Image Credits: GOAL
GOAL’s ranking of the top 50 wonder kids in world football this season just dropped, and Manchester United fans will be extremely pleased one of their own made the top 10.
The NXGN list is an annual list that features the best young talents in world football born after January 1st 2005.
The list is proper global this year, covering all 5 continents and over 17 countries, with all potential world beaters listed on here. Be on the lookout for these youngsters as they light up major tournaments this year.
Notable list-topping talents in the past include sparkling talents like Los Blancos mercurial duo Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo.
Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho has been on top of this list as well.
This year’s list features emerging United talent Kobbie Mainoo in an impressive 7th. Considering this is still his first season in senior football, it is very impressive.
Finding a central midfielder who can do it all is very, very hard but finding one who does it with such effortless grace and panache is nigh on impossible. How the youngster glides through opposing midfields without breaking a sweat is reminiscent of one Paul Pogba.
It is still very early in his United career, but it is safe to say the Red Devils have finally found a midfielder who can effortlessly control games and tempo.
The way the young man conducts himself in the midfield has all-watching asking to see his birth certificate to confirm he really is only 18 years old. The composure, poise and confidence he exudes is unheard of and unseen in a teenager.
Mainoo had proper impressed in pre-season, and it was expected he would be in ten Hag’s plans for the season, but he went down with an injury in said pre-season that ruled him out for 3 months.
He then put the whole world on notice with a picture-perfect midfield display in his full Premier League debut at Everton in November.
His displays since have been sterling, even winning Premier League Goal of The Month for February for that euphoric goal against Wolves to win it 4-3 in stoppage time.
The young midfield general has been rewarded with a call-up to the Three Lions squad for the friendlies in this international break.
With the talent he is already displaying at only 18, it is unfathomable just how much potential he has and what a player he will be when he is fully developed.
What is for sure is United have a generational talent on their hands, and they best protect him with all they have and build around him.
