Bellingham, Greenwood and the 10 top youngsters in Europe this season

Football fans are often scrambling to discover the next world class superstar among the best up and coming talents. That said, there are those who, despite their age, shine in the biggest leagues, taking to the rigours of the senior game with ease. With that in mind, we have picked out the top 10 best performing youngsters in Europe's top five leagues this season of players to have made at least five appearances in 2021/22. Ranging from Barcelona to Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United, we take a closer look at those under the age of 21 shining for their team this term... 

10. Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig) - 7.01 

Last September, RB Leipzig spent big to sign Josko Gvardiol from Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb. The defender spent last season on loan with the defending Croat champions to garner further playing time before completing his switch to Germany. Following the departures of Ibrahima Konate and Dayot Upamecano, the 19-year-old has featured more frequently than he may have expected. He has dominated in the air in his short time in the Bundesliga, with an aerial success rate of 80% better than any of the 89 players to have contested 20 or more aerial duels to help earn a WhoScored rating of 7.01. 

9. Ivan Ilic (Verona) - 7.08 

Having played a bit-part role last season, with 10 of his 29 appearances coming from the bench, Ivan Ilic has become a key man for Serie A side Verona this season. The young Serb has been solid off the ball, winning possession in the midfield third 24 times, that ranking among the top 10 players in the division, while a dribble success rate of 81.8% is the sixth best of the 96 players to have attempted 10 or more dribbles in 2021/22. An additional return of three assists is the third best in Italy's top tier and has helped Ilic to a WhoScored rating of 7.08. 

8. Sergino Dest (Barcelona) - 7.19 

After a so-so debut campaign with Barcelona following his 2020 arrival from Ajax, Sergino Dest has upped his game this season even as the Blaugrana struggle. Operating in a number of roles, most recently in a front three alongside Memphis Depay and Ansu Fati, the American is a key man for Barcelona. An ability to ease past opponents has helped endear him to supporters with Dest ranking fourth for successful dribbles (22) in La Liga this season. On top of that, the 20-year-old has mustered a 92.3% pass success rate, and a 93.8% tackle success rate, ranking sixth and fourth, respectively in La Liga, which has contributed towards his WhoScored rating of 7.19. 

7. Dominik Szoboszlai (RB Leipzig) 7.19 

The second RB Leipzig youngster to feature here, Dominik Szoboszlai had to wait a while to make his Bundesliga debut having been injured upon his arrival from Salzburg, but he is making up for lost time. The Hungarian has had a direct hand in four goals in his seven league outings for Jesse Marsch's side, netting twice, with a stand out display coming in a thumping win over VfB Stuttgart back in August. A return of 2.9 key passes per 90 ranks sixth in the division of those to have registered at least 200 minutes of Bundesliga actin this season and it's helped Szoboszlai to a WhoScored rating of 7.19. 

6. Melvin Bard (Nice) - 7.22 

Having struggled for game time with Lyon, Nice made their move for Melvin Bard over the summer and he has proven an astute capture from OL. Bard has become a first team regular for Christophe Galtier's top-four chasing side and his WhoScored rating of 7.22 is the third best for the club. The left-back registered his first assist for the French side last month and was named the WhoScored man of the match in Nice's 2-1 win over Brest prior to the international break, a game in which he scored his first league goal for les Aiglons. The 20-year-old also ranks seventh for possession won in the defensive third (38) to cap a fine start to life in the south of France. 

5. Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.31 

Jude Bellingham continues to go from strength-to-strength for Borussia Dortmund, and it is hard to believe the England international is still only 18 years of age. Having had a direct hand in just four goals in his opening Bundesliga campaign, Bellingham is just one goal or assist away from matching that return this season. The teenager has that ability to break through opponents from midfield, with his return of 17 successful dribbles the sixth best in the Bundesliga this season, and it has helped the former Birmingham man to a WhoScored rating of 7.31. 

4. Mason Greenwood (Manchester United) - 7.36
 

The second England international on this list, having scored just seven times last season, Mason Greenwood is already well on his way to at least matching that total having hit the back of the net four times in the Premier League in 2021/22. While the goals have dried up of late - Greenwood's thundering strike against Leicester ended a four-game goalless run - the youngster is still confident in his ability to go for goal, with 28 shots the fourth highest in the Premier League this season. The 20-year-old's performances have returned a WhoScored rating of 7.36, the fourth best on this leaderboard. 

3. Kamaldeen Sulemana (Rennes) - 7.47 

Rennes have done it again. The Ligue 1 side have nurtured some impressive wingers in the past, including Ousmane Dembele, Ismaila Sarr, Raphinha and Jeremy Doku. They have struck gold once more with Kamaldeen Sulemana, the 19-year-old making an immediate impact following his record-breaking arrival from Nordsjælland. A WhoScored rating of 7.47 is the sixth best in Ligue 1 this season, while four WhoScored man of the match awards is the most in the division. Only teammate Doku (5.4) is completing more dribbles per 90 than Sulemana (4.7), while four goals is also a respectable return for a player who has transitioned to Ligue 1 with ease. 

2. Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) - 7.63 

It's hardly a shock to see Alphonso Davies feature so highly here with the Canadian again excelling for defending Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. Only two players have registered more assists than Davies (3) in Germany's top tier this term, while 31 successful dribbles is at least nine more than any other player in the division. The left-back has also impressed off the ball, making 16 tackles, that ranking among the top 10 players in the Bundesliga, and has contributed to a WhoScored rating of 7.63. 

1. Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen) - 7.64 

While he could do little to help his side avoid a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich on Sunday, Florian Wirtz remains the best rated player under the age of 21 in Europe's top five leagues this season having yielded a WhoScored rating of 7.64. Only Karim Benzema and Paul Pogba (both 7) have registered more assists than Wirtz (6) in Europe's top five leagues this season. Having netted four goals, only Benzema (16), Erling Haaland (12) and Mohamed Salah (11) have had a direct hand in more league goals than the Germany international (10) in 2021/22. 18 key passes is the sixth best in the Bundesliga to cap what has been a superb start to the campaign for Wirtz.