A list that identified some of the best talent born in 1998 has re-emerged – and a number of high-profile players feature, including Martin Odegaard and Federico Valverde.
Back in October 2015, The Guardian claimed to have “scoured the world” in a bid to find some of the best players born in ’98.
Three goalkeepers, seven defenders, 20 midfielders and 19 forwards are included in the list but only a handful went on to establish themselves on the international stage.
Luca Fernandez, the second-eldest son of Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane, was the first goalkeeper to feature. At the time, he had just won the European Championship title with France Under-17s.
He was also playing for Real Madrid B but four years after the list was published, Luca left Los Blancos to join Rayo Vallecano. The 26-year-old recently signed for second division side Granada.
Three others French players are also named alongside Fernandez, including Bilal Boutobba, Dayot Upamecano and former Arsenal man Jeff Reine-Adelaide, who now plays for Serie B side Salernitana.
Here is the full list of players and where they are now:
Franco Lopez – currently a free agent, last played for Argentine side Canuelas in 2022.
Tomás Conechny – now at La Liga club Deportivo Alavés.
Panos Armenakas – now at USL Championship side Memphis 901 FC.
Sandi Lovric – now at Serie A outfit Udinese.
Ismail Azzaoui – now plays for Araz-Naxçıvan in the Azerbaijan Premier League.
Evander Ferreira – now plays for Major League Soccer side Portland Timbers.
Lincoln – now at Turkish side Fenerbahce.
Matheus Pereira – now plays for Spanish club Eibar.
Jesús Marimón – now at Colombian side Deportes Quindío.
Davor Lovren – currently a free agent, last played for Croatian side Kustošija.
Dominik Smekal – now plays for Czech third division club Hlučín.
Jacob Bruun Larsen – now plays at Bundesliga club Hoffenheim.
Kaan Kairinen – now plays for Czech First League side Sparta Prague.
Bilal Boutobba – now plays at Ligue 2 club Clermont.
Dayot Upamecano – now plays for Bundesliga outfit Bayern Munich.
Image credit: Getty
Jeff Reine-Adelaide – now plays at Serie B club Salernitana.
Luca Fernández – now plays for Spanish side Granada CF.
Fabian Benko – now plays for Bayernliga Süd club FC Pipinsried.
Felix Passlack – now plays at Bundesliga club VfL Bochum.
Dimitris Limnios – now plays at Super League side Panathinaikos.
Reza Shekari – now plays for Iranian club Sepahan.
Haviv Ohayon – now plays at Israeli Premier League side Hapoel Hadera on loan from Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Manuel Locatelli – now plays for Serie A giants Juventus.
Manuel Nicoletti – now at Serie C Group C club Picerno.
Ritsu Doan – now plays for Bundesliga club SC Freiburg.
Sidiki Maiga – now at Spanish side Azuqueca.
Pablo López – now plays at Mexican outfit Jaguares.
Ulises Torres – now plays for Mexican club Leones Negros UdeG.
Hachim Mastour – now at Malaysia Super League outfit Selangor FC.
Javairô Dilrosun – now plays for Liga MX club América.
Justin Bijlow – now at Eredivisie club Feyenoord.
Timothy Fosu-Mensah – currently a free agent, last played for Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.
Han Kwang-song – now at DPRK Premier League club April 25 Sports Club.
Martin Odegaard – now at Premier League side Arsenal.
Image credit: Getty
Rafik Zekhnini – now at Eliteserien club Sarpsborg 08.
Krystian Bielik – now at League One club Birmingham City.
Pedro Pereira – now at Serie A side Monza.
Ianis Hagi – now plays for Scottish Premiership club Rangers.
Artem Galadzhan – now plays for Russian third tier side Irtysh Omsk.
Zehrudin Mehmedovic – now at Serbian League West outfit FK FAP on loan from FK Sloboda Užice.
Jan Mlakar – now plays for Serie B side Pisa.
Liam Jordan – now at Swedish Allsvenskan side IF Brommapojkarna.
Lee Seung-woo – now at South Korean club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
José Luis ‘Kuki’ Salazar – now plays for Spanish side Córdoba CF.
José María Amo – now at Spanish club CD Tenerife.
Dani Olmo – now plays for La Liga side Barcelona.
Zackarias Faour – now at Swedish club Torns IF.
İbrahim Demirbağ – currently a free agent, last played for Turkish side Arnavutköy Belediyesi FSK.
Christian Pulisic – now plays for Serie A club AC Milan.
Federico Valverde – now at La Liga side Real Madrid.