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Barcelona's teenage midfielder has made history for his country, following in the footsteps of some of the game's greatest players

Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney is widely regarded as one of the finest players in English football history, having finished his international career with a record 53 goals to his name from 120 appearances.

His journey began in 2003, when he became the youngest player to ever represent the Three Lions at the age of 17 years and 111 days after coming off the bench in a friendly clash with Australia.

Rooney went on to break the record for England's youngest scorer later that year, firing home in a European Championship qualifier against Macedonia.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTheo Walcott

Theo Walcott's first taste of senior international football came when he received a surprise call up to Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squad for the 2006 World Cup.

The former Southampton and Arsenal winger made his debut in a pre-tournament friendly against Hungary, breaking Rooney's record as the youngest player to ever feature for the Three Lions at the age of 17 years and 75 days.

Walcott ended up being an unused substitute throughout that World Cup but did go on to win 47 caps for his country, scoring eight goals while also appearing at Euro 2012.

Giovanni Reyna

The man who finished third in Goal's 2021 NxGn list has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence since joining Borussia Dortmund's academy ranks in 2019.

Reyna had already represented the United States at U15, U16 and U17 level by that stage, and didn't take long to earn a place in the senior setup.

The midfielder was rewarded for his performances for Dortmund with a USMNT call up in November 2020, and took his international bow the day before his 18th birthday in a 0-0 friendly draw against Wales.

Reyna has since recorded four goals in nine games for his country, with his next outing likely to come when Gregg Berhalter's side resume their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign against Jamaica on Friday.

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Getty ImagesPaulo Futre

Portugal have boasted many world-class players during their history, from legends such as Eusebio to modern-day greats like Cristiano Ronaldo.

Paulo Futre was among those to make his mark for the southern European nation, as he initially became the youngest player in their history when making his international debut in April 1983.

The ex-Sporting CP and Atletico Madrid winger played 41 times for Portugal across his 12-year international career, scoring six goals, and appeared at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

Jude Bellingham reportedly may need surgery on his injured shoulder but the Real Madrid star is attempting to play through the pain.

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Bellingham struggling with shoulder injuryReal Madrid star may need surgeryBut midfielder could play through the painGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The 20-year-old dislocated his shoulder against Rayo Vallecano in early November and was forced to withdraw from England's recent Euro 2024 qualifiers as a result of the problem. The midfielder has been playing through the pain of late and scored in Madrid's 4-2 Champions League win over Napoli on Wednesday, meaning he became the first player to score in each of his first four appearances for Los Blancos in the competition. Now, The Athletic claim surgery 'is an option to completely resolve the issue', however, there are no plans at present for him to go under the knife. The report adds that if he were to have the operation, it would likely take two months to recover.

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Bellingham has been nothing short of remarkable for Madrid since joining the Spanish side in the summer from Borussia Dortmund and his goal against Napoli was his 15th in 16 appearances for the European giants. Madrid are top of La Liga on goal difference ahead of Girona and four points ahead of Barcelona, so losing Bellingham, who is wearing shoulder protection during games, could be a huge blow for their silverware-chasing chances. Madrid's next top scorers behind the England international are Rodrygo (eight), Vinicius Junior (six) and Joselu (six).

GOALWHAT CARLO ANCELOTTI SAID

Following Madrid's win over Cadiz at the weekend, manager Carlo Ancelotti said: “He had and has the problem. But with the protection, he is fine. So he played a very good game today (Sunday).”

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WHAT NEXT FOR JUDE BELLINGHAM?

Madrid take on Granada in La Liga on Saturday. It remains to be seen what course of action Los Blancos will take with Bellingham's injury.

Real Madrid's new marquee teenage signing has ended the season in style after enduring a rough few months

In October 2022, Endrick was the hottest commodity in Brazilian football. The forward, then 16, made his top-flight debut for league winners Palmeiras after years of impressing for the club's youth sides. Later that month, he bagged a brace against Athletico Paranaense to become the youngest goalscorer in Brazilian Serie A history.

