1. Mario Götze (Borussia Dortmund)
Hailed by former Dortmund and German star Matthias Sammer as one of the greatest talents Germany has ever produced. His breakthrough season has been nothing short of a fairytale after breaking into Juergen Klopp's side. Flying high at the top of the Bundesliga and making his national team debut at the age of 18 years-old against Sweden, the future looks very bright for the prodigious attacking midfielder. After a number of impressive displays for Dortmund, Götze was quickly fast tracked to the senior national team by coach Joachim Löw. The young playmaker has been instrumental's in Dortmund's monumental rise to the top of the Bundesliga this season. A versatile attacking player who is able to operate behind the main striker or on either flank, Götze has demonstrated excellent technical ability with a good range of passing and superb vision, often opening up opposition with defence splitting passes. Born in Memmingen, Germany, Götze made his debut for Dortmund's under-17 side at the age of 15 years-old. At 16, he was promoted to Dortmund's under-19 side but only managed to take part in 13 out of 26 matches due to injury, scoring eight goals and assisting seven more. He was rewarded with a place in Marco Pezzaiuoli's team at the 2009 U-17 European Championships, which Germany went on to win. His impressive performances in the tournament and at the U-17 World Cup helped earn him the prestigious Fritz Walter gold medal given to the best player in Germany aged 17 or under.
2. Thiago Alcântara (Barcelona)
Considered the jewel in the crown at Barcelona's famous La Masia academy, Thiago Alcântara is widely believed to be the natural heir to Xavi. Son of previous World Cup winner Mazinho, Thiago possesses all the technical ability you would expect from a Brazilian. With vision, an excellent range of passing and eye for goal, Thiago has all the qualities needed to succeed at the Nou Camp and on the international stage. Described as Spain's brightest talent by Real Madrid legend Fernando Hierro, he is on the fringes of the first team. Capped up to Under-21 level by Spain, Thiago helped Spain to lift the 2008 Uefa European Under-17 Football Championships title and also helped the U19 team reach the final at the 2010 European Championships. With the Barcelona starlet's contract set to expiry shortly at the Catalan club, there is increasing speculation that Arsenal and Manchester United are keeping a close eye on developments. With the Premiership giants having previously taken two of Barcelona's prized assets in Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique, the Catalans would be loathed to lose one of the finest prospects in Europe.
3. Luc Castaignos (Feyenoord)
Once described as the next Thierry Henry by Netherlands U17 manager Albert Stuivenberg, Luc Castaignos is one of the most promising footballers emerging out of Holland. At just 17 years-old his stock began to rise at the 2009 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, where he helped Netherlands finish runner-up at the tournament. He was the tournament's joint top scorer with three goals. Now 18 years-old, Castaignos is assertive, strong in the air, amazingly quick and has devastating finishing ability which makes him an outstanding prospect for the future. This season Castaignos has become one of the hottest young properties in Europe after making his first team breakthrough in a youthful Feyenoord, scoring several important goals as they struggle at the bottom of the Eredivisie. Valued at around £6 million, he is widely expected to join Inter Milan but is expected to stay at Feyenoord until 2012 to continue his development.
4. Erik Lamela (Roma)
With a long conveyor belt of talent at Los Millonarios, there are a number of notable talents on the book at River Plate, but Erik Lamela is our pick of the bunch having made his first team breakthrough. The 18 year-old who was once the subject of a bid from Barcelona at the age of 12 in 2004, is now on the radar of a number of Europe's biggest clubs with AC Milan recently having a €12m bid rejected from the Buenos Aires based club. A central midfielder who with less than senior 10 appearances to his name outshone his opposite number Juan Roman Riquelme in one of the world's most intense derbies against Boca Juniors. Dictating play from the middle, Lamela showed astonishing composure and maturity for someone with so inexperienced. He may lack the explosive acceleration of Lionel Messi, but he does have the ability to dribble past players in order to find the space to play a pass and his strengths lie in the accuracy of his passing and his defence splitting vision.
5. Lucas Rodrigues (São Paulo)
The 18 year-old attacking midfielder is the latest in a long line of talent to come out of the Morumbi. Having made his debut in August 2010, Lucas Rodrigues Moura da Silva (nicknamed Marcelinho) is currently considered as Brazil's best young talent, behind Neymar that is. Hailed as the best talent to emerge from São Paulo since Kaka, Lucas is set to be awarded his clubs No.7 shirt upon the 2011 exit of club favourite Jorge Wagner. The fast and offensive-minded has displayed versatility by playing on both wings and also in the centre. A fast and offensive-minded midfielder he has proved a tenacious and intelligent player who has no fear in going forward. With excellent technique, a bag of trickery and an eye for goal, Lucas has all the attributes to succeed on the world stage. On the radar of Europe's elite clubs, Lucas has put in a number of eye catching displays, including a wonder goal against Cruziero in November and looks ready for his breakthrough year and establishing himself as a regular fixture in the first team.
