TheSuperNerd:
Javier Saviola. Indeed you are spot on Sir Tbaba.

I also recall Dudu from UAE 2003 U-20, same tournament that had a certain Andreas Iniesta of Spain. Iniesta was not reckoned with much but Dudu was... Dudu faded but Iniesta went on to be world class. Same with Dani Alves who won Bronze ball... Dani Alves outshone the golden and silver ball winners (Ismail Matar and Dudu) based on who made it at the top of the game.

There are couple more of such examples of young talents who exploded at U-20 level but still didnt make the grade at senior level. Well said.

TheGoodJoe:


It does not count. We have even the likes of Toni Kroos, Fabregas, David Silva, Ronaldinho, David De Gea, Marcelo and many more become prolific after their U17 days. As long as Osimhen keeps working hard, his time will come.

Petrobros:


"It doesn't count". That is how you guys hyped Iheanacho here. From the way you guys were going about it you should be heart broken that at this stage he is struggling for game time in a club like Leicester City.

I just dey look una those days. Na Icon4s get time.

Petrobros:


"It doesn't count". That is how you guys hyped Iheanacho here. From the way you guys were going about it you should be heart broken that at this stage he is struggling for game time in a club like Leicester City.

I just dey look una those days. Na Icon4s get time.

Icon4s:


From that your list only Toni Kroos and Ronaldinho were really outstanding at the U17.

The other players blossomed as they advanced in age. Being an MVP or highest goal scorer at U17 does not mean you will be the best player of your generation or class.

At a point some of you were already reserving the number 9 jersey for Osimhen. You probably thought right from his first season at Wolfsburg he will start tearing down defenses.

Being a highest goal scorer at U17 shouldn't give you an automatic ticket to the Super Eagles. He still has to work hard to earn it. He doesn't even deserve the singlular cap he got under Rohr.

For now, he has not done enough to be considered.

Icon4s:


From that your list only Toni Kroos and Ronaldinho were really outstanding at the U17.

The other players blossomed as they advanced in age. Being an MVP or highest goal scorer at U17 does not mean you will be the best player of your generation or class.

At a point some of you were already reserving the number 9 jersey for Osimhen. You probably thought right from his first season at Wolfsburg he will start tearing down defenses.

Being a highest goal scorer at U17 shouldn't give you an automatic ticket to the Super Eagles. He still has to work hard to earn it. He doesn't even deserve the singlular cap he got under Rohr.

For now, he has not done enough to be considered.

TheSuperNerd:
Those two @bolded vex me pass... Bruno Gama was touted as the next Rui Costa or so... quite talented he was but zilch... he did not pull through. Same with the former world famous super teen, Freddy Adu... his own ehn is just annoying. These stuffs happen.

Icon4s:


From that your list only Toni Kroos and Ronaldinho were really outstanding at the U17.

The other players blossomed as they advanced in age. Being an MVP or highest goal scorer at U17 does not mean you will be the best player of your generation or class.

At a point some of you were already reserving the number 9 jersey for Osimhen. You probably thought right from his first season at Wolfsburg he will start tearing down defenses.

Being a highest goal scorer at U17 shouldn't give you an automatic ticket to the Super Eagles. He still has to work hard to earn it. He doesn't even deserve the singlular cap he got under Rohr.

For now, he has not done enough to be considered.

Danielnino00:




Form is temporary, class is permanent......

Forca Milan!!

Icon4s:


From that your list only Toni Kroos and Ronaldinho were really outstanding at the U17.

The other players blossomed as they advanced in age. Being an MVP or highest goal scorer at U17 does not mean you will be the best player of your generation or class.

At a point some of you were already reserving the number 9 jersey for Osimhen. You probably thought right from his first season at Wolfsburg he will start tearing down defenses.

Being a highest goal scorer at U17 shouldn't give you an automatic ticket to the Super Eagles. He still has to work hard to earn it. He doesn't even deserve the singlular cap he got under Rohr.

For now, he has not done enough to be considered.

asha80:
what happened to Freddy adu self? that hype on that guy was too much

BascoVanVeli:



We should be able to win without either but they are both very important players for us. Moses is just as important in his own way.

TheSuperNerd:
Honestly, he was a true gem at such a young age. Ghanaian born American Wonder.... But the fame and early over exposure to the spotlights kinda derailed his focus and development. He started towing the path of a flexing Hollywood star rather than a disciplined footballer. I guess he just was not mentally prepared or matured to handle the hypes and weight of expectations.

Freddy at a time was even better than Messi.... Yep... But such is life some times. Fame is good... Being in the spotlight is awesome but only when you are determined to not let it derail you or distract you. Look at Mbappe, he costs 180 million or so and is the world's most expensive teen footballer ever but he is doing his very best to stay grounded and focused.

See one of many articles written to find out what happened to Freddy Adu the former super teen.

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/freddy-adu-us-national-team-mls-2015/

TheSuperNerd:
Honestly, he was a true gem at such a young age. Ghanaian born American Wonder.... But the fame and early over exposure to the spotlights kinda derailed his focus and development. He started towing the path of a flexing Hollywood star rather than a disciplined footballer. I guess he just was not mentally prepared or matured to handle the hypes and weight of expectations.