He wasn't exactly unknown – Real Madrid had been pursuing Endrick for nearly a year – but Endrick seemed to be on the verge of superstardom. Los Blancos, accordingly, pounced as soon as Palmeiras were willing to negotiate, paying the Brazilian club €60 million (£52m/$64m) to secure his services starting in summer 2024 – a record fee for a Brasilerao side.

And it's been something of a mixed year since then. Endrick endured a miserable start to the campaign and experienced a middling few months. But recently, though, the teenager has come alive, and looked like the future star many expect him to become.

It all amounts to the arc of a young player growing his way into the game, and navigating the standard highs and lows that come with being so good, so young.

GOAL takes a look inside Endrick's tumultuous, yet successful, 2023…

Getty ImagesDecember 2022: Madrid make their move

After much speculation – and lengthy transfer pursuit from a number of Europe's top clubs – Madrid sealed the signature of Palmeiras' hottest prospect during the 2022 World Cup. They shelled out €60m (£52m/$64m) for the youngster, coordinating with the same scout who found Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Federico Valverde to seal the deal.

It didn't matter that the teenager had only made his first team debut two months previously. Madrid had been working on the transfer for years, and paid a premium to get their man.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesJanuary 2023: Palmeiras sell key players

Still, the 16-year-old wasn't guaranteed to be a first team regular. Far from it. Palmeiras had a number of more experienced options who seemed likely to keep Endrick out of the side, stunting his growth before it could properly begin.

But that changed with the sales of Danilo and Gustavo Scarpa to Nottingham Forest in January. Although neither was an out-and-out striker, they shouldered a solid chunk of attacking load. Their departures, then, opened a spot for Endrick to thrive.

Spring 2023: Extended goal drought

But it didn't go smoothly for the teenager. Endrick's struggles started almost immediately after he agreed a deal with Madrid, the 16-year-old embarking on a lengthy goalless spell. Most of it seemed to be self-inflicted, as Endrick looked like he was trying to do too much for his team.

The numbers were undoubtedly concerning, though. Endrick started eight of 10 games to open the season, failed to register a goal contribution, and missed four big chances. It mattered little that his side were struggling without attacking talent around the youngster; this was a soon-to-be Real Madrid player who simply couldn't find the back of the net.

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Getty / TwitterFebruary 2023: Tears on the bench

And it seemed to catch up with the youngster. Endrick was pictured crying on the bench after his run of games without a goal hit double digits, the image of a future Madridista covering his eyes on the sideline going viral.

He was swiftly defended by his manager, Abel Ferreira, who admitted that he should "have given Endrick a hug" following his removal from the contest. The manager also called for patience with his starlet, well aware of the pressures placed on him by the historic transfer fee.

"You have to be calm. Nobody likes criticism. There is tremendous pressure on him to score five or six goals and he tries to deal with it himself. The goal will appear at the right time. You just have to be calm and keep smiling," he said after Palmeiras' 2-0 win over RB Bragantino.

Harry Kane is looking forward to celebrating Oktoberfest with his Bayern Munich team-mates after scoring his first hat-trick for the club.

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Kane scored three for BayernChampions beat Bochum 7-0Striker ready for OktoberfestWHAT HAPPENED?

The striker struck three times as Bayern ran out 7-0 winners against Bochum in the Bundesliga on Saturday, although his treble will not be counted as a true hat-trick in Germany. The England international is the first player to score seven goals in his first five Bundesliga matches for Bayern, who are now top of the table with 13 points from five matches.

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The 30-year-old says he enjoyed the "perfect afternoon" as his side dominated in front of their own fans and is gearing up to celebrate Oktoberfest, the annual beer festival that takes place in Bavaria from late-September to the end of the first week in October.

