With the summer transfer window almost upon us, Europe's top clubs will be running the rule over the most talented young players from across the globe who have shown that they not only have the talent but also the first-team experience to make an impact at the elite level. Thankfully, the CIES Football Observatory has done some of the hard work for them by creating a list of the players who have had the most minutes of game time. The CIES index is primarily based on the amount of minutes of first-team football each teenager has got under their belt since the turn of the year, but it also uses a custom metric to assess the value of those minutes in terms of the level of experience. All players under consideration must be at least 20 years old by May 30, 2022. - ESPN+ guide: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, FA Cup, more (U.S.)
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- Don't have ESPN? Get instant access Udogie, a left-back/midfielder who has already represented Italy at under-21 level, seems destined to pick up his first full cap before long should his burgeoning career continue on the same upward trajectory. Udogie has scored five goals this year, the most recent a beautiful right-footed curling effort against Salernitana on the final day of the season. Yunus Musah gives Valencia the lead over Atletico! That's his first LaLiga goal since November 2020. pic.twitter.com/Dyi2LhSPFB
10. Destiny Udogie (Udinese): Date of birth Nov. 28, 2002 (19 years old); 1,585 minutes
9. Yunus Musah (Valencia): Nov. 29, 2002 (19); 1,469
The first player on record to have started two games for the United States men's national team before turning 18 was New York City born Musah, who captained England at U18 level before making his name on the wing for Valencia in Spain. The fleet-footed attacker made 36 appearances for Los Che and scored three goals.
⚽️ Jamal Musiala magic!🔴 Bayern's youngest goalscorer ever in this competition
😮 Second-youngest player to score in the knockout stage @JamalMusiala | @FCBayernEN | #UCL pic.twitter.com/8ts8AMHWWl
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 2, 2021
Musiala has 14 appearances in the German league in the year 2022. His claim for more playing time next season was strengthened by the fact that he scored two goals in the last four games of the season as the Bavarians won their 10th consecutive title. Musiala represented England from U15 to U21 level and then pledged his senior allegiance to Germany in February 2021. He scored one goal and won 11 caps for his country.
ICE COLD! 🧊#FFC pic.twitter.com/KF4mE9UzGQ
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) January 16, 2022
The highest-ranked player on the list to have been playing outside of Europe's top five leagues is Carvalho, who has 13 goal involvements in 23 Championship games. The Reds missed out on signing the Portugal U21 international in the January transfer window, but he will join them on July 1st.
Sergio Ramos would be proud of this tackle from Eduardo Camavinga 😅 pic.twitter.com/CyTa3h4LTc
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 10, 2022
Camavinga, a versatile central midfielder who is comfortable both pressing on and chasing back, has provided dependable support in the middle for Madrid throughout the season, which ended with him becoming a LaLiga and Champions League winner. Camavinga became the youngest player to make his debut for the France national side since 1914 when he was 17 years old, and he won his first cap against Croatia in 2020.
The lightning acceleration of @nunomendes_25 ⚡️#PSGESTAC I #Skill 📺 pic.twitter.com/68TdXUKi63
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) May 9, 2022
In a team full of superstars, Portugal international Mendes has still managed to make a name for himself this season with a string of excellent performances at left-back. The full-back made 40 appearances in his debut season with Paris Saint-Germain and demonstrated his ability to play both flanks and full-back, as well as his work rate and flexibility, which saw him deployed as a winger on several occasions.
Castello Lukeba, le jeune défenseur de l'@OL, a réalisé une performance parfaite à l'@orangevelodrome hier 🍿#OMOL (0-3) pic.twitter.com/nRb1vnIQOd
— Ligue 1 Uber Eats (@Ligue1UberEats) May 2, 2022
French football has a tradition of producing strong centre-backs, and since breaking into the first-team at Lyon in early December, Lukeba has become a mainstay. The defender became the youngest OL player to score since 2006 when he found the net in a win over Marseille earlier this month.
💙❤️ Gavi + @Pedri = 𝙋𝙐𝙍𝙀 𝙁𝙇𝘼𝙈𝙀𝙎 🔥#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/mHJVZR7maI
— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) April 14, 2022
Pedri missed a total of 25 LaLiga games this season due to a recurring injury, including the last eight games of the campaign. A return to fitness over the summer will see the young player come back to his best once things get up and running again in August.
17-year-old Gavi was holding his own against Kroos, Casemiro and Modric 💪 pic.twitter.com/9MlaEIOX7G
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 14, 2022
The second of Barcelona's twin midfield jewels to feature on the list is Gavi, who has racked up over 200 more minutes of action than his teammate Pedri since the start of the year. A product of the club's famed academy system, Gavi possesses the technical composure that will see him follow in the footsteps of all those great La Masia alumni that came before him.
Bellingham made a total of 44 appearances in all competition for the Bundesliga side and scored six goals, despite his tender years. The England international is the second- youngest player in the top 10 and is already set for a big future at the highest level with his all-round ability to score and create goals, play box-to-box and make defensive contributions.
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