6. Álvaro Morata (Real Madrid)
Described as the next Raul, Álvaro Morata has been making good progress at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. The young 18 year-old striker has gradually been getting involved at Los Blancos and has played in the Primera Division and the Copa de Rey for the Spanish giants. Highlighted by Jose Mourino as one to watch, Morata made his debut for Real Madrid Castilla in August as he scored the only goal of the match in a friendly over AD Alcoron. Since then he has been a key part of Castilla's league campaign and notched his first league goal in a match against RSD Alcala in October, and has regularly been involved in the first team squad. Likened to Fernando Morientes due to his style, Morata has a towering presence in the box and is good in the air, has clinical finishing ability and excellent movement. Morata who was signed from Getafe in 2008 has been prolific at international youth level, scoring 4 goals in 5 games for Spain at Under-19 level to confirm his status as one of Spain's most promising talents.
7. Giuliano (Internacional)
When Internacional won the Copa Libertadores early in 2010, 20 year-old Giuliano who has been described as the next Kaka was instrumental to their success. Often coming off the bench as a supersub, Giuliano scored an impressive six goals, including two in the final against Chivas and was voted Player of the Tournament. Under new Brazil coach Mano Menezes, Giuliano made his senior debut at international level in a friendly against Ukraine at Pride Park. While plenty of column inches have been devoted to Santos duo Neymar and Paulo Henrique in the Brazilian newspapers, it is Giuliano who kept Ganso out of the U-20 World Cup team in Egypt by captaining his country to a runners-up finish. After a number of eye catching displays he was quickly on the radar of Europe's biggest clubs with Barcelona, Manchester United and Arsenal all registering an interest. With the attacking midfielder having commanded a reputation for his speed, dribbling, and accurate crossing ability, a move to Europe looks imminent.
8. Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad)
The 19 year-old left-winger who can also operate as a striker is known for his technical ability, skill, acceleration and dribbling and has represented France at international youth level, helping his country win the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship on home soil and also representing the Under-21s. Linked with a host of English Premiership clubs including Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, Griezmann was instrumental in the San Sebastian club's return to the top flight last season scoring six goals in thirty appearances. Griezmann only recently signed a contract extension to keep at the Basque club until April 2015, with a €30m (£25.5m) buy-out clause inserted so that Sociedad can old onto the French ace for the time being at least. This season, the Frenchman has started the campaign well, scoring three goals in is first eight league starts, forming a good understanding with striker Joseba Llorente.
9. Mateo Kovačić (Dinamo Zagreb)
Subject to a joint £17 million bid by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger along with Šime Vrsaljko, Kovačić is one of Croatia's hottest properties. At just 16 years-old, the attacking midfielder has already been compared to Lionel Messi. The youngest player ever to score in the HNL, Kovačić has been linked regularly linked to some of Europe's biggest teams including Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Tottenham. While the prodigious young playmaker has yet to make his first team breakthrough he has represented Croatia at international youth level. It is for the Under-17's where Kovačić has largely caught the eye, displaying impressive passing and vision, similar to that of Cesc Fabregas. Croatia Under-17 manager Martin Novoselac reportedly said of Kovačić, "I haven't seen a youngster with so much talent since the days of Robert Prosinečki". While he is expected to continue his development in Croatia in the next year, Kovačić looks destined for the top and a future star of the national team.
10. Marco Reus (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Germany appear to be going through something of a golden generation of talent coming through and attacking midfielder Marco Reus is the next on a long list. Manchester United are the most recent club to register an interest in the 21 year-old who is having an outstanding season in a team not performing. The Bundesliga side paid € 1 million for Reus, to replace the departing Marko Marin and he did not disappoint, scoring eight times in 33 games in his debut season of Germany's top flight. With natural raw pace, great technique and excellent dribbling skills, Reus has continued to cause problems for opposition defenders. His eye catching performances have put him on the radar of a number of European clubs and with Monchengladbach languishing at the bottom of the table, no one will be surprised to see Reus leave at the end of the season having scored 5 goals and assisting six more, even though he is contracted until 2015. Having already represented Germany at Under-21 level, he is expected to be called up to the senior team by Joachim Löw.
