Last year a new batch of footballers entrenched themselves as household names in world football, elevating their games to new, scintillating heights. 

Whether through stellar club form or starring for their national team in a big tournament, the very best found ways to separate themselves from the rest. In 2021 we saw the likes of Manuel Locatelli, Jack Grealish and Pedri all take the leap. 

In 2022, here’s seven players best positioned to blaze their own path to superstardom.

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Florian Wirtz

The prodigy, the golden boy, the best young talent in the world - whatever you want to call him, Florian Wirtz is THE player to look out for in 2022. 

Ripping it apart in the Bundesliga for Bayern Leverkusen, Wirtz, at only 18 years of age, displays class and composure occupying the number 10 role in Leverkusen’s 4-2-3-1 system. Wirtz has the physical ability to roam from that position and press high on the backline, as well as dropping in to dictate tempo from deep. 

He’s brilliant in tight positions and displays unworldly close control. He does exhibit naivety at times in his playmaking, but when he gets it right, it’s something to behold. 0.90 goal creating actions per 90 this season in the league just shows how deadly he can be with his playmaking. His close control brilliance can be displayed with his 63.6% successful dribbling percentage, ranking in the top 90 percentile for the Bundesliga this year. 

You should expect a move to one of Europe’s elite clubs in the summer, as despite his age, he’s shown just how good he can be. While the price tag will be on the higher end, it’ll be worth it when he leads his next club to the ultimate glory. 

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Callum Hudson-Odoi 

When you think of Chelsea attackers that have been influential this season, your mind perhaps shifts to one of the club’s big money singings in recent years. And that would be a mistake. 

While Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Romelu Lukaku haven’t hit the heights expected of them since moving to West London, Chelsea have always been able to fall back on their vaunted academy with Callum Hudson-Odoi shining this season. Mason Mount and Reece James have understandably been the biggest hits where Chelsea’s youth is concerned, yet what Hudson-Odoi has produced in his limited minutes has been brilliant.

The 21-year-old is third in the league for shot-creating actions per 90 with 5.44 and 2nd for progressive carries and carries into the final third with 11.2 and 3.79 respectively. He also has the second-most carries that end in a key pass this season with 14. These stats show just how important he is for Chelsea to break down teams who sit in a low block. 

Should he get the minutes he deserves in the second half of the season, you can expect to see his name a lot more in 2022, while the English national team will also be keeping a close eye on him as we approach the World Cup in December. 

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Karim Adeyemi

The only player on this list who has yet to get that move to a ‘big’ club, Karim Adeyemi is currently tearing the Austrian Bundesliga to shreds and will probably replicate that form in any league he moves to. The 19-year-old German number 9 is scoring goals for fun and putting his name in the mind of scouts all over Europe. 14 goals in 15 starts so far this season, he also has stared on the Champions League stage, scoring a brace against Lille and following that up with a goal against Wolfsburg. 

Considering his age, Adeyemi is still very raw and has flaws in his game. His ball control can be loose at times, and he can’t quite link-up play like other strikers yet. However, he makes up for that with deadly finishing and intelligent off the ball running. He ranks in the top 2% for progressive passes received in the Champions League this year, showing how good he is at making space and getting in good areas. His 0.27 goals per shot ratio are the best in his career to date, further showing how clinical he's becoming.

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Gavi 

2020 was Ansu Fait, 2021 was Pedri, 2022 will be Gavi. 

It seems like we are heading into another golden generation at La Masia and with Xavi now pulling the reigns, perhaps a brighter future for Barcelona is on the cards.

At only 17-years-old Gavi displays confidence and composure decades above his age. In Barcelona’s time of need, he’s been there to give them a massive helping hand. While still growing into his body and playing style, he remains a commanding presence on the pitch which will only grow stronger as he gets older. He’s dominating at both national and club level and is definitely one to watch for in 2022. 

His yearly stats speak for themselves; 0.37 goal-creating actions per 90, 1.18 passes into the penalty area, 0.68 carries into the penalty area, 5.32 progressive passes received. These stats for a 17-year-old are astonishing. Lookout for the World Cup at the end of the year, where it wouldn’t surprise to see this young phenom dictating La Rioja’s midfield alongside some of Europe’s elite. 

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Antony

With the season that Ajax is having it’d be rude to not include at least one player from Erik Ten Hag’s brilliant side. And perhaps the jewel in the crown is Antony. The incredibly pacey and stylish Brazilian winger has been performing very well in the Eredivisie this season with that form also translating to the Champions League. The left-footed winger plays predominantly on the right-hand side, this season has been an exhibition at cutting in on his preferred foot and doing damage. 7 goal contributions in 12 starts in the league and 6 goal contributions in 5 games in Europe. He’s class personified. 

A big money move to a top European club could be in the works for the Brazilian this summer, especially if Ajax face a similar style cleanout to which they suffered not too long ago. The 21-year old from Sao Paulo has the attributes of a winger that will fit in perfectly at a top club. He’s willing to do the off-the-ball pressing as well as being incredibly intelligent and tactically aware. He could even make an appearance for Brazil in Qatar at the World Cup and provide the the 5-time champs a different, dynamic edge.

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Benoît Badiashile 

When you think of French centre-halves your mind will probably drifts to the likes of Raphael Varane, Jules Koundé, Dayot Upamecano and potentially even Kurt Zouma. You’d be forgiven if you forgot about Benoît Badiashile. Monaco’s aggressive centre half is making waves in the French first division this season and at only 20 years of age, he represents the future of French defenders. 

The left-footer is very competent playing on both sides of defence, as standing at 6foot 3inches tall, he is a menace in the air. Currently having a fantastic season at Monaco, it shouldn’t be a surprise if he is linked to some major clubs looking for a left-footed centre back in the summer. 

His overly aggressive nature has its absolute pros, as well as its cons. Starting with the pros, he is very good with the ball at his feet. This season in the league has completed 6.18 passes into the final third per 90, whilst completing 46.85 medium passes per 90 - both metrics ranking in the top 1% of Ligue 1 centre backs. He is also very strong in a tackle, having 1.48 tackles won per 90 this season. Where this overly aggressive nature has its cons is that his 1.48 fouls committed per 90 is way too high for someone looking to break into Europe’s elite. 

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Dominik Szoboszlai

A commentator’s nightmare, Dominik Szoboszlai made a splash in 2021 but in 2022 he is bound to make an even bigger impact on the footballing world. After securing a big Bundesliga move to RB Leipzig, the Hungarian international has already shown his class in his limited time. Playing predominantly on the left-hand side on an attacking midfield 3 his physical presence in such an attacking role makes him more than a handful to deal with and defence have already found it hard to contain the young maestro. Since his move to Germany, he has only elevated his game, showing that he can handle the pressure and will deliver on the big stage. 

On offence, he is very technical and creative. Being able to dictate the tempo in the final third and always proving to be a constant threat. This can be exhibited by his 4.87 shot-creating actions per 90 and 0.83 goal creating actions per 90. He can contribute from deep as well, as his 2.94 key passes testifies. Defensively he is more than capable, with 2.27 blocks and 1.21 clearances ranking in the top 5% of attacking midfielders in the Bundesliga. Already having secured his big move, for now, Szoboszlai will be looking to continue his domination in the league and transcend that form into European competitions. 

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