Freddy at a time was even better than Messi.... Yep... But such is life some times. Fame is good... Being in the spotlight is awesome but only when you are determined to not let it derail you or distract you. Look at Mbappe, he costs 180 million or so and is the world's most expensive teen footballer ever but he is doing his very best to stay grounded and focused.

See one of many articles written to find out what happened to Freddy Adu the former super teen.

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/freddy-adu-us-national-team-mls-2015/

asha80:
chai no wonder but truth be told only very few people at that age can handle fame, money and stardom.. mbappe seems to be proving to be one of those

TheSuperNerd:
HT in China's CSL and Mikel Obi is having a fine game so far....

Tianjin Teda 2-0 Zhicheng

Mikel leads in dribbles won in the game and his defensive contribution is also on point.

TheSuperNerd:
Honestly, he was a true gem at such a young age. Ghanaian born American Wonder.... But the fame and early over exposure to the spotlights kinda derailed his focus and development. He started towing the path of a flexing Hollywood star rather than a disciplined footballer. I guess he just was not mentally prepared or matured to handle the hypes and weight of expectations.

Freddy at a time was even better than Messi.... Yep... But such is life some times. Fame is good... Being in the spotlight is awesome but only when you are determined to not let it derail you or distract you. Look at Mbappe, he costs 180 million or so and is the world's most expensive teen footballer ever but he is doing his very best to stay grounded and focused.

See one of many articles written to find out what happened to Freddy Adu the former super teen.

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/freddy-adu-us-national-team-mls-2015/

TheGoodJoe:




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqmowgmKt1o

This clip will give a hint of how good Freddy Adu was in his U20 days for America. They beat Brazil in this match. Adu was on top of Marcelo in the game. Adu's move before the winning goal was insane.

Some other names of the 2007 worth mentioning are Cavani, Luiz Suarez, Willian, David Luiz and the great Marcelo.

TheGoodJoe:




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqmowgmKt1o

This clip will give a hint of how good Freddy Adu was in his U20 days for America. They beat Brazil in this match. Adu was on top of Marcelo in the game. Adu's move before the winning goal was insane.

Some other names of the 2007 worth mentioning are Cavani, Luiz Suarez, Willian, David Luiz and the great Marcelo.

Amedino99:

I am so shocked that a guy so good like this flopped. Well what about the brazilian goal keeper he was also good what happened to him

TheGoodJoe:


I wonder who hyped Iheanacho the way you guys keep making such baseless and false allegations. There was a keyword hammered like a talking drum on this thread was that Nacho needs to "work" very hard to achieve greatness. I particularly hammered repeatedly that Nacho needs to stay back at Manchester City, even if it is on the bench and keep learning. If he was the best thing since Nicolas Anelka, will I advice that Nacho keeps learning.

Sorry but your point is not true.

TheGoodJoe:


Ronaldinho was and he was very brilliant in the final game of the U17. Toni Kroos team let him down. His quality was not in doubt. I think he scored our team with the best keeper in the tournament a brilliant free kick. Not long after that he made his debut for Bayern Munich.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J42_2xud6Ow

Watch the U17 1997 final clip. The lanky Kid that took the shot the keeper saved and gave the assist for the second goal was Ronaldinho. He was brilliant. Then he was referred to as the new Ronaldo. By then De Lima was the best player in the World.

Petrobros:


We don tay for this thread o.

I was here when he was compared with likes of Aguero and Gabriel Jesus. The debate on who is better between him and Rashford plus Mbappe was also fierce here. Where is Iheanacho today compared to those other players he was being compared with. TheGoodJoe fear God o.

Icon4s:


Yes I know. That is why I picked him and Kroos from that your list. Go back to that my comment and read again.

Any young player can come out good but the kind of certainty you placed on certain players was what I was against.

You practically believed Osimhen would have strolled into the Eagles line up by now.

TheGoodJoe:


I have been doing this for too long to believe in practically stroll into the starting lineup. A player can be good but the wrong position can make him look bad. Wrong style of play can also affect display of quality. These are what they call picks. It takes time for young players to reach their Potentials some times.

Look at Renato Augusto who was hailed as the best in the 2007 U20 Brazil team. There was a time he was off radar. It took him close to a decade to make his breakthrough into the Brazilian team. It is never a snap of the fingers. I still see Osimhen making a big break but it depends on hard Work and a series of good Fortune.

TheGoodJoe:
Jo's problem was over confidence in his ability and he stopped working hard.

Icon4s:


Of course Osimhen and other young players will get their time if they continue working hard and improving.

I know the argument that ensued here between me and TheSuperNerd on whether Kelechi Nwakali would have broken into the Super Eagles team before the 2018 WC.

We know these players are talented but the expectations on them to blow so early was so high.

You and I have no control over the development of these players so u cannot come openly to beat your chest that this player will do this or this player will do that.

As I have always said, I have seen very obvious talents all around the World fail to live to expectations. So I cannot vouche for any young player predicting he will be pulling up trees when he has not even started playing professional football.

My ideology is I Watch how a young player is developing and see him compete at certain levels before knowing whether to expect much from him or less.

I will always like to see an U17 star compete again at U20 and possibly U21 or U23.

Icon4s:


How did you know he stopped working hard?

You think the only path to success is hardwork and anyone who has failed didn't work hard?