WHAT THEY SAID

“It was a perfect afternoon, it’s just fun with this team, the boys’ mentality is great. Now I’m looking forward to Oktoberfest," he told

Kane added to : "We made it look easy. It could have been really difficult but everyone was sharp and we took advantage of our speed on the wings. It was a wonderful game, everyone was at their limits."

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Bayern are in action again on Tuesday when they face Preussen Muenster in the DFB Pokal.

Which of the continent’s players still featuring in the UCL has the best chance of winning it?

Getty Images7Adel Taarabt

Benfica are the dark horses in the Champions League, but cannot be underestimated after eliminating Ajax in the Round of 16.

One-time wonderkid Taarabt, now reinvented as a central midfielder, remains a glittering talent on his day, and is enjoying a late-career revival at Benfica even if he’s dropped out of the international reckoning.

After his previous stints with Tottenham Hotspur, AC Milan and Queen’s Park Rangers, Benfica’s showdown with Liverpool may be the biggest match of his career.

AdvertisementGetty6Samuel Chukwueze

The last Nigerian still standing in the Champions League, Chukwueze won’t be going to the World Cup, but will surely be targeting another European trophy this season after last year’s Europa League triumph.

They have to get past Bayern Munich next, but after eliminating Juventus in the last round, the Yellow Submarine will fear no one as they look to reach the final four.

Chukwueze has had a limited impact in the UCL so far this season—starting just one match—although he could still have a big role to play during the latter stages.

Getty Images5Geoffrey Kondogbia

Atletico Madrid certainly have their work cut out against Manchester City, but could Diego Simeone be the man who inflicts the latest UCL heartbreak on Pep Guardiola?

Certainly, the Spanish giants have the resources to frustrate the Prem leaders, not to mention experience of reaching the Champions League final.

Kondogbia will have a major role to play in the heart of the park, having established himself as a key player at Atleti, while Mozambique’s Reinildo has settled quickly since signing from LOSC Lille in January.

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Getty.4Edouard Mendy & Hakim Ziyech

Chelsea will need to improve dramatically this week following Saturday’s humbling at home against Brentford.

The 4-1 loss was one of the low points of Thomas Tuchel’s time in charge of the Blues, where various failings were exposed against their lowly local rivals.

It was a game to forget for Mendy, who was defended by Tuchel after the match, while Ziyech was one of the West Londoners’ better performers during a tricky outing.

The German coach will be expecting from a big response from all of his team when they face Real Madrid on Wednesday.

The Colombia international was once considered one of the best players on the planet, but is now a free agent having been released by Olympiacos

James Rodriguez is 31 years of age – and presently unemployed. After spending a year making money in Qatar, he essentially begged for a return to "elite football" last September – "Let’s see who wants my left foot again!" – and was taken on by Olympiacos, only to see his contract terminated after just seven months in Greece.

It's hard to know what to make of that, perhaps because it's long been difficult to know what to make of James, both as a player and a person.

Our entire perception of him is shaped by the summer of 2014, when he illuminated the World Cup in Brazil. He won the Golden Boot by scoring six times, but also won the hearts of football fans all across the globe. Even LeBron James was blown away by Colombia's new attacking sensation with the boyish good looks.

After the attacking midfielder had scored the goal of the tournament in the last-16 win over Uruguay, the NBA legend tweeted, "Man, watching this Colombian game, I think I have my fav (sic) player of the World Cup!"

Getty'Why can't he become the greatest?'

Even then-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who was far more familiar with James, was "absolutely amazed by the quality of his performances" in Brazil.

"For me, it was the intelligence of his passing, the suppleness of him and the fluency of his game," the Frenchman told . "It also was the speed of his decision-making. The penetrative passes he made were just absolutely fantastic.

"You just wanted to see him have the ball and when you want somebody to have the ball, it is always a sign of exceptional quality. And he definitely has that."

Florentino Perez was just as smitten with James' heroics at the World Cup, so a move to Real Madrid inevitably followed. Superstar status beckoned.

