List of 60 wonderkids The Guardian dubbed ‘next generation of football’ in 2016 makes for fascinating reading – Football News

In 2016, The Guardian posted its list of the top 60 wonderkids that could go on to dominate world football – and it makes for fascinating reading nearly a decade on.

The outlet covered across world football in order to compile a definitive list, with the list leading on a player dubbed the ‘Bosnian Luis Suarez’.

Nedim Hadzic had just come through the youth academy at Bosnian top-tier side Sarajevo, and was mentioned in the same sentence as the future PSG star Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The list covers goalkeepers all the way to strikers and a range of different countries, with some familiar household names and others that you may not be quite as aware of.

Here is the full list of 60, and where each player is playing right now.

Top 60 wonderkids 2016 – Where are they now?

• Esequiel Barco (Argentina) – Currently playing for Russian Premier League side Spartak Moscow.
• Maximiliano Romero (Argentina) – Currently playing for Argentine Primera Division side Argentinos Juniors, on loan from Racing Club.
• Vahan Bichakhchyan (Armenia) – Currently playing for Polish Ekstraklasa side Legia Warsaw.
• Sebastian Pasquali (Australia) – Currently playing for Australian A-League side Western United.
• Valentino Muller (Austria) – Currently playing for Austrian Bundesliga side WSG Tirol.
• Mile Svilar (Belgium) – Currently playing for Serie A side AS Roma, and the Serbian national team.

• Thibaud Verlinden (Belgium) – Currently playing for Belgian Pro League side OH Leuven.
• Indy Boonen (Belgium) – Currently playing for Belgian second-tier side Lokeren-Temse.
• Nedim Hadzic (Bosnia & Herzegovina) – Currently playing for Croatian second-tier side Orijent.
• Luiz Fernando (Brazil) – Currently playing for Brazilian second-tier side Esporte Clube Primavera, on loan from Tombense.
• Fabricio Oya (Brazil) – Currently playing for Brazilian fourth-tier side Santo Andre.
• Nicolas Reis Bernardo (Brazil) – Currently playing for Portuguese third-tier side Pedras Salgadas, on loan from Chaves.
• Vladislav Zhikov (Bulgaria) – Currently playing for Italian lower-league side Capanne.
• David Salazar (Chile) – Currently playing for Chilean second-tier side Union San Felipe.
• Shan Huanhuan (China) – Currently playing for Chinese Super League side Qingdao West Coast.
• Juan Camilo Hernandez (Colombia) – Currently playing for La Liga side Real Betis.

Real Betis forward Juan Camilo Hernandez pictured (Image: Getty)

• Christian Frydek (Czechia) – Currently playing for Czech First League side Slovan Liberec.
• Jens Odgaard (Denmark) – Currently playing for Serie A side Bologna.
• Reiss Nelson (England) – Currently playing for Premier League side Arsenal.
• Dujon Sterling (England) – Currently playing for Scottish Premiership side Rangers.
• Sergei Eremenko (Finland) – Currently playing for Finnish Veikkausliiga side Jaro.
• Malang Sarr (France) – Currently playing for Ligue 1 side RC Lens.
• Albon Lafont (France) – Currently playing for Ligue 1 side FC Nantes.
• Kai Havertz (Germany) – Currently playing for Premier League side Arsenal.

Arsenal forward Kai Havertz pictured (Image: Getty)

• Arne Meier (Germany) – Currently playing for Bundesliga side FC Augsburg.
• Samuel Atta Mensah (Ghana) – Currently playing for Ghana Premier League side All Stars FC.
• Antonis Stergiakis (Greece) – Currently playing for Greek Super League side Panetolikos.
• Kolbeinn Finnsson (Iceland) – Currently playing for Eredivisie side Utrecht.
• Mohammad Soltani Mehr (Iran) – Currently playing for Iranian Premier League side Pars Jam.
• Gianluca Scamacca (Italy) – Currently playing for Serie A side Atalanta.
• Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy) – Currently playing for Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain.
• Gaoussou Nillmar Sow (Ivory Coast) – Currently a free agent. Last played for Ivorian Ligue 1 side FC Mouna.
• Shunta Nakamura (Japan) – Currently playing for Japanese fifth-tier side Sonio Takamatsu.
• Sekou Koita (Mali) – Currently playing for Russian Premier League side CSKA Moscow.
• Paolo Medina (Mexico) – Currently playing for Romanian Liga I side Unirea Slobozia.
• Edwin Lara (Mexico) – Now retired. Last played for American third-tier side San Diego 1904.
• Lazar Carevic (Montenegro) – Currently playing for Portuguese Primera Liga side Famalicao.
• Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands) – Currently playing for Premier League side Manchester United.

Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt pictured (Image: Getty)

• Tahith Chong (Netherlands) – Currently playing for Championship side Luton Town.
• Kingsley Michael (Nigeria) – Currently playing for Austrian third-tier side DSV Leoben.
• Marcelino Namandu (Paraguay) – Currently playing for Paraguayan second-tier side Rubio Nu.
• Kamil Grabara (Poland) – Currently playing for Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg.
• Jose Gomes (Portugal) – Currently playing for Albanian Kategoria Superiore side AF Elbasani.
• Domingos Quina (Portugal) – Currently playing for Cypriot First Division side Pafos.
• Diogo Dalot (Portugal) – Currently playing for Premier League side Manchester United.
• Vlad Dragomir (Romania) – Currently playing for Cypriot First Division side Pafos.
• Daniil Utkin (Russia) – Currently playing for Russian Premier League side Akhmat Grozny, on loan from FC Rostov.
• Dejan Joveljic (Serbia) – Currently playing for Major League Soccer side Sporting Kansas City.
• Shungu Dutiro (South Africa) – Currently a free agent. Last played for South African Premiership side Mamelodi Sundowns in 2021.
• Kim Jung-min (South Korea) – Currently playing for South Korean K League 1 side Jeju SK FC.
• Alejandro Pozo (Spain) – Currently playing for Spanish second-tier side UD Almeria.
• Manu Morlanes (Spain) – Currently playing for La Liga side RCD Mallorca.
• Brahim Diaz (Spain) – Currently playing for La Liga side Real Madrid, and the Morocco national team.

Real Madrid midfielder Brahim Diaz pictured (Image: Getty)

• Joel Asoro (Sweden) – Currently playing for French second-tier side FC Metz.
• Alexander Isak (Sweden) – Currently playing for Premier League side Newcastle United.
• Andi Zeqiri (Switzerland) – Currently playing for Belgian Pro League side Standard Liege, on loan from Genk.
• Sittichok Phaso (Thailand) – Currently playing for Thai second-tier side Suphanburi, on loan from Chonburi.
• Abdulkadir Omur (Turkey) – Currently playing for Championship side Hull City.
• Nick Taitague (United States) – Now retired. Last played for German second-tier side Schalke’s reserve team.
• Nicolas Schiappacasse (Uruguay) – Currently plays for Uruguayan Primera Division side Miramar Misiones.