The best 20 young players to keep an eye on in 2020

These are the young talents causing quite the buzz around the leading academies in Europe and beyond right now.

They are rising stars who could enjoy an exceptional year in 2020, with some catching the eye in youth teams and others already first-team regulars.

They include the future of the Brazil, France and Holland national sides, as well as many others, and potential stars of future World Cups.

Kenneth Taylor

17, central midfield, Ajax and Holland under 18

These are encouraging times for the Dutch, who are the reigning European champions at under-17 level and have also performed well at the Under-17 World Cup in Brazil, losing on penalties in the semi-finals.

The beating heart of their team is captain Taylor, just the latest talented player to roll off the famous Ajax production line, though he hasn't yet made his first-team debut for the Amsterdam club.

Taylor models his game on Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne and Tottenham's Christian Eriksen and prides himself on making assists though is equally adept in a more defensive role.

Xavi Simons

16, central midfielder, Paris Saint-Germain and Holland under 17

Very few players decide to leave Barcelona's La Masia academy of their own volition, especially at such a crucial stage of their development.

But Simons chose back in the summer to end his stay there after nine years and join PSG. No doubt the £1million-a-year contract, negotiated by super-agent Rino Raiola, had something to do with it.

The skillful central midfielder, who was named after Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez and is nicknamed 'Golden curls' for his hair, has over two million followers on Instagram so is comfortable being the centre of attention.

Troy Parrott

17, striker, Tottenham Hotspur and Republic of Ireland

Things are happening pretty quickly for one of the jewels of the Spurs academy. Parrott signed his first professional contract back in February, impressed on their pre-season tour and was handed his debut against Colchester United in the EFL Cup this season.

Mauricio Pochettino is known to be a big admirer of the Irish striker - who made his senior debut in this week's friendly with New Zealand - and namechecked him as a potential stand-in when Harry Kane was out injured.

The Spurs manager isn't afraid to give young talent their chance and Parrott has been happily taking advice from Kane in training to get better.

Eric Garcia

18, centre back, Manchester City and Spain under 21

Another schooled in Barcelona's academy only to leave and try their luck elsewhere. By all accounts, Barcelona were incredibly upset to lose Garcia to Manchester City in the summer of 2017.

He made his first-team debut in the EFL Cup last season and was handed a first Premier League appearance by Pep Guardiola against Watford back in September.

The 18-year-old commands the defence with maturity and his comfort on the ball means he slots in nicely in City's side. If their defensive injury woes continue, perhaps Garcia could be a solution?

Ansu Fati

17, winger, Barcelona and Spain under 21

Few players anywhere in the world are commanding as much buzz as Fati, the youngster who could become Lionel Messi's heir at the Nou Camp.

Given some of the talented players lost from their academy of late, Barca are clearly taking no chances by slapping a €100million release clause on the 17-year-old winger.

He made headlines worldwide after becoming the youngest player in La Liga history to register a goal and an assist in the same game when he shone in the 5-2 win over Valencia in September.

The exciting thing is that this is just the very beginning of what we're going to see from him.

Willem Geubbels

18, winger, Monaco and France under 18

Monaco certainly aren't afraid to give young players opportunities in the first team - Kylian Mbappe being a recent prominent example - and so lightning-quick winger Geubbels is in the right place.

He was pinched from Lyon's academy back in the summer of 2018, having become the youngest-ever player to make a Europa League debut at 16 years and 113 days, with Monaco paying €20m.

Since arriving in the principality, the France youth international has struggled with injuries, but it is to be hoped they won't affect his fleet-footed ways.

Lincoln

18, striker, Flamengo and Brazil under 20

No list of this kind would be complete without an emerging Brazilian wonderkid and someone creating plenty of buzz and excitement both in Europe and South America is Flamengo's striker Lincoln Correa dos Santos.

He made his debut in the Brazilian league aged just 16 and played alongside another rising star, Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid, for the Brazil youth sides.

Little wonder that Real, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Barcelona and Manchester United have all been keeping tabs on him with a move to Europe likely to happen sooner rather than later.

Sergio Gomez

19, attacking midfielder, Huesca on loan from Borussia Dortmund and Spain under 21

Here's another bright young think who received most of their footballing education at La Masia in Barcelona only to graduate elsewhere.

In the case of Gomez, an intelligent and speedy playmaker, he moved to Germany to join Borussia Dortmund, making an early Bundesliga debut at the end of the 2017-18 season.

At the moment, he is on loan at Spanish second division side Huesca for experience given Dortmund's surplus of attacking talent.

Takefusa Kubo

18, attacking midfielder, Real Mallorca on loan from Real Madrid and Japan

Kubo may only be 18 but his career has already been remarkably eventful. He was spotted by Barcelona scouts playing in his native Japan at the age of 11 and shone in the Spanish club's schoolboy teams.

However, his move to Barcelona was found to have violated FIFA transfer rules and so he returned to his homeland and FC Tokyo, astonishingly making his J League debut at 15.

He did little wrong in three seasons there and, in a move that must have infuriated Barca, was signed by Real Madrid back in the summer after he turned 18.

Kubo - nicknamed 'the Japanese Messi' - is finally getting his chance in Spain's top flight, spending the season on loan at Real Mallorca.