"He's one of the best players in the world," James' childhood idol Carlos Valderrama enthused, "Why can't he become the greatest?"

AdvertisementGettyThe perfect 10

There was certainly nothing stopping him, at least in terms of talent. James was the perfect No.10; he had it all: outstanding technique, excellent vision and an explosive shot.

Perhaps even more importantly, he was intelligent.

"What is most surprising about James," Colombia boss Jose Pekerman explained in 2014, "is that in spite of his young age, he does not have any problem doing things that most football players take many years to understand."

Perhaps that shouldn't have been too surprising, though. After all, James was 22 at the time, yet he'd already been playing senior football for eight years, having made his debut for Envigado at just 14.

He'd also broken one record after another while helping Banfield win their first ever Argentine championship while still only a teenager, and then proven himself in Europe, first at Porto, and then Monaco.

This was a young man, then, with a hell of a lot of top-flight experience.

Perhaps his subsequent fitness issues were inevitable, then. Maybe the rigours of the professional game were always going to take their toll on someone who started so young.

James isn't a classic case of burnout, though. There have been other issues at play.

Getty'The boy isn't focused'

Injuries are often unfortunate, but sometimes they can be attributed to a failure to properly look after one's body, and James has faced accusations throughout his career that he lacks the requisite discipline for the very highest level of performance.

"The boy isn't focused," former Colombia national team doctor Hector Fabio Cruz told in 2019. "Instead of working for the new season, he went to fix his eyebrows and his hair while he should have been working.

"Big teams like Madrid expect professionalism, players who will be well-prepared, but this boy's attitude isn't right. A player who spends months away from the pitch and goes from club to club. But if he prepared properly, he wouldn't suffer any of this.

"Cristiano Ronaldo took a week of vacation [after the 2018 World Cup]. He went on a yacht with his family to Greece and then the following week he had 15 people preparing him for the season.

"He's the most professional guy I know. James, though, left the same World Cup injured, hired a private plane, went to the beach and relaxed. That can't be.

"I already predicted that things would go wrong for him because he doesn't work."

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GettyA player from a different era

There have also been allegations that James doesn't work hard enough on the field either, which points to another problem.

James has always felt like something of a throwback, a player from a different era, one in which No.10s were the fulcrum of the attack, and shorn of any defensive duties.

Such freedom is no longer afforded to No.10s. One could even argue that the trequartista position no longer exists, or at the very least has been completely redefined.

It certainly feels indicative of a major tactical shift in the modern era that a coach like Zinedine Zidane, formerly one of the game's great attacking midfielders, could find no permanent place in his Real Madrid starting line up for what looked like a kindred spirit in James.

Were it not for Carlo Ancelotti, in fact, one wonders if James' time at the highest level would have actually ended a lot sooner.

Erling Haaland has been sent a “too many now” message by Manchester City team-mates that are tired of signing hat-trick balls.

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Norwegian striker netted five times vs LutonNow has 20 career hat-tricks to his nameNo sign of slowing down from prolific forwardGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The prolific Norwegian striker added another to his collection after facing Luton Town in FA Cup fifth round action. He found the target on five occasions in that contest, as City swept to a convincing 6-2 win at Kenilworth Road.

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Haaland now has 20 hat-tricks in his senior career, and is still just 23 years of age. He has posted trebles for City on a regular basis, with five registered in the Premier League, and makes a point of getting his team-mates to scrawl on every match ball that he collects.

DID YOU KNOW?

Some of those at the Etihad Stadium have poked fun at how many balls Haaland now possesses, with one colleague spotted penning “too many now” on the prize picked up at the end of a destructive display against Luton.

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WHAT NEXT FOR HAALAND?

Haaland, who hit 52 goals across all competitions last season, is up to 27 in total for the current campaign and will be hoping to provide inspiration in the attacking third once again when City take in a derby date with arch-rivals Manchester United on Sunday.

