2016 was a year of endless football action. We witnessed Euro 2016, the Copa America Centenario, World Cup qualifiers and the Rio Olympics to go along with the usual domestic and continental club competitions.
We also saw a host of youngsters taking center stage with their respective sides due to the corresponding opportunities. With that being said, here are five youngsters poised to have a breakout year in 2017.
Replacing Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his 2015-16 tally of 44 goals for Paris St-Germain was always going to be impossible, but the club couldn’t have foreseen the transition being this painful. The numbers indicating the decline of PSG’s attack are staggering: last season, they scored 102 league goals. This year, they’re on pace for 76.
While the defense has already surrendered 15 goals at the halfway point of the season as compared to 19 throughout the entirety of 2015-16, it’s the lack of offensive firepower that is clearly troubling owners Qatar Sports Investments.
Thomas Meunier is a right back so this goal probably shouldn’t have been allowed to stand. It’s outrageous in the extreme.
This goal is so luscious that the 3 Musketeers candy bar company if filing a lawsuit for stealing their recipe. This goal is softer than goose down feathers and silkier than satin. Thomas Meunier pick up your phone, kittens are calling you, they want their velvety fluff back.
130 years after the people of France gifted the United States the Statue of Liberty, now an icon of our country, Alex Morgan, an idol of footballing excellence, has returned the favor by taking her talents to Lyon.
BREAKING: Orlando Pride Forward Alex Morgan to Open Year with French Club Olympique Lyonnais..
The rejuvenated heroics of Mario Balotelli saw the Italian striker score six goals in his first six Ligue 1 matches for Nice, propelling the club to the top of the table over the likes of Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain.
Mario Balotelli has threatened to do the unthinkable if his new team, Nice, win France's Ligue 1: fly a helicopter over the city.
Nice are first in the French league right now, due in part to Balotelli's return to goal-scoring form. Balotelli isn't just content with scoring goals and winning, though. He wants to plunge the world into chaos.
Here's the quote, from Mediaset (bolding ours):
Today I learned Prince Albert of Monaco is exactly as athletic as I assumed he was, which is to say he makes Steve McNulty look like LeBron James.
When Falcao suggests that they give Prince Albert of Monaco the match ball... (J + 1) pic.twitter.com/e3dBqD6nLf
In today’s match with Lorient, Balotelli broke the tie with a late goal to put OGC Nice up 2-1. While this may come as a surprise to some, this goal is simply a continuation of Balotelli’s stellar form to start the season.
Through eight games played, thanks to Mario Balotelli’s contributions, the French side has found themselves atop the table, ahead of both high spending clubs, PSG and Monaco.
All aboard the Mario Balotelli redemption tour 2016 bandwagon. Don't be shy, there's plenty of room.
Balotelli scored again Thursday in Nice's Europa League loss to Krasnodar, giving the Italian five goals in four matches so far this season.
That's FIVE goals in four games now for Mario Balotelli... pic.twitter.com/TBPrmHiubX
— Sportlobster (@sportlobster) September 30, 2016