Varane has been a solid part of Real Madrid's defensive structure this season. Two years ago, presumably no one in the football world knew who this guy was, but he has done a great job making a name for himself. He has also scored two goals this season, both against Real Madrid's bitter rivals Barcelona, which will definitely endear him to Madrid fans.
Marco Verratti is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for French club Paris Saint Germain in Ligue 1 and the Italian national football team.
Philippe Coutinho Correia, known as Philippe Coutinho, or simply Coutinho, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for FC Barcelona and the Brazil national team as an attacking midfielder or winger. The little boy was astonishing last season. What a player! We think he should be number one.
Thibaut Nicolas Marc Courtois is a Belgian professional footballer who plays for English club Chelsea and the Belgium national team as a goalkeeper.
James David Rodríguez Rubio, known as James Rodríguez, is a Colombian professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid and captains the Colombia national team as an attacking midfielder or winger.
Giovani "Gio" dos Santos Ramírez is a Mexican footballer who currently plays for Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy and the Mexico national team.Amazing player! I can't wait for him to emerge at the top of the Barcelona squad.
David Olatukunbo Alaba is an Austrian professional footballer who plays for German club Bayern Munich and the Austria national team. Even though he was just 21 years old, he was already one of the three best left defenders in the world.