Even after almost a decade has passed, a report that identifies some of the most talented individuals who were born in 1998 is still interesting to read.
Back in October of 2015, The Guardian made the claim that they had “scoured the world” in an effort to find some of the best players who were born in the year 1998. Among the players that were included in their search were Martin Odegaard and Federico Valverde.
There were a total of three goalkeepers, seven defenders, twenty midfielders, and nineteen forwards on the list; however, only a few of these players went on to establish themselves on the international stage.
The first custodian to make an appearance was Luca Fernandez, who is the second-eldest son of Zinedine Zidane, a legendary player playing for Real Madrid. Real Madrid B was the team he was playing for at the time, and he had just recently accomplished the feat of winning the European Championship with France Under-17s.
After the list was published, Luca left Los Blancos to join Rayo Vallecano. This occurred four years after the list was published. In 2024, the 26-year-old player signed a contract with Granada, a club that competes in the second division.
In addition to Fernandez, the list also included three other French players: Bilal Boutobba, Dayot Upamecano, and Jeff Reine-Adelaide, a former player for Arsenal who currently plays for Salernitana, a team that competes in Serie B.
The complete list of players, along with their current positions, is as follows:
Franco Lopez is currently a free agent and played for Canuelas, an Argentine club, in 2022. He is currently a free agent.
Deportivo Alavés, a club in La Liga, is currently Tomás Conechny’s current team.
Panos Armenakas is currently playing for Oakland Roots, who are competing in the USL Championship.
Sandi Lovric is currently playing for Udinese, a team in Liga A.
Ismail Azzaoui is currently playing for Omonia 29M, which is a team that competes in the Cypriot First Division.
In the current season, Evander Ferreira is a member of the Major League Soccer team FC Cincinnati.
Lincoln is currently playing for Hull City, an English club, on loan from Fenerbahce, a Turkish club.
At the moment, Matheus Pereira is a member of the Spanish club Eibar.
Currently, Jesús Marimón is playing for Deportes Quindío, a Colombian club.
The Croatian club Kustošija was the last team that Davor Lovren, who is currently a free agent, played for.
With the Czech third division club Hlučín, Dominik Smekal is currently playing for the team.
Jacob Bruun Larsen is currently at VfB Stuttgart, a club that competes in the Bundesliga.
One of Kaan Kairinen’s current teams is Sparta Prague, which competes in the Czech First League.
Recently, Bilal Boutobba has joined the Turkish club Hatayspor as a player.
Additionally, Dayot Upamecano is currently playing for Bayern Munich, a Bundesliga club.
Currently, Jeff Reine-Adelaide makes his home at Salernitana, a club in the Serie B.
As of right now, Luca Fernández is a member of the Spanish club Granada CF.
Now, Fabian Benko is a member of FC Pipinsried, a club that competes in the Bayernliga Süd.
Felix Passlack is currently playing for VfL Bochum, a club in the Bundesliga.
Dimitris Limnios is currently playing for Panathinaikos, a team with a Super League team.
At the moment, Reza Shekari is a member of the Iranian club Sepahan.
Under loan from Maccabi Tel Aviv, Haviv Ohayon is currently playing for Hapoel Hadera, a team that competes in the Israeli Premier League.
At the moment, Manuel Locatelli is a member of Juventus, a Serie A powerhouse.
Now playing for Picerno, a club in Serie C Group C, is Manuel Nicoletti.
As of right now, Ritsu Doan is a member of the Bundesliga club SC Freiburg.
Azuqueca, the Spanish side, is currently playing Sidiki Maiga.
Pablo López is currently a member of the Mexican sports team Jaguares.
In the present day, Ulises Torres is a member of the Mexican club Leones Negros UdeG.
In the Italian Kings League, Hachim Mastour is currently playing for FC Zeta, which is managed by Gerard Piqué.
As of right now, Javairô Dilrosun is a member of the América Liga MX club.
Justin Bijlow is currently playing for Feyenoord’s Eredivisie club.
Timothy Fosu-Mensah, who is currently a free agent, most recently played for Bayer Leverkusen, a team that competes in the Bundesliga.
Kwang-song is currently playing for April 25 Sports Club, which is a club in the DPRK Premier League.
Martin Odegaard is currently playing for Arsenal, a team in the Premier League.
Currently, Rafik Zekhnini is playing for the Eliteserien club Sarpsborg 08.
Krystian Bielik is currently playing for Birmingham City, a club in League One.
Pedro Pereira is currently playing for Monza, a team in the Serie A.
Ianis Hagi is currently a member of the Rangers, a club that competes in the Scottish Premiership.
Artem Galadzhan is currently playing for Irtysh Omsk, a player for a Russian third-tier club.
At the moment, Zehrudin Mehmedovic is a free agent, and his most recent team was FK Sloboda Užice, which is located in Serbia.
Jan Mlakar is currently playing for Hajduk Split, a Croatian club, on loan from Pisa, a club that competes in Serie B.
At the moment, Liam Jordan is playing for IF Brommapojkarna, a Swedish Allsvenskan club.
Seung-woo Lee is currently playing for the South Korean club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
Juan Luis Salazar, also known as “Kuki,” is currently playing for the Spanish club AD Ceuta FC.
Amo, José María, is currently a member of the Spanish club CD Tenerife.
Dani Olmo is currently playing for Barcelona, a team that competes in La Liga.
The Swedish club Saba Palestina is currently home to Zackarias Faour.
Arnavutköy Belediyesi FSK, the Turkish club that ðbrahim Demirbağ most recently played for, continues to be a free agent at the present time.
AC Milan, a club in Serie A, is currently Christian Pulisic’s current team.
With Real Madrid, Federico Valverde is currently playing in the La Liga.
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