If you're good enough, you're old enough, so they say.
Lamine Yamal was both as he was named Young Player of the Tournament as he helped Spain win the European Championship in Germany last Sunday, becoming the youngest player, and the youngest goalscorer in the competition's history.
The Barcelona prodigy also scored the Goal of the Tournament as Spain beat France in the semi-finals and was named in the UEFA Team of the Tournament again after laying on four assists, including the first goal in the final against England.
Not bad for a guy who only turned 17 on Saturday, but let's move on, he's already established himself as a global icon now. Where are the next generation of 14, 15 and 16 year olds, I hear you cry.
Read on to find out who has chosen to turn their backs on long nights drinking cider on park benches in favor of building the foundations for a career at the pinnacle of world football, and, of course… remember the name!
Cavan Sullivan – Philadelphia Union
On Wednesday night the local boy came off the bench after 85 minutes in the Union's 5-1 home win over the New England Revolution at Subaru Park.
But that is not the issue. At the age of 14 years and 293 days, Sullivan beat the MLS youngest player record set by Freddy Adu when he played for DC United in 2004 by 13 days.
The midfielder is also the youngest North American player in the top flight in any club game.
He has a contract to join Man City when he turns 18, although he may end up at a City Group club on the continent – Girona, perhaps? – when he turns 16 years old. Whether Pep Guardiola is still there to guide his development, who knows, but he should be a certain player even before he arrives in Manchester.
Although he is eligible to represent Germany through his mother, at the World Cup in the US in 2026, don't be surprised to see the hype reach fever pitch in two years if Sullivan continues to blossom.
Welcome to the show, Cavan Sullivan. ✨
The 14-year-old becomes the youngest player in MLS history. pic.twitter.com/qbgjh4QRns
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 18, 2024
Francesco Camarda – AC Milan
Taking any kind of record from Paolo Maldini at AC Milan is worthy of attention, and there is plenty of that for this young striker.
Camarda became Milan's youngest ever player, and the youngest ever to play in Serie A, when he came off the bench against Fiorentina in November, aged 15 years and 260 days.
The six-footer started life at Milan's academy as a full-back but after blowing everyone away repeatedly and scoring, he moved up the ranks, scoring 485 goals in just 89 appearances for the youth team and scoring twice on his Under-19 debut. for friendship, only 14 years old.
He was Player of the Tournament and scored four goals as Italy won the European Under-17 Championship this summer and is the only player born in 2008 in the Under-19 Championship, where Italy face Northern Ireland on Thursday night.
🚨🔴⚫️ Italian talent Francesco Camarda signed a new deal at AC Milan today, it's done and sealed.
The striker born in 2008 received several offers from abroad but the decision was always clear: stay at AC Milan.
🇮🇹 The new contract will be valid until June 2027. pic.twitter.com/gBGa0EBY4I
– Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 7, 2024
Mike Moore – Tottenham
The striker has been playing for Spurs under-21s since he was 15 and has helped the under-17s and under-18s win Premier League trophies.
Moore signed schoolboy terms last summer which will see his contract turn pro when he turns 17 in August and came off the bench against Man City in May to become Tottenham's youngest ever Premier League player at 16 years and 277 days.
Moore has scored four goals in three games against France, Portugal and Spain at the European Under-17 Championship this summer and netted his first club goal on Wednesday night as Spurs won their pre-season opener at Hearts.
Ange Postecoglou clearly rates the youngster to be kept for development rather than sent out on loan.
16-year-old Mike Moore scored his first senior goal for Tottenham today in a pre-season friendly against Hearts… Lucas Bergvall also provided an assist 😍🤝🏽
I'm not going to lie… Tottenham's future looks very bright. He likes to see you. 😮💨
– Rising Ballers (@RisingBallers_) July 17, 2024
Franco Mastantuono – River Plate
The child tennis prodigy took a while to warm up to football but the flamboyant Argentine magician has already made his mark.
The attacker – who won't turn 17 until August – became the youngest goalscorer in River's history when he netted in the Argentina Cup win over Excursionistas on February 8 and also netted in the Copa Libertadores win over Libertad on April.
Real Madrid, Barcelona and Man United are said to want to remove him from the production list, which has improved the likes of Enzo Fernandez and Julian Alvarez in recent years.
Franco Mastantuono vs Barracas Central (Real Madrid Target)
(RW/AM) – 16 years pic.twitter.com/maFBIlCRRo
— 🌘 (@_99archive) June 28, 2024
The left winger broke Victor Osimhen's record for most goals in AFCON under-17 2023 and was soon handed his international debut in August 2023, aged 15 years and 94 days.
Diouf was only 16 years old in June and is at the Generation Foot academy in Dakar that produced Sadio Mane, and as a former Liverpool and Bayern Munich man, he will join Metz in France when he comes of age in 2026, in the Ligue 1 team. beating competition from all the top sides of the continent to close agreement.
Amara Diouf became the youngest player ever to play for Senegal – born in 2008, aged 15 years and 94 days. ✨🇸🇳
LW from the Generation Foot academy that produced Sadio Mané.
He joins Metz, a deal has been agreed for the future. 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/HuFu4x3CSA
– Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 10, 2023
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