Alexis Sanchez, Gareth Bale… Macauley Chrisantus? Where are the top 50 ‘most exciting teenage footballers’ from the year 2007
Ten years ago, World Soccer predicted which 50 youngsters would set the world alight... with some hits and a load of misses
IT'S always brave, or perhaps just daft, to make long-term predictions in football.
How often do you see pundits make outlandish claims, only to see them thrown back in their faces down the line.
Ten years ago, World Soccer magazine opted to be bold and predict which 50 teenage footballers will become the next big things in football.
While they made some absolutely spot-on claims, they also made some hilariously poor guesses.
From Alexis Sanchez and Gareth Bale to Macauley Chrisantus and Sadick Adams, the list makes for a fun read.
Check out the list of full 50 - and what they're up to now - below...
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1. SADICK ADAMS - Ghana - Atletico Madrid (Club in 2007)
Top of the pile, Adams moved to Atletico Madrid's B team in 2008, but never made the grade there, before playing in a host of lower-tier European, African and Asian leagues.
2. ISMAIL AISSATI - Holland - PSV
A Football Manager favourite of the masses, Aissati failed to make the grade in Holland, now playing in Turkey with Alanyaspor.
3. ALEXANDRE PATO - Brazil - AC Milan
After 51 Serie A goals for Pato, things were looking up... before he completely lost it, with an horrific spell at Chelsea in 2016 the icing on the cake. Now in China.
4. ANDERSON - Brazil - Man United
He was supposed to set the world alight... instead the flying winger was transformed in a box-to-box midfielder who chronically lacked stamina. Now at Coritiba on loan.
5. GIOVANI DOS SANTOS - Mexico - Barcelona
Stints at Barcelona and Tottenham showed brief glimpses of promise, but he never lived up to his potential and now plays in the MLS with LA Galaxy.
6. GARETH BALE - Wales - Tottenham
World Soccer's first real hit... as Bale shone at Spurs before bagging a mega-money move to Real where he has won trophy-after-trophy, including back-to-back Champions League titles.
7. SERGIO AGUERO - Argentina - Atletico Madrid
We're rolling now, with Aguero easily ranking amongst the world's best strikers since swapping Atleti for Man City in 2011.
8. BOJAN - Spain - Barcelona
Once the hottest prospect in football, Bojan has somewhat fallen away since his Barcelona days, now on loan at Alaves from Stoke.
9. BRENO BORGES - Brazil - Sao Paulo
Left Brazil for Bayern Munich in 2008, but struggled to make the grade in four years in Germany, before heading back to Sao Paulo in 2015 following a career break.
10. GERARDO BRUNA - Argentina - Liverpool
Turned down Real Madrid to join the Reds, but never made a Premier League appearance before stints at Blackpool, Tranmere, Whitehawk and Accrington. Now at Ottawa Fury.
11. ANGEL DI MARIA - Argentina - Benfica
Shone at Benfica, thrived at Real Madrid, stalled a tad at Man United but back to his best at PSG... it's been a superb career for Di Maria.
12. DIEGO BUONANOTTE - Argentina - River Plate
Left Argentina in 2011 to join La Liga side Malaga, before a spell at Granada. Now turning out for Universidad Catolica in Chile
13. FRANCO DI SANTO - Argentina - Audax Italiano
Joined Chelsea in 2008, making just eight Premier League appearances before spells at Blackburn at Wigan. Got his career back on track in Germany, with Werder Bremen and Schalke.
14. MACAULEY CHRISANTUS - Nigeria - Abuja
Shipped off to Hamburg in 2007 and bounced around Europe, never truly settling. 20 goals in 67 games for Las Palmas is arguably his career highlight. Now turns out for Lamia in Greece.
15. KARIM BENZEMA - France - Lyon
We all know this one... Benzema is part of Real Madrid's fearsome front-three. 123 La Liga goals in just 250 games tells you everything you need to know.
16. DUMITRU COPIL - Romania - Hearts
The less said the better, really. From Hearts, Copil's career cliff-dived. Moved to Romanian minnows Gloria Arad where he was sent away on loan FIVE times. Now in Romania's third tier.
17. FABIO - Brazil - Fluminese
Never really lived up to the hype during his six years at Man United. A spell at QPR on loan preceded permanent stints at Cardiff and current club Middlesbrough.
18. KERMIT ERASMUS - South Africa - SuperSport United
Mustered a move to Feyenoord in 2008, but was sent back to South African in 2010. Brought back to Europe by Rennes in 2016, now on loan at Lens.
19. FABIO COENTRAO - Portugal - Benfica
Tipped for glory very early in his Benfica career, Coentrao bagged a move to Real Madrid in 2011, while earning 52 Portugal caps. Now on loan at Sporting.
20. MAROUANE FELLAINI - Belgium - Standard Liege
Bagged a move to Everton in 2008 where he established a real reputation for himself. Stuttered early in his United career, but has recently shown signs of getting back to his best.
21. GUILHERME - Brazil - Cruzeiro
Hot prospect ten years ago, more of a "remember him?" now. Two years in Europe with Dynamo Kiev saw him shipped back to South America. Now at Atletico Paraneanse.
22. DAMIAN ISMODES - Peru - Club Sport Cristal
A brief spell in Spain with Racing Santander is about as good as it got for the Peruvian. Now at Deportivo Municipal in Peru, via Cienciano and Leon Huanuco.
23. LORENZO DE SILVESTRI - Italy - Lazio
A Serie A stalwart, De Silvestri has carved out a solid career during time at Lazio, Fiorentina and Sampdoria. Now at Torino.