Gabriel Brazao

19, goalkeeper, Albacete on loan from Inter Milan and Brazil

There are some top quality Brazilian goalkeepers at the moment, with Liverpool's Alisson Becker and Manchester City's Ederson both renowned.

But many consider 19-year-old Gabriel Brazao, who was called up into the Selecao squad for last November's internationals against Uruguay and Cameroon, to be a potential future No 1.

He does need game time, however, and his club Inter Milan are reportedly considering recalling him from a loan at Spanish club Albacete because he has been warming the bench.

Romario Baro

19, right midfield, Porto and Portugal under 21

Porto thoroughly impressed in winning the UEFA Youth League - the Champions League equivalent for under-19 teams - last season and Baro was one player who really caught the eye.

That didn't go unnoticed at the highest levels of the club and the 19-year-old was handed his first senior appearances earlier on this season.

Porto's academy has been prolific in producing talented players over the years and Baro is certainly a candidate to be another.

Eduardo Camavinga

17, defensive midfield, Rennes

Barely a day passes without Camavinga being linked to another one of the European heavyweights, whether it be Barcelona, Manchester City or Manchester United.

That's what you get for doing so much, so young as the midfielder has at French club Rennes after breaking into the first team towards the end of last season.

Considered one of the brightest emerging talents in French football, Camavinga has shown remarkable maturity even in the biggest games. He was outstanding when Rennes beat PSG back in August.

Adil Aouchiche

17, attacking midfield, Paris Saint-Germain and France under 18

Aouchiche shot to prominence during the Under-17 European Championship in Ireland over the summer, where he scored nine goals in five matches from midfield.

That resulted in a first start in Ligue 1 when PSG beat Metz 2-0 at the end of August aged just 17 years and 46 days - and there's no question it will be the first of many.

For now, he will gain regular football in PSG's under-19 side but also learn from some of the world's best on a daily basis in training.

Charlie Brown

20, centre forward, Chelsea

The success of Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori and others this season under Frank Lampard's management has demonstrated there has rarely been a better time to be in Chelsea's academy.

Fans everywhere are wondering who'll be next off the Cobham production line and one candidate could be hotshot striker Brown.

The 20-year-old striker was at his most prolific as Chelsea reached the final of last season's UEFA Youth League, Brown taking a shine to continental competition with 12 goals.

Mohamed Ihattaren

17, attacking midfield, PSV Eindhoven and Holland under 19

Another Dutch diamond rising through the ranks - or at least since Ihattaren, who is of Moroccan heritage, committed to represent Holland internationally this month.

The tricky playmaker has enjoyed a terrific rise through the youth ranks at PSV and reached the first team in the middle of last season.

Fans of PSV should perhaps enjoy his talents while they can with clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and RB Leipzig all keeping tabs on him.

Pablo Moreno

17, forward, Juventus and Spain under 18

Moreno was one of the most prolific goalscorers in Barcelona's academy as a young teenager before being lured away by Juventus before the Spanish club could offer him a contract.

Having joined the Turin club at the beginning of last season, Moreno has impressed for their youth teams and moved up to their Under-23s, who play in Serie C, this season.

An especially memorable appearance came against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Youth League back in September when he came off the bench to score twice in a 4-0 rout.

Sebastiano Esposito

17, striker, Inter Milan and Italy under 19

These are more encouraging times for Inter after several years in the doldrums and manager Antonio Conte has placed his faith in academy product Esposito in recent weeks.

The striker made his professional debut for Inter against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League last season aged 16 and has this season played in the Champions League and Serie A.

He also offered versatility, being capable of playing on either side of a front three, but it's as an orthodox central striker he excels.

Sontje Hansen

17, centre forward, Ajax and Holland under 18

Hansen, another product of Ajax's academy, was another stand-out from Holland's successful Under-17 European Championship campaign in the summer.

He scored three times, including in a 5-2 win over England in the group stage and the 4-2 win over Italy in the final, and is remarkably prolific for Ajax's youth sides too.

And, as if to prove that again, he's just banged in six goals at the Under-17 World Cup in Brazil, including a classy hat-trick against Nigeria in the round of 16.

Dominik Szoboszlai

19, left midfield, Red Bull Salzburg and Hungary

There's plenty of chatter around Red Bull Salzburg as they compete in the Champions League group stage for the first time but there are other talented youngsters other than Erling Haaland.

Take midfielder Szoboszlai, considered one of the best players to come out of Hungary in some time, and already established as a full international.

Not only does he control midfield, but he has a creative streak and scores goal as well, scoring against Genk in Salzburg's 6-2 win over Genk to open the group stage.

Paulinho

19, winger, Bayer Leverkusen and Brazil under 23

While the aforementioned Lincoln hasn't yet made the leap from Brazilian football to Europe, the slightly older Paulinho has and is starting to flourish at Bayer Leverkusen in Germany.

He joined for £16m from Vasco da Gama back in April 2018 and featured in numerous Bundesliga and Europa League matches last season.

Paulinho can play right across the forward line, though is most comfortable on the left wing, and big things are expected from a player dubbed 'the next Kaka.