In recent times, many teams are nurturing young talent through their youth academies or buying young players from other clubs to add to their squads.
Indeed there are many talented players under the age of 22, however, these 3 players standout.
Kylian Mbappe - Paris Saint-Germain
Unsurprisingly, the first player on this list happens to be one of the most overhyped football prodigies in the 21st century. Kylian Mbappe Lottin is a 19-year-old forward who has wowed the world with his brilliant ball control, speed, and goal-scoring prowess.
Despite his consistent performances, some soccer pundits have questioned the hype surrounding this young French international. Some argue that the fact that he performed incredibly for Monaco only in the 2016-2017 season and performed just above average at PSG in the following season, does not guarantee that he can replicate this in the coming seasons.
Unlike players like Marcus Rashford who play in one of the toughest leagues in the world, the English Premier League (EPL), some also argue that because Mbappe plays in the French league Ligue 1 which is less competitive, he does not have much to worry about on the pitch.
Furthermore, some say he was given more playing time at Monaco that his contemporaries in other clubs. Since players like Ousmane Dembele don’t feature regularly for FC Barcelona, or Rashford and Martial who are regularly benched by Mourinho at Man. Utd, some pundits argue that he has the advantage to accumulate more stats than his age-mates.
However, I believe he deserves to be hailed as one of the best of his generation. This prodigy displayed exceptional confidence on football’s biggest stage by not only being the youngest French player to score at the World Cup but being the second teenager to score in a World Cup final since Pele did so in 1958.
All these accolades in addition to the Young Player award he earned at the 2018 World Cup show his worth at club and national level. Critics should give him a break because he is still a teenager.
Gabriel Jesus - Manchester City
Second on the list is Brazilian international Gabriel Fernando de Jesus, popularly known as Gabriel Jesus. At just 21 years old, he has been a force to reckon with at club and country level due to his aggressiveness in the penalty box and his constant hunger for goals.
Since his arrival from Palmeiras to Manchester City in January 2017, this forward has given Pep Guardiola, a headache by making a tough decision to sometimes drop the experienced Sergio Aguero, 29, in favour of him.
He was also instrumental in Manchester City's EPL title win in the 2017/18 season.
With regard to his performance at the national level, he helped the Brazil Men's team win the Olympic Gold Medal in 2016 at the age of 18. Indeed, it is very rare to see an out-and-out striker who has the dribbling abilities of a midfielder like this young lad.
Marcus Rashford - Manchester United
The final player on the list is the 20-year-old striker, Marcus Rashford. The blistering pace of this young England international, coupled with his knack for goals has made him every defender's nightmare.
Ever since former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal made him a regular first-team player for the team during the 2015/2016 EPL season, he has gained the support of club’s fans.
Indeed, many soccer pundits thought he was just a flash in the pan. However, his consistent performances have earned him several call-ups to his national team, and regular playing time for his club.
I consider him third on this list because, even though he does not possess fancy dribbling moves or a phenomenal goal-scoring record, he has been able to provide a consistent performance despite the pressures of being an England international playing in the English Premier League.
Who makes your list of top 3 prodigies under the age of 22?