In the realm of football dreams, two young talents emerged from the shadows of youth teams to illuminate the stadium as regular first-team starters—all within the span of a single year.
Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
Born on April 19, 2005, in Stockport, Manchester, Mainoo joined Manchester United’s youth side at the age of nine.
Due to his success in the youth teams, he was called up to the senior squad in October 2022 for training. On January 10, 2023, Mainoo made his senior debut, starting in a 3–0 EFL Cup victory over Charlton Athletic. On February 19, he made his league debut by coming on as a substitute in a 3–0 victory over Leicester City. He made his Champions League debut on November 29 in a 3-3 away draw against Galatasaray, entering the game as a substitute in the 58th minute.
Mainoo’s first goal for Manchester United came on January 28, 2024, when the team defeated Newport County 4-0 in an FA Cup fourth-round match. A few days later, on February 1, Mainoo scored his first Premier League goal in a 4-3 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with his strike proving decisive as it was the match-winning goal in the 97th minute.
Since his rapid rise, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has been making strides to convince Manchester United’s rising star to switch allegiance from England to play for the Black Stars, as he’s also eligible to play for Ghana [his parents’ homeland], despite him representing England at under-17, under-18, and under-19 levels.
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
Yamal rose through FC Barcelona’s young team, La Masia, and was quickly considered one of the academy’s brightest future stars.
Although Yamal was added to the Juvenil A team already above his age grade for the 2022–2023 season, Xavi chose Yamal and other young players to train with the first team in early September 2022. He had not yet signed a professional deal with the team, but it seemed like he was the academy member that impressed the coach the most.
On April 29, 2023, Yamal made his first-team debut by coming on as a substitute for Gavi in the 83rd minute of a 4-0 La Liga victory over Real Betis. At the age of 15 years, 9 months, and 16 days, Yamal became the youngest player to play for Barcelona’s first team and also had a shot on goal against former Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
On May 14, 2023, he won his first trophy with Barcelona after being a member of the team that won the 2022–2023 La Liga.
At 16 years and 38 days, Yamal became the youngest starter for Barcelona in La Liga on August 20, 2023, when the team defeated Cádiz 2-0 at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. This was his debut start for the club. When he was substituted off with five minutes remaining in the game, the opposing fans gave him a standing ovation for his maiden start.
On August 28, 2023, Yamal made his next starting appearance and was named man of the match for helping Gavi and Robert Lewandowski score two goals each in a 4-3 victory over Villarreal at 16 years and 45 days, becoming the youngest player to give an assist in a Spanish La Liga fixture. Because of his efforts, he was named the first-ever U23 Player of the Month for August.
With a 5-0 victory over Antwerp on September 19, Yamal made his Champions League debut. At 16 years and 68 days old, he was the second-youngest player to compete in the league, behind Youssoufa Moukokob of Borussia Dortmund.
In a 2-2 away draw with Granada on October 8, 2023, Yamal scored his first goal for Barcelona. He broke the records held by Ansu Fati and Fabrice Olinga, respectively, to become the youngest goalscorer for Barcelona and the youngest goalscorer in La Liga history, at the age of 16 years and 87 days.
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Story by : Gabriel Tecco Mensah | univers.ug.edu.gh
