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Ten Young Players Who Have Taken Europe by Storm this Season

PSG's Kylian Mbappe. (AFP)
PSG's Kylian Mbappe. (AFP)
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Ten Young Players Who Have Taken Europe by Storm this Season

PSG's Kylian Mbappe. (AFP)
PSG's Kylian Mbappe. (AFP)

James Maddison and Richarlison have been brilliant in England but Germany is the place to be for emerging talent:

10) Richarlison, 21, Everton
More than the odd eyebrow was raised when Everton agreed to meet Watford’s lofty £40m valuation of Richarlison but the Brazilian has clearly been keen to prove his worth. The 21-year-old made an immediate impact under his former boss Marco Silva, with three goals in his first two appearances for the Toffees, adding a fourth in a 2-1 win at Leicester earlier this month. His pace and workrate are already pivotal to Everton’s approach and he can consider his first three months at the club a success. Rating: 7.27

9) Jadon Sancho, 18, Borussia Dortmund
Had Jadon Sancho not made six of his nine appearances in the Bundesliga this season as a substitute, he would be even higher up this list. But he has started Dortmund’s last three games, so that may change soon. The 18-year-old scored both of Dortmund’s goals in their 2-2 draw against Hertha Berlin at the weekend, taking his tally to four league goals for the season. He also has six assists, meaning only one player in the league (Sébastien Haller of Frankfurt) has had a direct hand in more goals. Rating: 7.27

8) James Maddison, 21, Leicester City
Another summer signing to the Premier League who is hoping to justify his price tag, James Maddison has made an immediate impact at the King Power Stadium, starting all 10 of Leicester’s league games so far. The 21-year-old has either scored or set up a goal in half of those matches, scoring twice and registering three assists. He has also shown versatility, playing both from the left and behind a striker. Wilfried Zaha is the only player who has drawn more fouls so far this season, showing Maddison is already a marked man. Rating: 7.27

7) Nordi Mukiele, 20, RB Leipzig
Nordi Mukiele swapped Montpellier for RB Leipzig in the summer and his versatility in defense is already proving a valuable asset for his new club. The 20-year-old has been deployed on the right of the back four at Leipzig, but he is equally comfortable playing at center-back. RB Leipzig have kept clean sheets in his last four starts and the young Frenchman has also supported attacks well for Ralf Rangnick’s side, completing 14 dribbles in his seven league appearances. Rating: 7.31

6) Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 20, Crystal Palace
We saw a glimpse of what Aaron Wan-Bissaka could offer Crystal Palace at the tail end of last season but he has really made the right-back spot his own this season. The 20-year-old is unfortunate that England are not short of quality right-backs but he will be hoping to impress Gareth Southgate nonetheless. He was excellent against Arsenal at the weekend, ranking first of the players on show for tackles (six), interceptions (four) and dribbles (five). Only three players in Europe’s top five leagues can beat his average of 4.6 tackles per game and only two full-backs have made more dribbles per game. Rating: 7.40

5) Reiss Nelson, 18, Hoffenheim
Arsenal fans should be keeping a keen eye on the progress of loanee Reiss Nelson in the Bundesliga. The 18-year-old has scored four goals in just 255 minutes of action in the Bundesliga. He has been used in midfield and as a forward by Hoffenheim coach Julian Nagelsmann, and has completed an impressive 88.8 percent of his passes. Nelson has also been given a taste of Champions League football. Rating: 7.43

4) Dan-Axel Zagadou, 19, Borussia Dortmund
Dan-Axel Zagadou left PSG for Borussia Dortmund last summer and, having started his Bundesliga career at left-back last season, the giant 19-year-old has reverted to his favored central role under Lucien Favre. The Frenchman has picked up five clean sheets in his seven appearances so far this season. He has shown composure with the ball at his feet (87.5 percent pass accuracy) and has looked comfortable bringing the ball out from the back. Rating: 7.43

3) Ibrahim Sangaré, 20, Toulouse
Ibrahim Sangaré broke into the Toulouse side in the second half of last season and has been even more impressive in the present campaign. His importance at the heart of their midfield has been felt over the last few weeks. He missed Toulouse’s last two games – through suspension and then injury – and they suffered 3-0 and 4-0 defeats. Expect the Ivorian to be the subject of interest when the transfer window reopens in January. Rating: 7.44

2) Achraf Hakimi, 19, Borussia Dortmund
Achraf Hakimi chose a good time to leave Real Madrid on loan. While the European champions have been plummeting down La Liga this season, Hakimi has been making his mark at Borussia Dortmund despite having to play out of position at left-back. The Moroccan marked his Bundesliga debut with a goal in a 7-0 win over Nürnberg and has been a real attacking outlet for the league leaders this season, registering a further three assists in the league and three in a single game as Lucien Favre’s men blew away Atlético Madrid in the Champions League. Rating: 7.56

