How The Best Team In The World Will Look In 2027

Back in 2007, the Mail Online wrongly predicted England's 'team of the future', a starting XI that would apparently 'feature' under Roy Hodgson at the 2014 World Cup finals.

10 years after the article was published, people still talk about how wrong they were to this day, as players like Robbie Threlfall, who now plays for Northern Premier League Marine FC and Dean Parrett, who stars for League One side AFC Wimbledon feature.

They couldn't have got it more wrong if they'd tried. so we've put our necks on the line by predicting how the best team in the world will look in 10 years time.

From Real Madrid's biggest prospect in years to Borussia Dortmund's Turkish wonderkid, here's how the best team in the world will look in 2027:

Goalkeeper - Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan)

AGE: 18
NATIONALITY: ITALY
VALUE: €8.25m
CONTRACT EXPIRES: 30.06.2018

Wanted by the likes of Barcelona, Juventus and Manchester City, 18-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma is one of world football's biggest talents. The youngster is tipped to succeed Gianluigi Buffon as Italy's number one in the coming years.

FACT: Gianluigi Buffon made his Serie A debut four years before Donnarumma was born.

Right Back - Felix Passlack (Borussia Dortmund)

AGE: 19
NATIONALITY: GERMANY
VALUE: €12.25m
CONTRACT EXPIRES: 30.06.2018

Since making his debut at the start of March, the Borussia Dortmund youngster has impressed at the Westfalenstadion. Passlack is naturally a winger but the likelihood of him breaking through the ranks as a right-back is more than plausible, considering the likes of Reus, Dembele and Pulisic are ahead of Passlack in terms of attacking quality.

FACT: He scored 37 and assisted 32 goals in 64 appearances for the club's under-17 and under-19 teams.

Centre Back - Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)

AGE: 21
NATIONALITY: GERMANY
VALUE: €19.5MILL
CONTRACT EXPIRES: 30.06.2020

Earlier this week, Liverpool were strongly linked with a move for the Bayer Leverkusen centre-back and it's clear to see why. Tah is a first team regular at the German club, and has been hailed as one of the biggest talents in German football. Dominant in the air and quick across the ground at 6ft 2.

FACT: Tah has averaged 2.8 successful tackles per 90 minutes in the Bundesliga, with a success rate of 87.5 percent

Centre Back - Malang Sarr (OGC Nice)

AGE: 18
NATIONALITY: FRANCE
VALUE: €275k
CONTRACT EXPIRES: 30.06.2018

Three months ago, Sarr played every minute of France's UEFA European Under-17 Championship group stage campaign in Azerbaijan. Sarr was rewarded with his Ligue 1 debut after featuring in pre-season friendlies against Sporting CP and Napoli.

FACT: Malang Sarr scored the winning goal on his senior debut against Rennes - 'Maturity beyond his tender years'

Left Back - Alex Grimaldo (Benfica)

AGE: 22
NATIONALITY: SPAIN
VALUE: €5.5m
CONTRACT EXPIRES: 30.06.2021

From Barcelona to Benfica - Grimaldo signed for the Portuguese champions for just €1.5 million in the winter of 2015 after his time at the Nou Camp didn't quite materialise as expected. His performances have really caught the eye across Europe of late, with many European sides expressing an interest.

FACT: Arsenal, Everton, Manchester United and Inter Milan have officially sent representatives to the Estadio da Luz in September, 2016.

Centre Midfield - Manuel Locatelli (AC Milan)

AGE: 19
NATIONALITY: ITALY
VALUE: €625k
CONTRACT EXPIRES: 31.12.2018

Four years ago, AC Milan prodigy Manuel Locatelli was posting on Ricardo Montolivo's Facebook page saying: "I want to be just like you" - Now, the 18-year-old sensation is replacing his idol in Vincenzo Montella's starting XI. One of the biggest talents in Italy. A huge future ahead of him.

FACT: The 19-year-old scored two goals with his first two shots on target for AC Milan this season

Centre Midfield - Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich)

AGE: 20
NATIONALITY: PORTUGAL
VALUE: €25m
CONTRACT EXPIRES: 31.12.2018

Sanches was a stand out performer in the European Championships for Portugal last year and his transfer to German champions Bayern Munich was well deserved. As well as beating Manchester United's Marcus Rashford to the Golden Boy award, Sanches has gone on loan to Premier League side Swansea in the past 12 months.

He has somewhat struggled in the Premier League, but he still has a big future ahead of him.

FACT: Sanches is the youngest player ever to score in a European Championship knockout game.

Attacking Midfield Right - Emre Mor (Celta Vigo)

AGE: 20
NATIONALITY: TURKEY
VALUE: €18m
CONTRACT EXPIRES: 30.06.2021

When Celta Vigo's Emre Mor was given a round of applause by his team-mates as he re-joined Turkey training in the summer, everybody knew his talent was finally realised by one of Europe's biggest clubs. Unpredictable on the ball with an eye for a pass, Mor has been tipped for a huge future.

FACT: Mor only made his debut for FC Nordsjaelland last November and went on to play 12 more times before being handed a surprise call-up to the Turkey squad for Euro 2016.

Attacking Midfield Centre - Marco Asensio (Real Madrid)

AGE: 21
NATIONALITY: SPAIN
VALUE: €15.75m
CONTRACT EXPIRES: 30.06.2021

Asensio marked his first league start for Real Madrid with a stunning goal in their-opening 3-0 win at Real Sociedad. Let's be honest, it's not easy to break into Zidane's side at the age of 19. An accomplished crosser of the ball with great dribbling and close control, Asensio has been tipped for great things at Real Madrid.

FACT: At the age of 20, Asensio has played 94 games, scored 12 while assisting 24 times.

Attacking Midfield Left - Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund)

AGE: 19
NATIONALITY: United States
VALUE: €19.25m
CONTRACT EXPIRES: 30.06.2018

Say hello to the biggest talent in Borussia Dortmund's incredible side at the moment. Pulisic made his senior USA debut at the end of March during their 4-0 World Cup qualification win over Guatemala and has since become a regular in Thomas Tuchel's side. One of those players who can somehow create a chance out of seemingly nothing. Special.

FACT: He netted 22 goals in 44 appearances at under-15 and under-17 level

Striker - Moise Kean (Juventus)

AGE: 17
NATIONALITY: ITALY
VALUE: €195K
CONTRACT EXPIRES: 30.06.2019

Juventus wonderkid Moise Kean bagged 21 goals in ten games for the Under 17's side last season, earning him of the biggest reputations in world football. Massimiliano Allegri decided to promote him into the first team squad to face Udinese last October. Just the start of something rather special at the Old Lady.

FACT: Kean is represented by a certain Mino Raiola.

Here's the squad in full:

Let us know your 2027 world XI in the comments.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Moise Kean, Marco Asensio, Christian Pulisic

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

@jackkenmare_