So many football fans might be wondering who a wonder kid is in football. In this phase we will talk about the who a wonder kid is in football and what it means.
What is a wonder kid? A wonderkid is a player who is aged under 21 with high potential ability. With the right training and game time they will grow to become one of the best players in football.
Sometimes it is obvious in football which young players are destined for greatness. Lionel Messi is the one number one example that immediately springs to mind.
Although there are many others, but it was patently clear that the Argentine had the potential to become a world-class player just a few years after he joined Barcelona at the age of 13.
Similarly, there are a handful of other youngsters aged 21 or under that in 2024 who appear to possess all the tools to become truly great footballers.
Though we are unlikely to another Messi emerge any time soon, but that doesn’t mean they won’t become outstanding players In their own right.
Let us take a brief look at some wonder kids that has been produced in few years.
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5. Kobbie Mainoo, 19 years (Manchester unite and England)
Maino’s ascension at Manchester United has been nothing short of meteoric, blending technical fitness with a maturity that has seen him dominate midfield battles against far more experienced opponent.
Looking at him, a future that is beyond the horizons of Manchester United is clearly ahead of him. he has not only played for united in the midfield but has also played on the international level with England.
Mainoo is primarily central midfielder who is also capable of playing as a defensive midfielder and attacking midfielder.
An intelligent and composed player, he excels in driving the ball forward, using his dribbling skills to navigate through tight spaces and evade defenders.
Rio Ferdinand has compared his style of play to that of Clarence seedorf. Erik Ten Hag has praised his ability to quickly adapt to high levels, as well as his willingness to progress and develop as a player.
4. Arda Guler, 19 years (Real Madrid and Turkey)
When it comes to signing teenage talents, few clubs do it better than Real Madrid and Manchester city right now.
So it should have been no surprise to see the Spanish giants win the race to sign Turkish talent Arda Guler in the summer of 2023.
Guler having emerged from the Fenerbache academy in 2021, by the end of the 2021/22 campaign he had become the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer while earning comparisons to team-mate Mesut Ozil.
It is almost unfathomable that a 19-year-old who has only played 12 games for Madrid at the time of his signing – mainly due to an injury sustained upon his arrival could come anywhere near the level of eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Guler certainly did catch the eye of many during his time playing in Turkey by contributing 21 goals in only 51 games for Fenerbache.
Arda Guler is a left-footed attacking midfielder who can also play as a winger, prominently on the right flank.
A very precocious player, Guler stands out for his ability to deal with complex situations In tight spaces. A fine playmaker, he also boasts impressive dribbling skill, vision, creativity, above-average passing skills and notable technical ability from set-pieces.
3. Mathys Tel, 19 years (Bayern Munich and France)
It is quite true to say that Bayern’s 2023/24 season has not gone according to plan. But one of the big positives to take away from the campaign at the Allianz Arena has been the development of Mathys Tel.
A boy who continues to make match-winning contributions despite having a wait patiently for a run in the starting line-up.
Tel was a centre-half during his early years in the Rennes academy, but Tel switched to playing in the attack during his mid-teens, and he has never looked back.
At 16, he broke Eduardo Camavinga’s record in becoming the French club’s youngest-ever player.
Though he made only seven appearances for Rennes, that was enough to convince Bayern to sign him with an initial $20m to bring him to Germany in the summer of 2022.
He is capable of playing as either a wide forward or a central striker, Tel’s pace and dribbling ability has earned him comparisons to kylian Mbappe, while his unerring finishing ability has been likened to that of Karim Benzema.
He has already led France to glory at the under 17 Euros in 2022, and with more senior forwards coming towards the very end of their international careers, the thought of Tel partnering Mbappe up front for France in the coming years should be a scary one for defenders around the world.
2. Endrick, 18 years (Real Madrid and Brazil)
Yes, Endrick may only be 18 years old, but he has been making waves for a couple of years now, thanks to his eye-catching performances in Brazil with club Palmeiras.
It came as no surprise when Real Madrid announced that they had secured the teenager’s services back in December 2022. Madrid was being expected to pay some certain amount for the wonderkid.
Endrick represented quite well in Brazilian club Palmeiras, from scoring potential Puskas Award contenders at the age of 15 to becoming the fourt-youngest player to represent Brazil’s senior team.
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There is no doubt that Endrick has star quality and could become a major asset for Real Madrid.
Endrick being the youngest player in Palmeiras History has been making defenders look foolish for much of his short career thus far.
He is able to skip past defenders with ease, while his unerring finish ability means he will likely carve out a career as central striker.
He possesses an eye for the spectacular, with clips of him scoring overhead kicks from outside the penalty area having gone viral since his break through into the wider footballing consciousness.
Now, back at Madrid, the thought of him combining with the likes of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius jr, and Kylian Mbappe could be out of this world.
Young and growing players like Endrick don’t come along all that often, and Madrid can offer him the perfect environment to grow into a true football hero.
1. Lamine Yamal, 17 years (Barcelona and Spain)
Lamine Yamal being just 17, becomes one of the youngest players in Laliga history after entering the spotlight during a 4-0 win over Real Betis in April 2023.
He became Barca’s youngest player to start a game in the competition after being handed his full debut earlier in the 2023/24 season.
At just 17, Yamal has been heralded as the heir to Lionel Messi’s throne at Barcelona. His record-breaking achievements and mesmerizing talent on the ball have already made him a key player for the club.
With Yamal, Barcelona are hoping to have a new generation of Catalan Football. His potential is limitless, marking him as the top wonderkid of 2024.
Although Barcelona’s financial woes have top clubs circling around the wonderkid which can jeopardize his chances of staying at the club.
But there is no doubt that in Yamal, Barca have produced a player who is capable of defining a generation of not just Spanish football, but the global game.
Lamine Yamal was very exceptional and instrumental during the UEFA Euro 2024, he played a key role in helping Spain lift the trophy.
At the end of the competition, Yamal was named Young player of the Tournament. Spain’s 2-1 victory against England in the Euro 2024 final made him the youngest player to win the Euros.
He assisted fellow winger Nico Williams for Spain’s first goal in the final, subsequently becoming the youngest player to register a goal involvement in a major tournament final and becoming joint holder for the most assists in a single Euro tournament with 4 assists.