1) Kylian Mbappé, 19, Paris Saint-Germain
Kylian Mbappé was benched for PSG’s big match at Marseille after he turned up late for a team meeting, but he came off the bench and won the game regardless. The 19-year-old has been a superstar in the making for some time – something he underlined at the World Cup this summer – and he has been on a mission to run the show for PSG this season. His goal in Le Classique was his 10th in Ligue 1 this season, making him the first player in Europe’s top five leagues to hit double figures. He has also scored a couple more goals in the Champions League. Mbappé is not just our highest rated player aged 21 and under, but he is second to just Lionel Messi (8.41) overall. Rating: 8.27

The Guardian Sport

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IOC Boss Coventry Hails Milano Cortina Games a Success

20 February 2026, Italy, Milan: President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kirsty Coventry holds a press conference. (dpa)
20 February 2026, Italy, Milan: President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kirsty Coventry holds a press conference. (dpa)
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IOC Boss Coventry Hails Milano Cortina Games a Success

20 February 2026, Italy, Milan: President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kirsty Coventry holds a press conference. (dpa)
20 February 2026, Italy, Milan: President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kirsty Coventry holds a press conference. (dpa)

The Milano Cortina Olympics exceeded expectations despite a shaky build-up, IOC President Kirsty Coventry said on Friday, hailing the first spread-out Winter Games a success.

"These Games are truly ... successful in a new way of doing things, in a sustainable way of doing things, in a way that I think many people thought maybe we couldn't do, or couldn't be done well, and it's been done extremely well, and it's surpassed everyone's expectations," Coventry told a press conference.

It was the International Olympic Committee chief's clearest endorsement yet of a format that split events across several Alpine clusters rather than concentrating them in one host city.

Her assessment came after two weeks in which organizers sought to prove that a geographically dispersed Games could still deliver a consistent athlete experience.

The smooth delivery ‌comes after years ‌of logistical and political challenges, including construction delays at Milan’s Santagiulia Arena ‌and ⁠controversy over building ⁠a new sliding center in Cortina against IOC advice.

Organizers have also faced isolated disruptions during the Games, such as suspected sabotage on rail lines and protests in Milan over housing and environmental issues.

Transport concerns across the dispersed venues have been mitigated by limited cross-regional travel among spectators, though some competitors had to walk to the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in heavy snowfall that stopped traffic.

Central to the success of the Games, Coventry argued, was the effort to standardize conditions across multiple athlete villages despite the distances separating venues from Cortina d’Ampezzo to ⁠Livigno and Bormio.

Italian athletes’ performances also helped ticket sales, which amounted to ‌about 1.4 million.

"And the athletes are extremely happy. And they're happy ‌because the experiences that the MiCo (Milano Cortina) team and my team delivered to them have been the same," she ‌said.

Mixed relay silver medalist Tommaso Giacomel did, however, lament the fact there was no Olympic village near ‌the Antholz-Anterselva Biathlon Arena and that competitors were dotted around different hotels near the venue instead of in one place.

TWO OPENING CEREMONIES

Two opening ceremonies were held - the main one at Milan’s San Siro stadium and a more low-key parade on Cortina d’Ampezzo's Corso Italia, where athletes and spectators were within touching distance.

Feedback from competitors suggested the more intimate ‌settings had in some cases enhanced the Olympic atmosphere, Coventry said, taking the Cortina opening ceremony as an example.

The Zimbabwean, presiding over her first Games ⁠as IOC chief after elections in ⁠2025, framed Milano Cortina as proof of concept for future hosts grappling with rising costs and climate constraints, while acknowledging adjustments would follow.

"It allows us to really look at ourselves and look at the things that we have in place and how we're then going to make certain adjustments for the future," she said.

Beyond logistics, Coventry pointed to the broader impact of the Games, highlighting gender balance - with women making up 47% of competitors - and global engagement as marks of progress.

"But it's been an incredible experience and we're all very proud to have gender equity playing a big role in the delivery of the Games," she said, describing a "tremendous Games" in which athletes have "come together and shared in their passion".

With the closing ceremony in Verona approaching, Coventry said the focus would soon shift to a formal evaluation process, but insisted the headline conclusion was already clear.

"So we look forward to doing that and to learning from all the incredible experiences that I think all of the stakeholders have had across these Games, across these past two weeks," she said.

Sports

‘A Huge Mistake.’ Kompany Hits Out at Mourinho for Vinícius Júnior Comments

14 February 2026, Bremen: Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany gestures during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich at Weserstation. (dpa)
14 February 2026, Bremen: Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany gestures during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich at Weserstation. (dpa)
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‘A Huge Mistake.’ Kompany Hits Out at Mourinho for Vinícius Júnior Comments

14 February 2026, Bremen: Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany gestures during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich at Weserstation. (dpa)
14 February 2026, Bremen: Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany gestures during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich at Weserstation. (dpa)

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany has criticized José Mourinho for attacking the character of Vinícius Júnior after the Real Madrid star accused an opponent of racially insulting him during a Champions League match.

