SoccerClub writer Dylan Appolis takes a look at who are the next generation of top strikers in World Football.

ENDRICK
CLUB: PALMEIRAS/REAL MADRID
NATIONALITY: BRAZIL
AGE: 17

The 17-year-old has been the talk of the town and is one of the biggest stars in Brazil, so it is no surprise he has earned a £50 million move to Real Madrid.

However, he will only join the Spanish giants once he turns 18 in July 2024, and he continues his development at Palmeiras for now.

Endrick will follow in the footsteps of Vinicius Jnr, Rodrygo, Éder Militão and Reinier, who all left Brazil to join Los Blancos.

The Brazil under-20 international netted 165 goals in his 169 games for Palmeiras’ youth teams and has already broken into their first team, with 29 senior appearances and seven goals and two assists to his name.

He also became the youngest player ever to score for Palmeiras’ first team and helped them lift the 2022 Brasileirão Série A title.

Endrick has incredible explosiveness and lightning reactions, and possesses the prowess to dance around players with the ball and trip others up with his trickery.

Real Madrid will no doubt be pairing him with Vinicius Jnr and Rodrygo in what could be a formidable front three.

VITOR ROQUE CLUB: ATHLETICO PARANAENSE
NATIONALITY: BRAZIL
AGE: 18

Roque, one of the most sought-after strikers in South American football, played for Cruzeiro before Athletico Paranaense activated his $24-million release clause in April 2022 to sign him on a five-year contract, becoming the biggest transfer in the club’s history.

The 18-year-old has versatility in his game and can operate as a striker, second striker, or winger on either side of a front three. He already netted 15 goals and has seven assists to his name in 56 appearances across all competitions and fits the mould of the classic Brazilian forward.

Athletico Paranaense will find it hard to keep a hold of their prized possession, and he has been tracked by several clubs in Europe, including Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea.

BENJAMIN ŠEŠKO CLUB: RED BULL SALZBURG
NATIONALITY: SLOVENIA
AGE: 20
The Slovenian forward has been touted as one of the best young strikers in world football since joining Red Bull Salzburg at the age of 16 in June 2019.

Over the past three seasons, he has already shown his potential after scoring 28 goals and contributing to 10 assists from 78 appearances for Salzburg, coupled with his 22 goals and six assists in 44 appearances during a two-season loan spell at FC Liefering, which has earned him a move to Salzburg’s sister club RB Leipzig in 2023/24 for a reported transfer fee of around 24 million euros.

Standing 1.95 metres tall, Šeško is often compared to his predecessor Erling Haaland for his ability to boss defenders with his physical frame and his great speed in and out of possession to make for an explosive goal threat.

If Šeško can maintain his form, he will surely be a force to be reckoned with as he looks to dominate in the German Bundesliga.

YOUSSOUFA MOUKOKO CLUB: BORUSSIA DORTMUND
NATIONALITY: GERMANY
AGE: 18

Youssoufa Moukoko came through the ranks at Borussia Dortmund and was promoted to the first team in January 2020 after smashing multiple records in his breakthrough season at the age of 16.

Born in Cameroon, but a full Germany international, he is one of world football’s most exciting teenagers and a most consistent forward with his ability to twist and turn defenders, his eye for scoring from impossible angles and clever movement on- and off the ball to get into those scoring positions.

It will be tough for Dortmund to keep a hold on him, as he has already bagged 12 goals and assisted in a further eight from 71 appearances for Dortmund since making his debut.

MATHYS TEL
CLUB: BAYERN MUNICH
NATIONALITY: FRANCE
AGE: 18
Mathys Tel is a highly promising forward who spent time with second- tier Paris FC as well as in the famed Clairefontaine training centre before arriving at Rennes in 2020. He then joined Bayern Munich in a ¤28.5- million move in July 2022.

The 18-year-old’s talent has not gone unnoticed and he has already broken into Bayern’s first team and featured 27 times, finding the back of the net on six occasions in his debut season in the Bundesliga.

Tel has been labelled ‘the new Kylian Mbappé’, but he is still far from being a finished article and needs a bit of time and patience.

That said, he has already displayed his goal- scoring prowess with his ability to hold the ball up, and his powerful bursts down the left channel, as he continues to fill the boots of Robert Lewandowski.