What Happened to MATCH Magazine's 20 Wonderkids Tipped to Dominate Football in 2004

MATCH magazine once tipped 20 football wonderkids for greatness back in 2004 - with some going on to become legends of the game and others not quite living up to the heights predicted for them.

As with any list where predictions are involved, there are always going to be some hit and miss selections.

And the ones made just over 20 years ago by MATCH prove that theory once again.

Bulgarian Valeri Bojinov was with Italian side Leece back in 2004 and featured at number 20 in the list.

The striker did move to Manchester City in 2007 but scored just once in the Premier League in his time at the Etihad Stadium, and the now retired striker is currently sporting director at Bulgarian side Sevlievo.

Germany legend Bastian Schweinsteiger was ranked 18th on the list, while current Bayern Munich boss and City legend Vincent Kompany was named 16th.

Retired midfielder Jermaine Jenas - who played for the likes of Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur in his career - was named in 15th place, behind Javier Mascherano and Cesc Fabregas.

Carlos Tevez was named 11th, behind former Portsmouth and Everton forward Yakubu and Roma legend Daniele De Rossi.

Names familiar to Premier League fans feature heavily in the top 10, with former Chelsea and Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben sitting in eighth place.

Rafael van der Vaart - who played for Spurs and Real Madrid in his career - was rated seventh on the list.

Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. (Image: Getty)

Obafemi Martins, best known for his spell at Newcastle United, was sixth, with former Man City and Real Madrid forward Robinho in fifth.

Former Arsenal star Jose Antonio Reyes - who tragically died in a car crash at the age of 35 in 2019 - was ranked fourth.

Two former Man United stars make the top three with Cristiano Ronaldo in third and Wayne Rooney just ahead in second.

The duo were team-mates at Old Trafford for five years, winning three Premier League titles and the Champions League together.

But it was Fernando Torres who in 2004 was rated at the highest rated wonderkid back in 2004, with an estimated value at the time of £35m.

Torres came through the youth team ranks at Atletico Madrid before moving to Liverpool for £20m in 2007.

The Spaniard left Anfield to move to Chelsea in January 2011 for a then Premier League record transfer fee of £50m, and Torres also played for AC Milan, Atletico again and Japanese side Sagan Tosu before retiring in 2019.

He has since embarked on a coaching career and is currently the head coach of Atletico Madrid B.

MATCH magazine's 2004 guide to the 20 best wonderkids in the world

20 - Valeri Bojinov

19 - Johan Vonlanthen

18 - Bastian Schweinsteiger

17 - Carlos Alberto

16 - Vincent Kompany

15 - Jermaine Jenas

14 - Javier Mascherano

13 - Cesc Fabregas

12 - Freddy Adu

11 - Carlos Tevez

10 - Yakubu

9 - Daniele De Rossi

8 - Arjen Robben

7 - Rafael van der Vaart

6 - Obafemi Martins

5 - Robinho

4 - Jose Antonio Reyes

3 - Cristiano Ronaldo

2 - Wayne Rooney

1 - Fernando Torres