Guardian Names 60 Best Young Talents Born in 2009, Featuring Cavan Sullivan
The Guardian has released its 2026 list of 60 top young footballers born in 2009. The feature spotlights emerging stars like Cavan Sullivan and 'the new Toni Kroos'.
TL;DR The Guardian has published its 2026 edition of the Next Generation list, highlighting 60 of the most talented young footballers born in 2009.
Key Points - The list features 60 players born in the year 2009. - Cavan Sullivan, named the US' next big hope, is highlighted in the feature. - The article also identifies a player described as 'the new Toni Kroos'.
What We Know The Guardian Football, authored by Marcus Christenson, released this feature on October 6, 2026. The publication notes that this is part of a long-standing series tracking the progress of different age cohorts, with previous classes dating back to 2014. The excerpt specifically mentions the inclusion of a Premier League class of 2026.
Why It Matters This list serves as a key indicator for the future quality of global football talent. Identifying players like Cavan Sullivan provides early insight into which young athletes are poised to become significant assets in the transfer market and national team setups over the next decade.
What Happens Next While the immediate next step is simply tracking the performance of these players in their respective leagues, it is speculative to assume any of these 60 players will make immediate top-flight debuts in the coming weeks. The Guardian will likely continue to track this cohort in future editions.
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