24. NOUR HADHRIA - Tunisia - Club Africain
If you've never heard of him, don't judge yourself. Hadhria never made it out of Tunisia - barring a one-season spell in Moldova with Speranta Nisporeni...
25. RABIU IBRAHIM - Nigeria - Sporting Club
No league appearances for Sporting, two for PSV and just one for Celtic... things haven't really gone Ibrahim's way. Not at Solvan Bratislava in Slovakia.
26. KERLON - Brazil - Cruzeiro
After joining Inter Milan, things were looking up. But, he failed to play a single game before being loaned out four times. Since then has played for Fujieda, Weymouth Wales, Miami Dade, Silema Wanderers, Villa Nova and Spartak Trnava. Ouch.
27. TONI KROOS - Germany - Bayern Munich
Over 100 league games for Bayern and Real Madrid, including three Bundsliga titles, one La Liga crown and the World Cup with Germany. He's done pretty well, I'd say.
28. JUAN MATA - Spain - Valencia
Successful stints at Valencia, Chelsea and now Manchester United, the 41-cap Spain international has certainly lived up to his potential.
29. LULINHA - Brazil - Corinthians
It just never happened for the Brazilian, who's career fell into something of a Lul... Stints in South America led him to join South Korean side Pohang Steelers.
30. SAPOL MANI - Togo - Maranatha
Currently plays ion the Moldovan National Division after stints in Libya and Algeria. Enough said.
31. CRISTIAN NAZARIT - Colombia - America de Cali
Spells in the US and even the Colombian second tier, it's not been the career Nazarit was tipped for. Now turning out in the Japanese second tier...
32. RANSFORD OSEI - Ghana - Kessben FC
Spent time in Israel, South Africa and Finland, he now plays for Finnish club Santa Claus. Merry Christmas.
33. AARON NIGUEZ - Spain - Valencia
Earned himself four caps for Spain's Under-21s in 2008-09, but since then he's bounced around a host of Spanish minnows, including Tenerife and Oviedo.
34. DANIEL OPARE - Ghana - Ashanti Gold
Worked his way into the Real Madrid second team, before moving to Standard Liege were he racked up 88 league appearances. Left to join Porto in 2014 but failed to cut it in Portugal. Now on loan at Lens from Augsburg.
35. FRAN MERIDA - Spain - Arsenal
Flopped at Arsenal, joined Atletico Madrid, failed to make it there, before heading off to Spanish minnows Hercules. Now at Osasuna via Atletico Paranaense and Huesca.
36. NIKOLAY MIHAYLOV - Bulgaria - Liverpool
Tipped to be a future top stopper, the goalkeeper joined Twente in 2010 after precisely zero league appearances for Liverpool. Now at Turkish second-tier side Mersin Idmanyurdu.
37. MESUT OZIL - Germany - Schalke
This chap needs no introduction having enjoyed fruitful spells at Real Madrid and Arsenal. The 86-cap Germany international is set to be available on a free transfer this summer.
38. ANDREA RUSSOTTO - Italy - Bellinzona
Failed to make the grade in Italy, but has carved out careers at clubs including Treviso and Catanzaro in Serie C. Now at third-tier side Catania.
39. RENATO AUGUSTO - Brazil - Flamengo
Joined Bayer Leverkusen in 2007 and spent four great years in Germany. Spent time back in Brazil, before becoming one of the first big-money Chinese Super League signings, with Beijing Guoan.
40. HENRI SAIVET - France - Bordeaux
Another Football manager legend, it never quite panned out for Saivet. Did manage four games for Newcastle, but spent most of last season at Saint-Etienne.
41. MICAH RICHARDS - England - Man City
Spent a decade at Manchester City, before and during the money-bags era. Joined Aston Villa in 2015... where he still plays today.
42. ALEXIS SANCHEZ - Chile - Udinese
Another huge name on the list, Sanchez's career has gone from strength-to-strength, from Udinese to Barcelona and now Arsenal. Could be on his way to Man City in the coming months.
43. SERGIO TEJERA - Spain - Chelsea
Left Chelsea without a Premier League appearance to his name, Tejera has spent time in Spain with Mallorca and Espanyol. Now at Gimnastic in the Spanish second tier.
44. MAREK SUCHY - Czech Republic - Slavia Prague
Not a flashy name, but since leaving Prague, Suchy has played hundreds of times for Champions League regulars Spartak Moscow and Basel.
45. IVAN RAKITIC - Croatia - Schalke
Career is still on the upward trajectory, having joined Sevilla from Schalke, before playing well over 100 times for Barcelona, while adding 86 international caps.
46. ABDOU RAZACK TRAORE - Ivory Coast - Rosenborg
Instantly forgettable, the Ivorian joined Lechia Gdansk prior four years in Turkey. Now at Konyaspor.
47. CARLOS VELA - Mexico - Arsenal
Tipped to become the next big thing, Vela did manage 29 Premier League games at Arsenal. However, was sent on loan four times, including to West Brom. Now at Los Angeles FC.
48. THEO WALCOTT - England - Arsenal
Not always a fan-favourite at the Emirates, but Walcott has enjoyed a strong career, including 264 Prem games for Arsenal and 47 caps for England.
49. GREGORY VAN DER WIEL - Holland - Ajax
Now at Cagliari in Italy, Van der Wiel spent five years at Ajax, four at French giants PSG and one season at Fenerbahce.
50. EVER BANEGA - Argentina - Boca Juniors
Spent six seasons at Valencia after leaving Boca, before joining Sevilla and Inter Milan. Now back at Sevilla, where he won two Europa League titles in his first stint.
