The most exciting teenagers in football right now, according to us: what were you up to when you were 18, exactly?
30. Matheus Goncalves
Red Bull Bragantino's midfielder Matheus Goncalves (L) fights for the ball against America MG defender Julio (Image credit: MIGUEL SCHINCARIOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Flamengo's brightest talent since Vinicius Jr is typically Brazilian: a rapid runner with a wicked left foot, who plays like he wants to right wrongs with the world. He could well be angry with everyone, too: Goncalves had setbacks as a youngster, only getting signed much later than some of his age-mates and he now finds himself out on loan at Bragantino, trying to prove himself further. That underdog spirit will likely stick with him: we're absorbed to see how far it takes him.
29. Wilfried Gnonto
Wilfried Gnonto of Italy in action against Ukraine (Image credit: Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Club: Leeds United
Nation: Italy
Age: 19
Easily the most electric talent in Leeds United's doomed drop back to the second tier, yet barely old enough to pay council tax. Gnonto is one-of-a-kind: he is the focus of all attacks when he's on the pitch. What truly makes him so exciting to watch is that he's seemingly equally comfortable patiently creating width as a touchline winger or cutting inside to create in the danger zones. The Italian is two-footed, has a low centre of gravity and once you see him run in behind, there's no catching him.
28. Andreas Schjelderup
Andreas Schjelderup of Nordsjaelland looks on during the Danish Superliga match against Copenhagen (Image credit: Lars Ronbog / FrontZoneSport via Getty Images)
Club: Nordsjaelland (on loan from Benfica)
Nation: Norway
Age: 19
Remember when Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez both moved to England? Remember when the world tried to make you pick a side?
FFT has previously noted the similarities that Andreas Schjelderup has with Erling Haaland and, spoiler, it's not too much – but they both have a refined style, using few touches between receiving the goal and delivering a final ball. Since Benfica bought him though, it's been praying on our minds: could he be the midpoint between Nunez and Haaland? He loves to cut in from the left, look for the linkup and he has that glint in his eye for a flourish. It's a somewhat basic, if not untrue, summary of his talents…
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
27. Tudor Mendel-Idowu
Tudor Mendel Idowu celebrates scoring against Bradford while at Chelsea (Image credit: Clive Howes - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
In Callum Hudson-Odoi, Mason Mount, Reece James and Billy Gilmour, Chelsea's Cobham academy has a knack of producing young footballers with incredible footballing intelligence. Tudor Mendel-Idowu has left London for Belgium – and he has the same view of the game.
His decision-making is as impressive as any physical trait. Mendel-Idowu is electrifying in transition, can beat players either on the touchline or further inside and he's still learning his craft. Don't be surprised if he returns to the Premier League soon, like Noni Madueke did after going to Benelux to develop.
26. Stefan Bajcetic
Stefan Bajcetic trains for Liverpool during preseason (Image credit: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Stefan Bajcetic's accent is a pretty good indicator as to his style. It's a Spanish/Scouse hybrid: all the deftness, spatial awareness and security on the ball of where he was born, with all of the heart and passion of his adopted home.
He may well yet end up as a No.8 in the mould of a Henderson or Wijnaldum but the early signs at No.6 are good, too. He can receive under pressure from any angle, he's excellent against a press and physically, he looks comfortable in senior football. That Liverpool were happy to let Fabinho leave says everything about the faith that Jurgen Klopp has in Bajcetic.
25. Mathys Tel
Mathys Tel of Bayern Munich celebrates after against Manchester United (Image credit: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Nicolas Anelka regen – and he wears No.39. That's all you need to know: but it certainly doesn't tell the whole story of why Mathys Tel is quite this exciting.
Tel is elegant and pacy, as plenty of French forwards have been over the years. He's almost a throwback in that sense, someone who drifts between left and centre to hold the ball up or run in behind. The fact that some Bavarians talked about him as a reason not to sign Harry Kane should prove just how much talent he has. He needs patience: ironically, it might be Kane's trademark deep drops that allow him the space and time to flourish.
24. Ethan Nwaneri
Ethan Nwaneri of Arsenal in action against West Ham United U21 (Image credit: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Club: Arsenal
Nation: England
Age: 16
So desperate was Mikel Arteta to keep a 15-year-old in Arsenal's academy, according to hearsay, that that's why he made him the Premier League's youngest-ever player in one hell of a convincer.
When Arteta was coming through at La Masia, No.8s were small, with tight control and vision over all else: well, Ethan Nwaneri is well and truly a 2.0. He's a physical presence, able to slay defences with a killer ball and he's got the instinct for goal. Most of all, he has the maturity, say those who have worked with him, to reach the top. His few minutes in the top tier are no one-off.
23. Matheus Nascimento
Brazil forward Matheus Nascimento celebrates after scoring during extra-time of the U-20 World Cup quarter-final against Israel (Image credit: ANDRES LARROVERE/AFP via Getty Images)
Pele could have gone by the name Nascimento, had that belittling nickname never have stuck. Decades later, Matheus could make the name his own.
The differences between the two are starker than the similarities. Matheus Nascimento is leggy, powerful and unlike the ten-a-penny Brazilian forwards who look calm and effortless in possession, he has a gnarly intensity about him that feels – dare we say it? – Uruguayan or Argentinian. Nascimento's all-round play and strength is excellent: we can't wait to see him on European shores.
22. Giorgio Scalvini
Giorgio Scalvini of Atalanta in action against Fiorentina (Image credit: Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
An old Italian proverb states that if you had to tackle, you've made a mistake. Well, the alleged originator of the quote, Paolo Maldini, clearly never imagined just how satisfying Giorgio Scalvini would make tackling look.
A giant of a teenager, the Italian is tailor-made for Atalanta's back three, with his mazy runs out of the backline and his recovery lunges in the opposite direction. He has good reading of play, he's calm under pressure and his passing range is good: he looks tailor-made for a back three, either in possession or settled off the ball. How he matures is going to be fascinating – and it'll be interesting to see how he evolves to eventually play in a back four.
21. Julio Encisco
Julio Enciso of Brighton & Hove Albion looks on during the match against Wolves (Image credit: Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)
Goal of the Season winner for last term, it seems unlikely that Enciso will be topping that again, given that he's ruled out for a long time over a knee injury. It's a crying shame because he's one of the most quicksilver talents in the Premier League right now, of any age.
The ball sticks to the Paraguayan's feet. His close control is beautiful, he's an artist in tight spaces and his football IQ is excellent. Brighton is such a wonderful fit for him, too, with Roberto De Zerbi giving him the keys to the No.10 position in his intricate system. He'll be back, all right: here's hoping he picks up where he left off.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
