Bojan Krkic has been compared to Ronaldinho, but East London has its own teenage sensation – and a youngster from Haiti could challenge them both for superkid honours.
‘This has been a breakthrough season for the Serbian-Spanish striker and the past week has signaled Krkic’s progression from a youngster with potential to a star in Barcelona’s lauded attack.’
One of the finest aspects of being a fan of any sport is watching up-and-coming talent break through and announce themselves to the world. Perhaps it is due to the “I told you so” nature of football fans, but all supporters of the beautiful game love to pick out youngsters for stardom before any of their peers.
To keep you informed, we like to run a tally of the rising stars quicker than anybody else, so here are three young strikers to keep an eye on, who in recent weeks have made an impact on world football:
Bojan Krkic (17)
This has been a breakthrough season for the Serbian-Spanish striker and the past week has signalled Krkic’s progression from a youngster with potential to a star in Barcelona’s lauded attack.
In various Barcelona youth teams Krkic scored 961 goals, setting new records in the process. He was voted the third best player at the under-17 2007 FIFA World Cup and made his La Liga debut in September 2007.
Krkic has had a sensational week. He was man of the match in Barcelona’s 4-1 win over Valladolid, scoring twice and outshining Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o. He followed this up with a stunning overhead kick in Spain under-21s 5-0 win over Kazakhstan.
Following the rout, Spain’s under-21 coach Inaki Saez compared Krkic to Ronaldinho. Perhaps the strongest indication of Krkic’s talent is that another highly-rated youngster, Giovanni Dos Santos, is likely to leave the Nou Camp in the summer, perhaps for the Premier League. Krkic is going nowhere.
Josmer “Jozy” Altidore (18)
The US international of Haitian descent has had American “soccer” fans licking their lips in anticipation since he made his MLS debut in August 2006 for the New York Red Bulls.
Altidore averages at least a goal every three games in the MLS and scored on his debut for the US national team against Mexico in February.
He is a marketing man’s dream, having featured in Adidas’s "Impossible is Nothing" advertisements and on the cover of the North American version of FIFA 08.
His name is a regular in the gossip columns and he has been linked with moves to Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid.
Altidore has been an effective partner for Freddy Adu in the recent US Olympic qualifying matches. Unlike Adu, one of the most hyped youngsters ever, Altidore could be the real thing. (Video evidence here.)
Freddie Sears (18)
Another product of the famed West Ham Academy, Sears has burst on to the Premier League scene and after just two games is already a firm favourite at Upton Park.
Sears announced his arrival to the top division in English football with a goal against Blackburn Rovers just five minutes after coming on. He celebrated the goal with a crossed-irons salute which for Hammers fans, used to seeing their youth products farmed out to the biggest clubs, will have been a sight to behold.
Sears has impressed in the Hammers youth teams. This season he has scored 25 goals in 24 games for West Ham U-18s and “Searsy” has been capped twice by England under-19s.
The local lad, born in Hornchurch, has all the makings of a top-class striker. He hit the post after coming on in his second game at Everton and Alan Curbishley has commented how “he gave our side a lift”.
Tell us who you think will be a star of the future, either with a comment in the box below or in your own Sportingo article.