Top 10 Teenage Sensations

Everyone loves it when a young player or teenager bursts onto the scene because we want to see young players getting an opportunity.

There have been many teenagers who have lit up the stage over the years and a lot of them have gone on to live up to their potential and have great careers in the game.

But there also have been a lot of teenagers who were maybe overhyped in that a lot of people expected them to have a great career in the game, but they failed to live up to their potential and there are a number of reasons why that is including injuries and lack of consistency in their game.

But we'll never forget the way they burst onto the scene and how good and promising they were when they first emerged.

A lot of the players on the list went on to have great careers in the game, but I've judged them on how good they were as teenagers.

Now here is the list:

Kylian Mbappe

Lamine Yamal

Lionel Messi

Cristiano Ronaldo

Wayne Rooney

Michael Owen

Mario Balotelli

Sergio Aguero

Pedri

Paul Pogba

10. Paul Pogba

Pogba had the potential to be one of the best midfielders in the world when he was a teenager and he showed it during his opening months at Juventus.

He was an exciting young talent when he was coming through at Man United after playing a starring role in their FA Youth Cup win in 2011.

But he was never given an opportunity in the first team when he came through there so he joined Juve to get more regular football and show the rest of Europe how gifted a player he was.

I had to have him at no.10 because he only showed his potential for only a few months as he turned 20 over halfway during his debut season at Juve.

9. Mario Balotelli

Balotelli was one of the most exciting young strikers around when he broke into the Inter Milan team at the age of just 17 as he went on to net 7 times in all competitions in his first season in the first team.

He continued to show promise during the next couple of seasons as he featured more regularly and his goal returns improved season after season.

But whilst he continued to show promise, he did have a number of disciplinary issues including a falling out with Jose Mourinho who criticized him not not showing enough effort in training and as their time together increased, their relationship became more strained.

There was no doubt about his talent because it was there for everyone to see. But he did have an attitude problem which was what held him back.

8. Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo was all about the flicks and tricks during his teenage years and especially when he was at Man United where he was pretty much a show pony.

He joined United after impressing in a friendly against them whilst at Sporting Lisbon when he was at 18 and Alex Ferguson was so impressed by him that he signed him up a week later.

He got the crowd off their seat with all the flashy skills he was showing off which was all he did during his early years at United.

His lack of end product was being questioned during those opening months at United because he spent most of his time on the pitch showboating instead of contributing with goals or assists.

7. Sergio Aguero

Aguero joined Atletico Madrid at the age of 18 from Argentinian side Independiente in 2006 and showed a lot of promise during his early years there.

He scored only 7 goals during his debut season as he was being eased into the team by then-Atletico manager Javier Aguirre due to him being a young player coming from another country.

His second season saw him become Atletico's main striker as he netted 27 times in all competitions with 19 of them coming in La Liga at the age of just 19.

That second season was the start of him becoming that world class striker he would go on to become later in his career.

6. Pedri

Pedri burst onto the scene at Barcelona when he was just 17 when Ronald Koeman was in charge and has been a big part of their rebuild ever since under both Xavi and Hansi Flick.

He featured in almost every game during his breakthrough season before going on to play nearly every minute of every game for Spain at Euro 2020 and later the Olympic games in Tokyo, which was absolutely incredible given his age.

He was 18 around that time which is an age where youngsters should be eased into the team and for him to play all those games back-to-back showed how incredibly fit he was for someone of his age.

Spain were crying out for a new Xavi and Iniesta when their golden era came to an end and Pedri is very much their heir due to his ball carrying and passing abilities.

5. Michael Owen

Owen looked like one of the best strikers in the world when he was a teenager because of his blistering pace and the knack of scoring goals he had.

He broke into the Liverpool first team when he was just 17 and became the youngest player to score on his Liverpool debut when he netted against Wimbledon in 1997.

The 1997-98 season was his his breakthrough season though as he netted 23 goals in all competitions with 18 of them coming in the Premier League, which saw him win a share of the golden boot with Dion Dublin and Chris Sutton.

He later announced himself on the world stage by scoring that incredible goal against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup.

4. Wayne Rooney

There was a question being put out on social media a couple of months ago about who was the better player at 17 between Rooney and Owen and this has very much answered it.

Rooney announced himself at the age of just 16 when he scored that long range strike against Arsenal which was his first ever Premier League and from that point onwards, you just knew that a superstar was born.

He later scored his first England goal at the age of just 17 against Macedonia less than a year later before announcing himself on the European stage at Euro 2004 where he scored 4 times as England reached the Quarter Finals.

His performances during that tournament as well as his performances for Everton earned him a big move to Man United where his game grew from strength to strength.

He scored 17 times in all competitions in his debut season at United including a hat trick on his debut against Fenerbahce in the Champions League.

3. Lionel Messi

Messi would be top of almost any list because of the player he's been throughout his career. But as this is the top 10 teenagers, I had to put him in at third which I feel is fair.

He joined Barcelona's academy when he was just 13 before going on to make his first team debut and score his first goal at 17.

He showed a lot of promise during his early years at Barca through his exceptional dribbling ability which many people were amazed by because of the way he would beat players.

I don't think many people saw a player like him before he burst onto the scene and the moment you watched him, you just knew that he was going to become one of the best players in the world.

2. Lamine Yamal

Yamal is the only player on this list who is still a teenager at 18 years of age and he already looks like a world class player.

He made his Barcelona debut when he was just 15 during the latter stages of their title winning season in 2023, but the following season was his breakthrough year as he both forced his way into and established himself as a first team regular in the Barca side.

It was during that season where he earned his first senior call up for Spain at the age of just 16 and he later became their youngest player and goal scorer when he netted on his debut against Georgia.

He announced himself on the international stage at Euro 2024 as he played a starring role as Spain went all the way with a 100% record and he won the young player of the tournament award.

His game gone from strength to strength since that tournament and I'm confident that he's going to win the Ballon D'or one day because of the potential he has.

He could win the award next year if he wins the World Cup with Spain and even the Champions League with Barcelona.

1. Kylian Mbappe

Mbappe had to be my no.1 because he's been a world class played ever since he's been a teenager.

He first burst onto the scene when he was at Monaco at the age of 18 during their run to the Champions League semi finals in 2017, where he also helped them win the Ligue 1 title.

He got himself a big move to PSG the following season where he turned into one of the best players in the world through his electrifying pace and ability to score goals.

The World Cup in 2018 was the tournament where he announced himself on the world stage at the age of 19 as he won the Young Player of the Tournament award and scored 4 goals to help France win the tournament.

One of his goals came in the final against Croatia which made him the first teenager to score in a World Cup final since Pele.

MY TOP 10:

1. Kylian Mbappe

2. Lamine Yamal

3. Lionel Messi

4. Wayne Rooney

5. Michael Owen

6. Pedri

7. Sergio Aguero

8. Cristiano Ronaldo

9. Mario Balotelli

10. Paul Pogba