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Top 21 under 21: Ranking the best young stars in world football

Courtesy: Reuters' Paul Childs, Eric Gaillard, Juan Medina

With transfer fees soaring to unimaginable heights, the chase for football's next stars is heating up. Clubs send their scouts the world over to find the most exciting teenage talent, and even the biggest outfits have started to develop from within.

Taking into account each player's potential and current first-team status, here are theScore's 21 hottest prospects aged 21 and under:

21. Timo Werner (RB Leipzig)

Scoring 21 league goals in a breakout season for RB Leipzig, 21-year-old Timo Werner earned his first call-up to the German national team and became the Bundesliga's top German scorer during the 2016-17 campaign. He's the future of Die Mannschaft, who desperately need someone to fill the boots of both Mario Gomez and Miroslav Klose.

20. Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich)

Renato Sanches' stock has dropped in the year since he won Euro 2016 with Portugal, but he's no less of a player today. Turning 20 years old on Friday, the Benfica product has the skill, pace, and strength to become one of Europe's most potent midfield enforcers.

19. Davinson Sanchez (Tottenham)

Tottenham secured the services of Davinson Sanchez for a club-record fee Friday, the culmination of an impressive first season in European football for the Colombian international with Ajax. Although he's a bit raw, Sanchez is built like a modern-day defender, unafraid to join the attack and go on penetrative runs.

18. Franck Kessie (AC Milan)

One of AC Milan's most important signings of a transformative summer, Franck Kessie is tank of a midfielder who can shrug off challenges and make goals happen. He's a vital cog of the Rossoneri's revolution and has every chance to grow with the team.

17. Niklas Sule (Bayern Munich)

Niklas Sule's rise mirrored that of Hoffenheim, where he debuted as a teenager and appeared more than 100 times. A big move to Bayern Munich materialised this summer, a natural step up for a centre-back whose composure and sheer size belie his years.

16. Julian Weigl (Borussia Dortmund)

Borussia Dortmund's belief in youth has paid many dividends, so it's not surprising to see Julian Weigl emerge from the North Rhine-Westhpalia region as one of Germany's future stars. Possessing the vision to thread ambitious passes, Weigl has the qualities to become one of the game's leading deep-lying playmakers.

15. Theo Hernandez (Real Madrid)

Real Madrid ponied up a reported €30 million to pry marauding left-back Theo Hernandez from city rival Atletico. He's the ideal replacement for Marcelo whenever he decides to move on or retire, as Hernandez loves to join the attack and cause chaos in the final third.

14. Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund)

The United States has already hyped up Christian Pulisic to the maximum, but there really is every reason to get excited about this player. One of the few American players to make the grade at a big European club, Pulisic has earned a place in Dortmund's starting lineup by showing great confidence on the ball.

13. Youri Tielemans (AS Monaco)

After years of speculation over his future, Youri Tielemans finally made a high-profile switch to AS Monaco, where budding talent has not only had the chance to flourish, but thrive. The youngest Belgian to play in the Champions League at 16 years and 148 days old, Tielemans has added goals to his already impressive arsenal.

12. Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich)

Not many players have enjoyed as much early-season success as Kingsley Coman has on his travels. A Ligue 1, Serie A, and Bundesliga champion, Coman is still just 21 years old. He's a massive threat off the right wing and a proficient dribbler. He's the perfect long-term replacement for Arjen Robben and a fantastic prospect for a star-studded French national team.

11. Leroy Sane (Manchester City)

His progression as a player will undoubtedly quicken under Pep Guardiola, but Leroy Sane has already offered Manchester City a live-wire outlet on the left wing. His ability to stretch play is particularly useful, but it's his awareness of his surroundings that allows him to drift into compromising positions and beat defenders.

