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List of 60 wonderkids The Guardian dubbed the 'next generation of football' in 2016 makes for fascinating reading
Home>Football>Football News
Published 07:00 7 Mar 2025 GMT

List of 60 wonderkids The Guardian dubbed the 'next generation of football' in 2016 makes for fascinating reading

Some high-profile - and some not so much - names appear on The Guardian's 2016 list.

Ryan Smart

Ryan Smart

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In 2016, The Guardian posted its list of the top 60 wonderkids that could go on to dominate world football - and it makes for fascinating reading nearly a decade on.

The outlet covered across world football in order to compile a definitive list, with the list leading on a player dubbed the 'Bosnian Luis Suarez'.

Nedim Hadzic had just come through the youth academy at Bosnian top-tier side Sarajevo, and was mentioned in the same sentence as the future PSG star Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The list covers goalkeepers all the way to strikers and a range of different countries, with some familiar household names and others that you may not be quite as aware of.

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Here is the full list of 60, and where each player is playing right now.

Top 60 wonderkids 2016 - Where are they now?

  • Esequiel Barco (Argentina) - Currently playing for Russian Premier League side Spartak Moscow.
  • Maximiliano Romero (Argentina) - Currently playing for Argentine Primera Division side Argentinos Juniors, on loan from Racing Club.
  • Vahan Bichakhchyan (Armenia) - Currently playing for Polish Ekstraklasa side Legia Warsaw.
  • Sebastian Pasquali (Australia) - Currently playing for Australian A-League side Western United.
  • Valentino Muller (Austria) - Currently playing for Austrian Bundesliga side WSG Tirol.
  • Mile Svilar (Belgium) - Currently playing for Serie A side AS Roma, and the Serbian national team.
Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar pictured (Image: Getty)
Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar pictured (Image: Getty)
  • Thibaud Verlinden (Belgium) - Currently playing for Belgian Pro League side OH Leuven.
  • Indy Boonen (Belgium) - Currently playing for Belgian second-tier side Lokeren-Temse.
  • Nedim Hadzic (Bosnia & Herzegovina) - Currently playing for Croatian second-tier side Orijent.
  • Luiz Fernando (Brazil) - Currently playing for Brazilian second-tier side Esporte Clube Primavera, on loan from Tombense.
  • Fabricio Oya (Brazil) - Currently playing for Brazilian fourth-tier side Santo Andre.
  • Nicolas Reis Bernardo (Brazil) - Currently playing for Portuguese third-tier side Pedras Salgadas, on loan from Chaves.
  • Vladislav Zhikov (Bulgaria) - Currently playing for Italian lower-league side Capanne.
  • David Salazar (Chile) - Currently playing for Chilean second-tier side Union San Felipe.
  • Shan Huanhuan (China) - Currently playing for Chinese Super League side Qingdao West Coast.
  • Juan Camilo Hernandez (Colombia) - Currently playing for La Liga side Real Betis.
Real Betis forward Juan Camilo Hernandez pictured (Image: Getty)
Real Betis forward Juan Camilo Hernandez pictured (Image: Getty)
  • Christian Frydek (Czechia) - Currently playing for Czech First League side Slovan Liberec.
  • Jens Odgaard (Denmark) - Currently playing for Serie A side Bologna.
  • Reiss Nelson (England) - Currently playing for Premier League side Arsenal.
  • Dujon Sterling (England) - Currently playing for Scottish Premiership side Rangers.
  • Sergei Eremenko (Finland) - Currently playing for Finnish Veikkausliiga side Jaro.
  • Malang Sarr (France) - Currently playing for Ligue 1 side RC Lens.
  • Albon Lafont (France) - Currently playing for Ligue 1 side FC Nantes.
  • Kai Havertz (Germany) - Currently playing for Premier League side Arsenal.
Arsenal forward Kai Havertz pictured (Image: Getty)
Arsenal forward Kai Havertz pictured (Image: Getty)
  • Arne Meier (Germany) - Currently playing for Bundesliga side FC Augsburg.
