Prodigies

The future of Japan’s promising attack was on full display Tuesday as the Samurai Blue put four goals past the vaunted defense of the world’s fifth-ranked side, Uruguay.

Tucked in behind Werder Bremen striker Yuya Osako was 20-year-old Groningen starlet Ritsu Doan, 23-year-old Red Bull Salzburg forward Takumi Minamino and 24-year-old Portimonense midfielder Shoya Nakajima, and the quartet combined to provide the likes of Diego Godin, Sebastian Coates, Lucas Torreira and Rodrigo Bentancur a nightmarish night at Saitama Stadium.

We got our first real glimpse of 18-year-old Real Madrid phenom Vinícius Júnior during Real Madrid’s shock 1-0 defeat to Alaves on Oct. 6, but that appearance (his second for the senior side) was still just a 10-minute cameo. 

Last week, The Guardian published its annual “Next Generation” list, featuring 60 of the best young talents born in 2001. Accordingly, these players are only 17, and we all certainly realize the foolish nature of tagging a teenager for predestined greatness (unless they move like Kylian Mbappé). 

Teenage sensation and World Cup winner Kylian Mbappé has joined the illustrious company of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Mario Balotelli as the select few footballers to have graced the cover of Time magazine. The 19-year-old is featured on the international print edition along with a revealing interview by Vivienne Walt. 

As was detailed in a recent piece by Kevin Baxter in the Los Angeles Times, Mexico’s senior side is in the midst of a massive transition after the 2018 World Cup squad featured nine players who were at least 30 years of age. 

For the first time ever, the gala for the Ballon d’Or will also include a presentation for the inaugural awarding of the Kopa Trophy — a prize given to the world's best under 21 player, so really just another Golden Boy because we really need more individual prizes in this sport, don’t we? 

Regardless, the 10 finalists for the prize include:

PSG played a Ligue 1 match over the weekend, so you know we’ve got some AND 1 Mixtape Tour highlights for you. The detractors will claim it’s a farmer's league, and they’ve got a point, but if you don’t want to watch Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavani and Angel Di Maria play football together, there’s an obvious bit of sickness permeating your brain.

PSG won 5-0, taking its record to 9-0-0 with 32 goals scored and a staggering goal difference of +26. The wonder teen scored four goals in a 13-minute second half spell to break the internet.

Borussia Dortmund climbed to second in the Bundesliga table — just two points behind leader Bayern Munich following its surprising draw with Augsburg on Tuesday — after thumping Nurnberg 7-0 at the Westfalenstadion on Wednesday.

Since returning from a muscular injury, Christian Pulisic has been at his best for BVB, scoring in back-to-back matches before assisting on Dortmund’s first goal on Wednesday.

The American winger went on an impressive run before carving open Nurnberg’s backline with a sensational pass for Jacob Bruun Larsen’s opener.