A list was released by CIES football observatory, which ranked the top 100 teenage footballers in terms of experience gained.
Follow Us
A new report by the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Football Observatory – an independent, Swiss-based sports studies centre – lists the leading 100 teenage footballers across the globe, based on their experiences in senior matches during 2021. The list features 100 footballers worldwide who are yet to celebrate their 20th birthday. The list was ordered in terms of the most experience gained in official senior matches over the course of the year (minutes weighted by sporting strength of employer clubs or competitions played). FC Barcelona’s prized young talent Pedri Gonzalez is clearly at the top of the table ahead of Mason Greenwood (Manchester United), Nuno Mendes (Sporting CP) and Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax).
? Los futbolistas Sub-20 con mayor experiencia en 2021 a nivel profesional según CIES:
1⃣ Pedri (18) – Barcelona: 3827′ (49 PJ-2 goles)
2⃣ M. Greenwood (19) – Man. Utd: 2327′ (36-10)
3⃣ Nuno Mendes (19) – Sporting CP: 2167′ (27-0)
4⃣ R. Gravenberch (19) – Ajax: 2790′ (37-4) pic.twitter.com/Z35eekaHxy— Samuel Vargas (@SVargasOK) August 24, 2021
In a post-Messi world, Barcelona’s jewel appears to be the excellent Pedri. He has taken football by storm in 2021 amid his ridiculously busy schedule. Pedri represented Spain at the Euro 2020 and at the Tokyo Olympics games as well. His breakout year has seen him get regular minutes at Barcelona. The Spanish teenager was playing his 62nd match of the season when Spain was knocked out of the Euro by Italy. After that, he quickly went into Spain’s Olympic squad and started training. Somehow, he seemed the liveliest and most energetic player on the field. Unbelievably, he also started 2 games for Barcelona in the 2021-22 La Liga season before heading off for a long-overdue two-week break.
The 18-year-old featured 76 times for club and country in the span of 12 months. That stat is just astonishing even for a player playing at his peak. Pedri is just 18 years old, this shows that Barcelona have found another gem. No wonder he is on top of this list.
Pedri is ranked top of the tree, with an experience rating of 100, after playing 3827 minutes across 49 games for club and country, where he has found the net twice.
Greenwood is ranked a fair way behind the Spanish playmaker, boasting an experience rating of 75. He has clocked in 2327 minutes across 36 games but has found the back of the net a far more impressive ten times. However, but for the injury that ruled Greenwood out of the European Championship – and Pedri’s involvement at both Euros and the Olympics with Spain – Greenwood might even have emerged on top.
Greenwood has scored in each of Manchester United Premier League games this season. He is one of the most exciting young players in the Premier League at the moment. He could become a huge part of England’s bid to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Another player in the top 10 is Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka. Saka, like his Arsenal number, comes in as the seventh-best teenager. He is five points behind Portuguese centre-back Goncalo Inacio, of Sporting Lisbon.
Other notable names in the list include Nuno Mendes (3) of Sporting Lisbon, Ryan Gravenberch (4) Ajax AFC, Jude Bellingham (10) Borussia Dortmund, Gio Reyna (13) Borussia Dortmund and Eduardo Camavinga (14) Rennes FC.
| NAME EXPERIENCE RATING CLUB |
| Pedri González (2002) 100 FC Barcelona (ESP) |
| Mason Greenwood (2001) 75 Manchester United (ENG) |
| Nuno Mendes (2002) 73 Sporting CP (POR) |
| Ryan Gravenberch (2002) 70 AFC Ajax (NED) |
| Matheus Martinelli (2001) 69 Fluminense FC (BRA) |
| Gonçalo Inácio (2001) 66 Sporting CP (POR) |
| Bukayo Saka (2001) 61 Arsenal FC (ENG) |
| Fabricio Díaz (2003) 59 Liverpool FC (URU) |
| Jérémy Doku (2002) 58 Stade Rennais (FRA) |
| Jude Bellingham (2003) 57 Borussia Dortmund (GER) |
