A list of football’s most promising young players from 2016 has resurfaced, shedding light on the incredible potential recognized at the time. Among them, Gabriel Jesus, at 19, was still playing for Palmeiras and ranked 6th, while Marcus Rashford, fresh off his breakout year, came in 5th. AC Milan’s teenage goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, was placed 4th, and Bayern Munich’s Renato Sanches held the 3rd spot. Kingsley Coman, also from Bayern, was the runner-up, with Dele Alli topping the chart, celebrated for his rapid rise at Tottenham.
### Top 10 Young Players from 2016:
1. **Dele Alli** (Tottenham Hotspur)
2. **Kingsley Coman** (Bayern Munich)
3. **Renato Sanches** (Bayern Munich)
4. **Gianluigi Donnarumma** (AC Milan)
5. **Marcus Rashford** (Manchester United)
6. **Gabriel Jesus** (Palmeiras)
7. **Anthony Martial** (Manchester United)
8. **Marco Asensio** (Real Madrid)
9. **Leroy Sané** (Manchester City)
10. **Ousmane Dembélé** (Borussia Dortmund)
The list provides a fascinating snapshot of some of the top prospects back then, many of whom have gone on to become household names in global football.
### Notable Names from the Full List of 59 Best Young Players in 2016:
- **Jesus Vallejo** (on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt from Real Madrid)
- **Leon Bailey** (Genk)
- **Franck Kessié** (Atalanta)
- **Lucas Hernández** (Atletico Madrid)
- **Davinson Sánchez** (Ajax)
- **Christian Pulisic** (Borussia Dortmund)
- **Giovani Lo Celso** (on loan at Rosario Central from PSG)
- **Alex Iwobi** (Arsenal)
These young talents were identified for their immense potential, and the list serves as a reminder of how quickly careers can evolve in football. Some players have lived up to their billing, while others faced challenges along the way.
### The Top 20 from FourFourTwo’s 2016 List:
20. **Ante Coric** (Dinamo Zagreb)
19. **Tin Jedvaj** (Bayer Leverkusen)
18. **Marlos Moreno** (Deportivo La Coruña, on loan from Manchester City)
17. **Timo Werner** (RB Leipzig)
16. **Youri Tielemans** (Anderlecht)
15. **Christian Pulisic** (Borussia Dortmund)
14. **Kelechi Iheanacho** (Manchester City)
13. **Julian Brandt** (Bayer Leverkusen)
12. **Giovani Lo Celso** (Rosario Central, on loan from PSG)
11. **Gabriel Barbosa** (Inter Milan)
10. **Ousmane Dembélé** (Borussia Dortmund)
9. **Leroy Sané** (Manchester City)
8. **Marco Asensio** (Real Madrid)
7. **Anthony Martial** (Manchester United)
6. **Gabriel Jesus** (Palmeiras, joined Manchester City in January 2017)
5. **Marcus Rashford** (Manchester United)
4. **Gianluigi Donnarumma** (AC Milan)
3. **Renato Sanches** (Bayern Munich)
2. **Kingsley Coman** (Bayern Munich)
1. **Dele Alli** (Tottenham Hotspur)
Reflecting on these rankings, it’s clear how some of these players have cemented themselves as stars, while others are still navigating their way through the complexities of professional football.