The CIES Football Observatory has issued a new report ranking the Top 200 U-21 players in the world, and thereโs plenty to discuss for both Premier League and United States menโs national team fans alike.
More than 26,500 players were observed for the study, including 567 players from the United States, meaning less than one percent of players made it into the top 200.
The study uses what it calls โexperience capitalโ in official adult matches played in 2022 to rank the top 10 players in 20 different categories.
Eighteen-year-old Gabriel โGagaโ Slonina is ranked fourth on the table for goalkeepers, two slots behind Southamptonโs Gavin Bazunu, and is the first USMNT player to forge his way into the discussion (by virtue of the CIES study listing โkeepers first!).
[ MORE: Erling Haaland makes Premier League history ]
It comes as little surprise that RB Leipzig and Croatia star Josko Gvardiol is named the top ball-playing center back, while current Burnley and former Man City back Taylor Harwood-Bellis is also among the top ten in that category.
New York Red Bulls left back John Tolkin is 20 years old and is listed as the most promising โdefensive left backโ amongst U21 players, ahead of Barcelonaโs Alejandro Balde. Mexicoโs Emilio Lara makes the top ten promising โdefensive right backs,โ while Brentfordโs Aaron Hickey is the third-rated two-way left back under 21.
From new @CIES_Football โฝ๏ธ U2โฃ1โฃ players' scouting report โญ๏ธ #JohnTolkin (@NewYorkRedBulls) ๐ฅ for defensive left backs ex-aequo with #AlejandroBalde (@FCBarcelona) ๐ Top ๐ for 2โฃ0โฃ categories ๐ https://t.co/5wmF8m8Ijf #NewYorkRB #FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/DAuaCChe6R
โ CIES Football Obs (@CIES_Football) December 27, 2022
Two-way right backs have two huge pats on the back for New York City FCโs academy, as Borussia Monchengladbachโs Joe Scally is ranked behind only Salzburgโs Amar Dedic and current NYCFC man Tayvon Gray is just two spots behind Scally (who made the USMNTโs World Cup roster but did not play). Colombian international Juan David Mosquera of Portland Timbers is fourth amongst attacking right backs.
Back to the USMNT, Valenciaโs Yunus Musah is ranked fourth in attacking midfielders, behind Jude Bellingham, Jamal Musiala, and Gavi but ahead of Liverpool duo Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho.
Leedsโ Wilfried Gnonto is named as a top 10 promising shot-oriented right winger, while Man Unitedโs Anthony Elanga is fourth amongst all-around left wingers. Another NYCFC talent, Talles Magno, makes the latter list.
Is there hope in the center forward pool for the USMNT? It seems so, as 18-year-old Jackson Hopkins of DC United is listed as the fifth-best all-around CF.
Top Twenty โexperience capitalโ U21 players (via CIES Football Observatory)
- Jude Bellingham, CAM, Borussia Dortmund โ 58.3
- Gavi, CAM, Barcelona โ 51.2
- Pedri, CDM, Barcelona โ 46.6
- Josko Gvardiol, CB, RB Leipzig โ 45.2
- Jamal Musiala, CAM, Bayern Munich โ 43.9
- Piero Hincapie, CB, Bayer Leverkusen โ 42.0
- Marcos Leonardo, CF, Santos โ 37.8
- Nuno Mendes, LB, Paris Saint-Germain โ 35.1
- Quentin Merlin, LB, Nantes โ 31.3
- Pablo Maia, CDM, Sao Paulo โ 34.3
- Castello Lukeba, CB, Lyon โ 34.4
- Yunus Musah, CAM, Valencia, 31.3
- Eduardo Camavinga, DM, Real Madrid โ 31.0
- Adam Hlozek, LW, Bayer Leverkusen โ 29.3
- Taylor Harwood-Bellis, CB, Burnley โ 29.1
- Nicola Zalewski, CM, AS Roma โ 28.4
- Ansgar Knauff, LW, Eintracht Frankfurt โ 28.3
- Arsen Zakharyan, CAM, Dynamo Moscow โ 28.3
- Valentin Gomez, CB, Velez Sarsfield โ 27.6
- Nico Williams, LW, Athletic Bilbaoโ 27.3