WhoScored's U21 Team of the Season So Far: Lamine Yamal shines alongside Musiala and Wirtz
With the final international break of the year now underway, we’re taking a look at the most impressive young stars in Europe’s top five leagues this season.
Represented in our U21 Team of the Season So Far are Brighton, Juventus, Nantes, RB Leipzig, Union Berlin, PSG, Strasbourg, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen.
To be considered for a place in our XI, players must be born after 31 July 2002, and have made at least seven league appearances so far this season.
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Bart Verbruggen (Brighton) - 6.65
Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen takes up a place between the sticks in our XI, beating out Parma’s Zion Suzuki and Guillaume Restes of Toulouse. Verbruggen, now 22, has established himself as both the Seagulls and the Netherlands’ first-choice ‘keeper this season, having battled for both positions last term. The Dutchman has helped Brighton to two clean sheets so far this season, in a strong start to life under Fabian Hurzeler.
Nicolo Savona (Juventus) - 6.87
One of a number of young players to come to the fore under new Juventus boss Thiago Motta is right-back Nicolo Savona, who made his first-team debut on the opening day of the Serie A campaign. In seven starts thus far, the 21-year-old has two goals to his name, while he has also made 11 key passes, 14 tackles and five interceptions.
Teenage defender Nathan Zeze earns a place in our XI after a series of strong displays for Ligue 1 side Nantes so far this season. The 19-year-old has played a part in two clean sheets, while he has won 11 aerial duels, made 21 tackles, 12 interceptions and 50 clearances.
Castello Lukeba (RB Leipzig) - 7.02
Zeze is joined at the heart of our backline by fellow French centre-back Castello Lukeba, who continues to make a name for himself as one of Europe’s brightest defensive prospects. The 21-year-old, linked with the likes of Liverpool and Real Madrid, has played a crucial role in what has been the best defence in Europe’s top five leagues so far; Leipzig have conceded fewer goals than any other side (five).
Tom Rothe (Union Berlin) - 7.00
Our back four is completed by another Bundesliga talent in Union Berlin left-back Tom Rothe, who has registered two goals and one assist so far this season. Rothe, previously of Borussia Dortmund, has also recorded 19 tackles, five interceptions and 13 clearances in seven league appearances thus far.
After his £60m move from Benfica in the summer, Joao Neves has hit the ground running at PSG, already registering six assists in Ligue 1 this term - at least two more than any other player in the division. Neves has started nine of the champions’ 11 league matches to date, making 36 tackles and 16 key passes.
Andrey Santos (Strasbourg) - 7.44
Following a successful loan spell last season, Chelsea’s Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos returned to Strasbourg again this time around, and has upped the output under new RCSA boss Liam Rosenior. The 20-year-old has already netted five goals in 10 league appearances, more than any other midfielder in the division.
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) - 8.15
It should come as no surprise that Barcelona star Lamine Yamal is the highest rated player in our XI, given his stunning start to the season under new Blaugrana boss Hansi Flick. Yamal has five goals and seven assists to his name in 12 league appearances, while he has won more ground duels than any other player in La Liga so far (80).
Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich) - 7.86
Like Yamal, Jamal Musiala continues to shine for one of Europe’s biggest clubs, with five goals and an assist in eight league matches for Bayern Munich this season. The 21-year-old has also registered four goal involvements in just two UEFA Nations League games for Germany, and struck a first career hat-trick in the DFB Pokal two weeks ago.
Following Kylian Mbappe’s departure in the summer, Bradley Barcola has stepped into the role as PSG’s key man. The France international has already netted 10 goals in 10 league games - at least two more than any other player in Ligue 1 - while he has also provided two assists.
Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen) - 7.71
Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz rounds off our XI, having continued his fine form for the Bundesliga champions so far this season, with four goals and two assists after 10 games. The 21-year-old has also created more chances from open play than any other player in the German top-flight this term (24).