The 17-year-old defender has already played in the Premier League and Champions League, and looks to have a big future at the Etihad Stadium.

When a team as well-run as Manchester City allow a player with the qualities of Oleksandr Zinchenko to leave the club, you just know that it's all part of the wider plan. Replacements will be, or have already been, found.

The obvious alternative is to recruit a replacement, but that comes with risks. How will they settle in? Do they fit the system? Or, as was the case in the summer of 2022, will the deal get over the line at all?

That was the case with Marc Cucurella, who many presumed would be a City player by the start of the 2022-23 campaign, only for the Premier League champions to baulk at Brighton's demands as Cucurella instead joined Chelsea.

There was no panic at City, though. They knew that gap in the squad could be filled by pursuing other avenues, including their uber-talented academy system.

That has led to Rico Lewis, their 17-year-old England youth international, making his way into Pep Guardiola's plans, and the early signs are good that he will remain there for a good while longer.

But who is City's latest teenage prodigy? NXGN takes a closer look…

Getty ImagesWhere it all began

Lewis hails from the Greater Manchester suburb of Bury, a town that has produced more England players for international tournaments than any other.

But unlike fellow Bury-born full-backs Gary and Phil Neville, he headed straight to Man City, and has followed the path from the academy all the way to the first team.

"It started with my friend getting me a trial when I was about seven," he told reporters. "Then they signed me at the start of Under-8s, and since then I've just been at City.

"I've obviously been a City fan since I was about five or six and my journey through the academy has been nothing but good. To come all the way through and get to this point, it's the dream."

Lewis has cited his family as a driving influence behind his career, ever since kicking a ball around his father's gym as a youngster.

“[My dad] was the main point that pushed me, he didn’t force me towards things but pushed me in directions to get myself out there," he told City's official website.

"My family saw me make my debut. They were in a box and I could see them, and being able to meet them after was like, 'I’ve worked hard for this and they’ve also worked hard for it', so they are proud of me and I am proud of that."

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe big break

While he was captaining City to the Premier League's U18s title last season, Lewis also spent some time training with the first-team squad.

But it was on their pre-season tour to the United States in the summer of 2022 that he began to gain some recognition as he earned his first minutes in Guardiola's side.

He impressed with lively cameos against Club America and Bayern Munich, hitting the post after a driving run against the German champions.

And after allowing Zinchenko to leave for Arsenal in the summer and missing out on their preferred replacement in Cucurella, the field was open for back-ups to Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo to state their case.

City did sign Spanish full-back Sergio Gomez from Anderlecht, and also have fellow academy star Josh Wilson-Esbrand pushing for opportunities, but Lewis has still managed to make his presence felt.

He made his senior debut against Bournemouth in August and has had occasional minutes off the bench ever since, including in the Champions League win over Copenhagen.

He also looked comfortable as a starter in the recent prestigious friendly against Barcelona at Camp Nou.

Getty ImagesHow's it going

Guardiola believes that the best way for his young players to develop is to be working around the first team, and he has shown patience with Lewis' predecessors such as Phil Foden and Cole Palmer.

Rule changes allowing five substitutions have allowed the City boss to give his youngsters more opportunities, while also giving his more established players time to rest on the regular occasions that they find themselves comfortably ahead in games.

Lewis is certainly making the most of those chances: "Rico showed me again that we can rely on him perfectly,” Guardiola said after his performance against Copenhagen.

With Walker expected to be out until the World Cup, opportunities for Lewis are even greater, and it would not be a surprise to see him make his first competitive start before the six-week break for Qatar 2022.

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Getty ImagesBiggest strengths

High quality full-backs are expected to do so much more than simply run up and down the wing these days, and Lewis is no different.

England currently has a group of exciting, young, attacking full-backs such as Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold and Chelsea's Reece James, and Lewis is seen as being able to play a similar role.

He likes to get forward and supplement the attacking options, which is particularly important in a City team that so often spends the majority of matches with the ball in the opposition's half.

