A recent CIES Football Observatory report has placed two Barcelona youngsters and La Masia graduates among the top 200 global football prodigies, with one topping the list and another hailed as the most promising left-back, both an indication of the club’s bright future.
The CIES football report gathered a list of the top 200 Under-20 players across 75 global football leagues, evaluating each player’s game experience and on-field performances in the last calendar year. Barcelona midfield maestro Gavi sits at the very top, with his experience deemed 4.37 times greater than the average for players of the same age and position.
His level has skyrocketed as time has passed in terms of not just his statistical involvement on the face of it, but in terms of his overall involvement and understanding of the game as well. The young La Masia graduate has also cemented his place in the National team courtesy of his strong performances wearing the red of Spain.
Another Blaugrana star secured a spot as the premier left-back, further highlighting the club’s impressive young talent pool. The ranking was calculated using the experience capital methodology, which considers the minutes played in official matches over the last year, the competitive level of the league, and the eventual outcomes of each match.
A number of young sensations made the final list with Plamen Andreev as the goalkeeper, Antonio Silva from Benfica as a central defender, and Alejandro Balde as the left-back. Additionally, Rico Lewis from Manchester City, Arthur Vermeeren of Royal Antwerp, and Barcelona’s Gavi appeared as the other standout players.
The two young future stars share the same roots from their La Masia origins. Both now accompany one another at both club and international level, which consequently adds to the prestige of Barcelona’s own academy as well. La Masia continues to produce talents in quantity, and in recent times as graduates have showcased, coupled with elite quality as well.
As the world of football continues to transition, young dynamos from across the globe are sure to capture the attention of fans and clubs alike, eventually shaping the sport for the coming years. To see Blaugrana talents like Gavi and Balde is a delight, to say the least, and despite the financial complications, the future seems bright for FC Barcelona.
