It's time for FFT's yearly ranking of the most exciting teenagers in the world right now – the kids are alright, all right…
40. Kobbie Mainoo
Kobbie Mainoo (left) of Manchester United celebrates with Shola Shoretire after scoring against Brighton and Hove Albion (Image credit: Tom Purslow/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Club: Manchester United
Nation: England
Age: 17
Eligible for Ghana and England, Kobbie Mainoo is has made the bench for Manchester United already in the Premier League. The is confident, two-footed and able to create separation from his markers – with such fierce competition for places at Old Trafford, it'll be interesting to see how he matures from hereon in.
39. Vitor Roque
Vitor Roque of Athletico Paranaense celebrates after scoring the first goal of the quarter-final second-leg match against Estudiantes (Image credit: Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)
Club: Athletico Paranaense
Nation: Brazil
Age: 17
Endrick is already off the market, destined for Real Madrid after impressing at an obscenely young age. Vitor Roque is the hipster's choice, instead.
Roque has a similar small stature and an ability to make the square foot of space around defenders' ankles his playground. Explosive, tenacious and a good ball striker, he's the typical South American forward… not that he'll be there for long if he continues like this.
38. Wilfried Gnonto
Wilfried Gnonto of Leeds United celebrates scoring against Bournemouth (Image credit: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Club: Leeds United
Nation: Italy
Age: 19
One half of Yorkshire's greatest double act of 2022. Wilfried Gnonto set up Crysencio Summerville in consecutive heart-stopping Peacocks comebacks but the Leeds United forward has been coming for a while now. Italy's youngest-ever scorer, in the long-term at least he might just be an excellent silver lining to missing out on landing a big-name striker in the summer.
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37. Angelo
Angelo runs with the ball during the match between Santos and America MG (Image credit: Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images)
Club: Santos
Nation: Brazil
Age: 17
The youngest Santos player in the Copa Libertadores, surpassing Rodrygo, Angelo might be on the same path. A menace on the right-wing, able to cavort his way through opponents like cones, he's more of a creator than a finisher but could even become a midfielder in Europe. He's one to watch – if only to try and guess when on Earth he's going to release the ball.
36. Malo Gusto
Malo Gusto accelerates away from Angers defender Enzo Ebosse in Ligue 1 (Image credit: OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE/AFP via Getty Images)
Club: Olympique Lyonnais
Nation: France
Age: 19
Lyon's academy is well-celebrated by now. The mid-noughties tilt to produce stars rather than recruit following their insane title haul has brought dividends but now, players coming from l'OL seem to be underrated, simply because so many emerge year after year.
Malo Gusto is mightily impressive, though. More than just a converted winger hacking it at full-back, he's excellent defensively, a good marker and assured when bombing down the right. He doesn't look 19, either in stature or playing style: he seems a natural fit for the French national side, too.
35. Marcos Leonardo
Marcos Leonardo of Santos celebrates after scoring the first goal of the Copa Sudamericana last-16 second-leg tie against Deportivo Tachira (Image credit: Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images)
Club: Santos
Nation: Brazil
Age: 19
Direct, pacy and with a poacher's instinct, Marcos Leonardo looks a born striker, rather than just a tricky talent crowbarred into a forward's role to try and squeeze goals. Santos stars are burdened by the considerable 'next Pele' tag but this might be the best fit stylistically: he's a killer in front of goal – but still with that samba swagger.
34. Liam Delap
Liam Delap of Stoke City celebrates after he scores the third goal of the Championship clash against Sheffield United (Image credit: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
Club: Stoke City, on loan from Manchester City
Nation: England
Age: 19
Young centre-forwards are a mixed bag. Some are pacy, some are wiry; some look better paired, some better off the wing. It's natural that composure, strength, hold-up and hey, responsibility, will all come in your 20s. Liam Delap looks ready now.
The son of long-throw merchant and Holding Out For A Hero YouTube compilation star Rory, Delap is now at his dad's old stomping ground – after tearing up youth football. But don't be confused by a Championship loan: he's good enough to start in the Premier League and arguably got the biggest ceiling of any forward in English football.
The most complete English forward since Harry Kane? Stylistically, at least…
33. Fabio Miretti
Edin Dzeko of Inter Milan is challenged by Fabio Miretti of Juventus during Serie A action (Image credit: Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)
Club: Juventus
Nation: Italy
Age: 19
Fabio Miretti has been a rare shining light in the demise of Juventus: in a way, he's lucky that this side is so poor that he can simply step in. Italy have a plethora of young, Verratti-esque midfielders all with the composure of thought and control that Andrea Pirlo himself would be proud of, with Miretti maybe the most effortless in possession. He already looks like a complete midfielder in Serie A.
32. Rayan Cherki
Rayan Cherki of Lyon thanks supporters after a match against Troyes (Image credit: Leandro Amorim/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Club: Olympique Lyonnais
Nation: France
Age: 19
Like Cristiano Ronaldo on the halfway line when United were camped in their own third… Rayan Cherki is waiting for the break. He burst through at 16 but hasn't made the leap to superstardom just yet.
That he's been written off by some is crazy – especially considering he's still only 19. But Cherki's early years have been underrated. He's been one of Lyon's best players for two years now yet the club haven't yet built around his unbelievable technicality. He's due his breakout season.
31. David Kalokoh
David Kalokoh of Ajax U19 after scoring against Liverpool U19 (Image credit: Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Club: Ajax
Nation: Netherlands
Age: 17
David Kalokoh is mesmerising. He's taller than most of his opponents yet dances with a ball at his feet like he's starring in a Nike ad of the noughties. In reality, he's too young to remember what he's aping.
The Dutchman is two pages ahead of everyone in the book. He loves to wait for defenders and goalkeepers to make their move before feigning and taking the ball past them, his touch is unbelievably cool and his turn of pace is frightening – though most of the time he looks like he's jogging anyway, like Usain Bolt in that100 metres final.
At just 17, it'll be fascinating to see how he takes to senior football. Because right now, he looks like he's toying with the year group below.
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Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.
