Endrick made history on Saturday as he became the youngest player to ever score at Wembley when he tapped in Brazil’s winner against the Three Lions.
The 17-year-old Real Madrid prospect entered the pitch as a second half substitute for his third cap, and with ten minutes left on the clock, he followed in after Vinicius Jr’s shot was parried by Jordan Pickford followed by Samba delight in the away end.
He joins Real in the summer once he turns 18, with Los Blancos already home to some of the world’s best young talent. However there are plenty of youngsters around Europe who have all the biggest clubs in Europe sniffing around for their signature.
Here are some of the best teenage sensations in football today…
Arda Guler [Real Madrid – 19]
Embed from Getty ImagesA graduate of Fenerbahce’s academy, Endrick will be joining Guler at the Bernabeu in the summer after the Turkish youngster signed for the Spanish giants in the summer of 2023. Guler made his senior debut for Fenerbahce in the Europa Conference League aged 16, and became their youngest ever Super Lig goalscorer in March 2022. As he started playing more regularly, he began harbouring attention from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, and moved to Madrid for 20 million euros in July 2023. Injuries have hampered his time in Spain, but Guler has now made his debut, won a trophy and scored his first La Liga goals for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
Roony Bardghji [FC Copenhagen – 18]
Embed from Getty ImagesA player who lit up the Champions League this campaign, Bardghji became an overnight social media sensation when he panenka’d the winning penalty in a 4-2 shootout win for Copenhagen against Sparta Prague in the third round qualifying round of this season’s competition. The Danish outfit made the group stages, facing Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Galatasaray, with the then 17-year-old Bardghji scoring in their 4-3 win over the English side to essentially knock them out of the competition. As Copenhagen’s youngest ever player, a move away from Denmark is destined for the young Swede.
Lamine Yamal [FC Barcelona – 16]
Embed from Getty ImagesBarcelona’s youngest player in over a century and the fifth youngest player in La Liga history, Lamine Yamal has lit up senior football since bursting on the scene in April 2023. The holder of numerous goalscoring records in Spanish competitions, Yamal has already scored twice in five appearances for the Spanish senior team, with Barcelona reinvigorated by an influx of youth under manager Xavi. With already ten goal contributions in La Liga this season, Yamal appears to be the most valuable asset the Blaugrana have right now, but caution must be maintained given his age and the ridiculous amount of games he is playing right now.
Warren Zaire-Emery [Paris Saint-Germain – 17]
Embed from Getty ImagesThe youngest player to appear in an official match for PSG, Warren Zaire-Emery has become a key figure in midfield for the French Champions. His form in Luis Enrique’s side has been rewarded with call-ups to the French national team, with the 17-year-old now a mainstay in Didier Deschamps’ squad. Despite having just two caps to his name, Zaire-Emery scored his first French goal on his debut to become the second youngest goalscorer in the country’s history. His output in the Champions League cannot be ignored either, becoming the youngest Frenchman to score in the competition as well as being the youngest player to assist three times. A star of the present and future.
Jorrel Hato [Ajax – 18]
Embed from Getty ImagesLinked to numerous top sides, Hato made his Ajax debut at the age of 16, becoming a mainstay in the Dutch outfit’s side this season despite their struggles. Versatile as well as being athletic and composed on the ball, Hato has already made his debut for the Dutch national team, coming on as a second half substitute against Gibraltar in November 2023. In October of that same year, the defender was included in The Guardian’s list of best footballers to be born in 2006, and with his future at Ajax undecided beyond the summer, it could be the perfect time for the big European sides to pounce.