Benfica coach Mourinho suggested that Brazil forward Vinícius had incited Benfica's players with his celebrations after scoring the only goal in Tuesday's playoff match.

Vinícius accused Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of calling him "monkey" during a confrontation after his goal.

Mourinho also questioned why Vinícius, who is Black and has been subjected to repeated racist insults in Spain, was so frequently targeted.

"There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium," Mourinho said. "The stadium where Vinícius played something happened. Always."

Speaking on Friday, Kompany condemned Mourinho's comments.

"So after the game you have the leader of an organization, José Mourinho, who attacks the character of Vinícius Júnior by bringing in the type of celebration to discredit what Vinícius is doing in this moment," Kompany said. "And for me in terms of leadership, it’s a huge mistake and it’s something that we should not accept."

Mourinho’s celebrations

UEFA appointed a special investigator on Wednesday to gather evidence about what happened in Lisbon in Madrid’s 1-0 win in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs. Madrid said it had sent "all available evidence" of the alleged incident to European soccer's governing body.

Referring to Vinícius' celebrations after curling a shot into the top corner, Mourinho said he should "celebrate in a respectful way."

Kompany pointed out Mourinho's own history of exuberant celebrations — such as when he ran down the sideline to cheer when his Porto team beat Manchester United in the Champions League.

Kompany said Mourinho's former players "love him" and added "I know he’s a good person."

"I don’t need to judge him as a person, but I know what I’ve heard. I understand maybe what he’s done, but he’s made a mistake and it’s something that hopefully in the future won’t happen like this again," he said.

Prestianni denied racially insulting Vinícius. Benfica said the Argentine player was the victim of a "defamation campaign."

‘Right thing to do’

Kompany said Vinícius' reaction "cannot be faked."

"You can see it — his reaction is an emotional reaction. I don’t see any benefit for him to go to the referee and put all this misery on his shoulders," he said. "There is absolutely no reason for Vini Junior to go and do this.

"I think in his mind he’s doing it more because it’s the right thing to do in that moment."

Kompany added: "You have a player who’s complaining. You have a player who says he didn’t do it. And I think unless the player himself comes forward, it’s difficult. It’s a difficult case."

Sports

FIFA to Lead $75m Palestinian Soccer Rebuilding Fund

President of FIFA Gianni Infantino attended the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace'. CHIP SOMODEVILLA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
President of FIFA Gianni Infantino attended the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace'. CHIP SOMODEVILLA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
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FIFA to Lead $75m Palestinian Soccer Rebuilding Fund

President of FIFA Gianni Infantino attended the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace'. CHIP SOMODEVILLA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
President of FIFA Gianni Infantino attended the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace'. CHIP SOMODEVILLA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

FIFA will spearhead a $75 million fund to rebuild soccer facilities in Gaza that were destroyed by the war between Israel and Hamas, President Donald Trump and the sport's governing body said Thursday.

Trump made the announcement in Washington at the first meeting of his "Board of Peace," an amorphous institution that features two dozen of the US president's close allies and is initially focused on rebuilding the Gaza strip, said AFP.

"I'm also pleased to announce that FIFA will be helping to raise a total of $75 million for projects in Gaza," said Trump.

"And I think they're soccer related, where you're doing fields and you're getting the greatest stars in the world to go there -- people that are bigger stars than you and I, Gianni," he added, referring to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who was present at the event.

"So it's really something. We'll soon be detailing the announcement, and if I can do I'll get over there with you," Trump said.

Later Thursday, FIFA issued a statement providing more details, including plans to construct a football academy, a new 20,000-seat national stadium and dozens of pitches.

The FIFA communique did not mention Trump's $75 million figure, and said funds would be raised "from international leaders and institutions."

Infantino has fostered close ties with Trump, awarding him an inaugural FIFA "Peace Prize" at the World Cup draw in December.

At Thursday's meeting, the FIFA president donned a red baseball cap emblazoned with "USA" and "45-47," the latter a reference to Trump's two terms in the White House.

In FIFA's statement, Infantino hailed "a landmark partnership agreement that will foster investment into football for the purpose of helping the recovery process in post conflict areas."

The "Board of Peace" came together after the Trump administration, teaming up with Qatar and Egypt, negotiated a ceasefire in October to halt two years of devastating war in Gaza.

The United States says it is now focused on disarming Hamas -- the Palestinian group whose unprecedented October 7, 2023, attack on Israel triggered the massive offensive.