  • Samuel Atta Mensah (Ghana) - Currently playing for Ghana Premier League side All Stars FC.
  • Antonis Stergiakis (Greece) - Currently playing for Greek Super League side Panetolikos.
  • Kolbeinn Finnsson (Iceland) - Currently playing for Eredivisie side Utrecht.
  • Mohammad Soltani Mehr (Iran) - Currently playing for Iranian Premier League side Pars Jam.
  • Gianluca Scamacca (Italy) - Currently playing for Serie A side Atalanta.
  • Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy) - Currently playing for Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain.
  • Gaoussou Nillmar Sow (Ivory Coast) - Currently a free agent. Last played for Ivorian Ligue 1 side FC Mouna.
  • Shunta Nakamura (Japan) - Currently playing for Japanese fifth-tier side Sonio Takamatsu.
  • Sekou Koita (Mali) - Currently playing for Russian Premier League side CSKA Moscow.
  • Paolo Medina (Mexico) - Currently playing for Romanian Liga I side Unirea Slobozia.
  • Edwin Lara (Mexico) - Now retired. Last played for American third-tier side San Diego 1904.
  • Lazar Carevic (Montenegro) - Currently playing for Portuguese Primera Liga side Famalicao.
  • Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands) - Currently playing for Premier League side Manchester United.
Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt pictured (Image: Getty)
Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt pictured (Image: Getty)
  • Tahith Chong (Netherlands) - Currently playing for Championship side Luton Town.
  • Kingsley Michael (Nigeria) - Currently playing for Austrian third-tier side DSV Leoben.
  • Marcelino Namandu (Paraguay) - Currently playing for Paraguayan second-tier side Rubio Nu.
  • Kamil Grabara (Poland) - Currently playing for Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg.
  • Jose Gomes (Portugal) - Currently playing for Albanian Kategoria Superiore side AF Elbasani.
  • Domingos Quina (Portugal) - Currently playing for Cypriot First Division side Pafos.
  • Diogo Dalot (Portugal) - Currently playing for Premier League side Manchester United.
  • Vlad Dragomir (Romania) - Currently playing for Cypriot First Division side Pafos.
  • Daniil Utkin (Russia) - Currently playing for Russian Premier League side Akhmat Grozny, on loan from FC Rostov.
  • Dejan Joveljic (Serbia) - Currently playing for Major League Soccer side Sporting Kansas City.
  • Shungu Dutiro (South Africa) - Currently a free agent. Last played for South African Premiership side Mamelodi Sundowns in 2021.
  • Kim Jung-min (South Korea) - Currently playing for South Korean K League 1 side Jeju SK FC.
  • Alejandro Pozo (Spain) - Currently playing for Spanish second-tier side UD Almeria.
  • Manu Morlanes (Spain) - Currently playing for La Liga side RCD Mallorca.
  • Brahim Diaz (Spain) - Currently playing for La Liga side Real Madrid, and the Morocco national team.
Real Madrid midfielder Brahim Diaz pictured (Image: Getty)
Real Madrid midfielder Brahim Diaz pictured (Image: Getty)
  • Joel Asoro (Sweden) - Currently playing for French second-tier side FC Metz.
  • Alexander Isak (Sweden) - Currently playing for Premier League side Newcastle United.
  • Andi Zeqiri (Switzerland) - Currently playing for Belgian Pro League side Standard Liege, on loan from Genk.
  • Sittichok Phaso (Thailand) - Currently playing for Thai second-tier side Suphanburi, on loan from Chonburi.
  • Abdulkadir Omur (Turkey) - Currently playing for Championship side Hull City.
  • Nick Taitague (United States) - Now retired. Last played for German second-tier side Schalke's reserve team.
  • Nicolas Schiappacasse (Uruguay) - Currently plays for Uruguayan Primera Division side Miramar Misiones.
Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Real Madrid, Arsenal, Premier League, Champions League, La Liga, Man Utd

Ryan Smart
Ryan Smart

Live in constant hope of the top flight as a Preston North End fan. Written in the past for SPORF, GiveMeSport and more.

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