But under Guardiola, the full-back role is even more complex, with Cancelo and Walker having learned to step inside and act as an extra midfielder.

Lewis will have to show that he can learn that role too, though versatility is not something he is unaccustomed to. In his short career he has already played as both a right-back and left-back, as well as as a holding midfielder.

A couple of Manchester United legends figure prominently on a list of dead-ball specialists that includes plenty of modern day greats

There are few greater sights in football than seeing a spectacular free kick curled over a defensive wall and into the top corner, with the Premier League fortunate enough to have been graced by many iconic performers who have perfected that art.

Manchester United legend David Beckham was always a threat over a dead-ball, for the Red Devils and England, while Cristiano Ronaldo picked up that baton when inheriting a famous No.7 shirt at Old Trafford.

All-time greats such as Thierry Henry and Gianfranco Zola made a habit of finding the target from set-pieces during their memorable stints in London at Arsenal and Chelsea, respectively.

However, it's now Southampton star James Ward-Prowse who has risen the leaderboard to challenge Beckham, moving just one back of the icon with his goal against Chelsea on February 18, 2023.

Who, though, has scored the most goals from direct free kicks in Premier League history? GOAL takes a look…

Getty1David Beckham | 18 goals

A graduate of Manchester United’s fabled Class of ‘92 and a man that sits inside the Premier League’s Hall of Fame. Won six top-flight titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League during his time at Old Trafford and will forever be remembered for his set-piece prowess. Registered his first free-kick goal against Southampton in October 1996 and his 18th against Everton in May 2003, with efforts against the likes of Liverpool, West Ham, Leeds and Manchester City recorded along the way.

AdvertisementGetty2James Ward-Prowse | 17 goals

A south coast native who emerged out of Southampton’s academy system to make his senior debut in October 2011. The England international midfielder has spent his entire career to date with the Saints, with over 300 appearances made in the top flight. He has been a model of consistency throughout, particularly from free kicks.

He finished 2022 with a December 31 free kick goal against Fulham before repeating the feat on January 14, 2023, against Everton, and on February 18, 2023, against Chelsea.

Getty3Cristiano Ronaldo | 12 goals

There are not too many records that an iconic Portuguese forward does not hold, but he will have to go some in order to match or better Beckham in the free kick stakes. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has never been prolific over a dead-ball, despite being entrusted with set-piece duty on a regular basis by club and country. Arguably his most memorable effort in the Premier League came during a first stint at United in January 2008 when his famous knuckleball strike fizzed past a motionless David James in the Portsmouth goal.

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Getty4Thierry Henry | 12 goals

The man who brought ‘Va va voom’ to Arsenal when arriving from Juventus in 1999 is another decorated member of the Premier League Hall of Fame. Joined the Gunners as a World Cup-winning winger, but became one of the most deadly strikers in history. The Frenchman remains the all-time top goalscorer on the red half of north London, with his record-setting haul of 228 efforts including plenty of spectacular free kicks.

Jude Bellingham cannot even take his mum shopping in Madrid city centre without being mobbed by fans clamouring for a picture with the midfielder.

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Bellingham mobbed in Madrid city centreStar midfielder was out with his mumOff to incredible start at Real MadridWHAT HAPPENED?

Bellingham has been the talk of the town in La Liga due to his stunning performances since joining Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in the summer. The England international was out with his mum on Monday but was swarmed by fans as he posed for selfies with a few.

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The 20-year-old has rocketed to stardom in Spain. He is La Liga's top scorer with 13 goals from 15 matches and has chipped in with two assists, too. He has also found the net four times in the Champions League, adding three assists in the process.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR BELLGINHAM?

The ex-Birmingham star will hope to add even more goals to his record when his team take on Deportivo Alaves in their next La Liga game on December 21 – their last game of 2023. The Spanish giants will then kick off the new year with a home match against Mallorca on January 4.