10. Andre Silva (AC Milan)

The next season is arguably more important to Andre Silva than it is to anyone else on this list. Considered by Cristiano Ronaldo as his heir, the 21-year-old has arrived in Milan as the Rossoneri's solution to their striking woes. He cost them a substantial €38 million - the third-highest fee in club history - but Silva demonstrated during his formative years at Porto that he has both the predatory instinct and the mobility to give defenders headaches.

9. Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid)

After claiming Player of the Tournament honours at the European Under-21 Championship with Spain, masterful dribbler Dani Ceballos completed a transfer to Madrid. It was well-deserved. With no shortage of tricks, Ceballos can embarrass defenders and cut through the most stubborn backlines. It's reasonable to question how much playing time he'll get in a crowded Madrid midfield, but he's skilled enough to break through at some point.

8. Thomas Lemar (AS Monaco)

Thomas Lemar drew admiring glances around Europe last season as Monaco's set-piece specialist, but his crossing ability and overall creativity made him an irresistible force on the principality side's left wing. More than just a pacy wide man, Lemar is willing to take on defenders and create space for his teammates by moving defenders out of position.

7. Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan)

Tipped as the heir to Gianluigi Buffon's throne, Gianluigi Donnarumma reportedly spurned the chance to earn €13 million per season at Paris Saint-Germain by recommitting to Milan. Donnarumma's height and quick reflexes have equipped him with the tools to make huge, game-changing saves. He's still a work in progress when it comes to playing with the ball at his feet, but from a sheer shot-stopping perspective, the 18-year-old is the game's biggest prospect between the posts.

6. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)

Even though he's yet to nail down a permanent spot in Jose Mourinho's starting lineup, Marcus Rashford is clearly Manchester United's present and future. Shunted to the wing after the arrivals of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku, the 19-year-old hasn't been given the chance to thrive in his natural No. 9 role, but he's still managed to cut in and do damage.

5. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)

Gabriel Jesus hit the ground running in the Premier League, scoring three goals in his first three domestic matches for City. He's clearly a lethal finisher, but beyond his capabilities as a goal-scorer, the Palmeiras product has the strength to battle with aggressive defenders and the desire to track back when necessary. Jesus can also win fouls in dangerous areas, and because he's so comfortable at the highest level, there's significant confidence he may one day win the Ballon d'Or.

4. Ousmane Dembele (Borussia Dortmund)

Despite the commotion around Ousmane Dembele's future at Dortmund, the 20-year-old boasts an impressive range of skills that should make him one of the world's most expensive players. In just one year in Germany, the Rennes graduate bamboozled Bundesliga opponents with his quickness of feet and off-the-ball movement. He's almost impossible to stop on the counter-attack, and he's not the kind of player to make a career out of predictable moves. His overall trickery makes him spectacular viewing.

3. Dele Alli (Tottenham)

Not since Paul Gascoigne has England produced a footballer with the vision and technique of Dele Alli. With 28 goals and 16 assists over the past two Premier League seasons, Alli has proved he's equally capable as a playmaker and goal-scorer. He can find spaces and play balls through narrow lanes, and more importantly, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino can count on the midfielder to run into the box and latch onto crosses.

2. Marco Asensio (Real Madrid)

Famously signed from under Barcelona's nose for a relatively paltry €3.9 million in 2014, Marco Asensio has gradually emerged as Madrid's most exciting prospect. No other player in recent memory has made greater first impressions than Asensio, who scored on his debut in La Liga, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de Espana. Equipped with a powerful left foot, he can score from virtually any position.

1. Kylian Mbappe (AS Monaco)

The hottest name in football is Kylian Mbappe, whose exploits for Monaco in the second half of last season reportedly attracted interest from Barcelona, Madrid, City, and Arsenal. Expected to cost around €200-million, Mbappe showed in the Champions League he can handle the pressure, scoring against City, Dortmund, and Juventus en route to the semi-finals of the competition. The 18-year-old twists defenders inside out and sets up his teammates, drawing comparisons to the man who changed the way we think about strikers: Thierry Henry.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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