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2007’s Must-See: 50 Teen Football Superstars!

Revisiting World Soccer’s 50 Most Exciting Teenagers of 2007: Where Are They Now?

Published 07:00 27 Mar 2025 GMT

Back in 2007, esteemed football magazine World Soccer compiled a list of the 50 most promising young talents in global football. The cover of that issue featured a trio of South American stars tipped for greatness: Giovani dos Santos, Alexandre Pato, and Anderson. This prestigious list aimed to pinpoint the future stars of the beautiful game, and looking back now, it offers a fascinating insight into the unpredictable nature of football careers.

Over 17 years have passed since Ghanaian forward Sadick Adams burst onto the scene, captivating scouts with his four goals at the FIFA under-17 World Cup in Korea. His performances led to a pre-contract agreement with Spanish La Liga giants Atletico Madrid in November 2007. Adams even trained alongside future Manchester United and Spain goalkeeper David de Gea during his time with Los Colchoneros.

In his own words, Adams described his friendship with De Gea: “We don’t talk on the phone (calls) but we normally chat on Twitter and Instagram. De Gea is the closest friend among my teammates at Atletico Madrid but he is not too active on social media.”

Despite the initial hype and being lauded by World Soccer, Adams’ career at Atletico Madrid didn’t fully ignite. He made just 17 appearances for their B team before moving to Serbian side Vojvodina in 2009. His journey continued across various continents, with stints in Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, and Tunisia, before he last played for Bangladesh Premier League team Arambagh KS. While his career didn’t reach the heights predicted, his inclusion on this list highlights the volatile path of young football prodigies.

World Soccer’s 2007 list was not just about Sadick Adams. It was a comprehensive compilation, featuring a blend of names that would become household names and others whose careers took different turns. Let’s delve into the full list and see where these once-heralded teenagers are today.

The Definitive List: World Soccer’s Top 50 Teenagers from 2007

Here is the complete list of the 50 ‘most exciting teenagers in the world’ as recognized by World Soccer in 2007:

  1. Sadick Adams – Atletico Madrid. Last played for Arambagh KS (Bangladesh).
  2. Ismaiil Aissati – PSV Eindhoven. Retired in 2023.
  3. Alexandre Pato – AC Milan. Last played for São Paulo (Brazil).
  4. Anderson – Manchester United. Retired in 2019.
  5. Giovani dos Santos – Barcelona. Retired in 2021.
  6. Gareth Bale – Tottenham. Retired in 2023.
  7. Sergio Aguero – Atletico Madrid. Retired in 2021.
  8. Bojan Krkic – Barcelona. Retired in 2023.
  9. Breno Borges – Sao Paulo. Last played for Vasco da Gama (Brazil).
  10. Gerardo Bruna – Liverpool. Currently a free agent.
  11. Angel Di Maria – Benfica. Currently plays for Benfica (Portugal).
  12. Diego Buonanotte – River Plate. Currently plays for Deportes Temuco (Chile).
  13. Franco Di Santo – Audax Italiano. Currently plays for Independiente Rivadavia (Argentina).
  14. Macauley Chrisantus – Abuja FC. Last played for Lynx (Gibraltar).
  15. Karim Benzema – Lyon. Currently plays for Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia).
  16. Dumitru Copil – Hearts. Currently plays for Unirea Sântana (Romania).
  17. Fabio Pereira da Silva – Manchester United. Last played for Grêmio (Brazil).
  18. Kermit Erasmus – SuperSport United. Currently plays for Casric Stars (South Africa).
  19. Fabio Coentrao – Benfica. Retired. Fishing boat owner.
  20. Marouane Fellaini – Standard Liege. Retired in 2024.
  21. Guilherme – Cruzeiro. Currently plays for São Joseense (Brazil).
  22. Darrian Ismodes – Club Sporting Cristal. Currently plays for Carlos Stein (Peru).
  23. Lorenzo De Silvestri – Lazio. Currently plays for Bologna (Italy).
  24. Nour Hadhria – Club Africain. Retired in 2019.
  25. Rabiu Ibrahim – Sporting Lisbon. Last played for Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia).
  26. Kerlon – Cruzeiro. Details not provided in extract.
  27. Toni Kroos – Bayern Munich. Details not provided in extract.
  28. Juan Mata – Real Madrid. Details not provided in extract.
  29. Lulinha – Corinthians. Details not provided in extract.
  30. Sapol Mani – Maranatha F.C. Details not provided in extract.
  31. Cristian Nazarit – America de Cali. Details not provided in extract.
  32. Ransford Osei – Kessben F.C. Details not provided in extract.
  33. Aaron Niguez – Valencia. Details not provided in extract.
  34. Daniel Opare – Ashanti Gold. Details not provided in extract.
  35. Fran Merida – Arsenal. Details not provided in extract.
  36. Nikolay Mihaylov – Levski Sofia. Details not provided in extract.
  37. Mesut Ozil – Schalke. Details not provided in extract.
  38. Andrea Russotto – AC Bellinzona. Details not provided in extract.
  39. Renato Augusto – Flamengo. Details not provided in extract.
  40. Henri Saivet – Bordeaux. Details not provided in extract.
  41. Micah Richards – Manchester City. Details not provided in extract.
  42. Alexis Sanchez – Cobreloa. Details not provided in extract.
  43. Sergio Tejera – Chelsea. Details not provided in extract.
  44. Marek Suchy – Slavia Prague. Details not provided in extract.
  45. Ivan Rakitic – Schalke. Details not provided in extract.
  46. Abdou Razack Traore – Rosenborg. Details not provided in extract.
  47. Carlos Vela – Guadalajara. Details not provided in extract.
  48. Theo Walcott – Arsenal. Details not provided in extract.
  49. Gregory van der Wiel – Ajax. Details not provided in extract.
  50. Ever Banega – Boca Juniors. Details not provided in extract.

While the extract provides detailed updates on the first 25 players, the latter half of the list contains notable names like Gareth Bale, Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria, and Karim Benzema, all of whom went on to achieve significant success in European football. Others like Toni Kroos, Juan Mata, Mesut Ozil, and Alexis Sanchez also forged impressive careers, justifying their inclusion as exciting prospects. Conversely, some players on the list experienced less illustrious careers, highlighting the challenges and uncertainties faced by young footballers aiming for the top.

This 2007 list serves as a compelling reminder of the hopes and predictions surrounding young talent, and the diverse paths their careers can take. From Champions League winners and Ballon d’Or recipients to journeymen and early retirements, the journey of these 50 teenagers is a testament to the thrilling and often unpredictable world of professional football.

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