Canada has not been ranked among the top countries that produce top-rated footballers in the past years. However, the nation has hit the headlines for some good news recently. It has been producing talented footballers who compete in the top European leagues. You can spot some of the best young Canadian soccer players in some of the most competitive tournaments in Europe like the Champions League and Europa League. Moreover, several top young soccer talents now ply their trades in Europe’s top flights such as Bundesliga, La Liga, English Premier League, Ligue 1 and many others. The following are some of the top-rated players whose origins you may trace to Canada.
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Alphonso Davies
The young Canadian superstar currently plays at Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. He plays as a left-back or a winger for the club and country. It is fair to begin the list of the best young Canadian soccer players with Davies' name. He is one of the best Canadian soccer players with a work rate that sets the pace for him to become the all-time best Canadian sports icon. Before Alphonso came into the limelight, no single Canadian had managed to play in the Champions League. The number of players who have succeeded in lifting the coveted prize (Champions League) is countable. Even the young stars from the elite soccer hubs of Europe do not often get the opportunity to lift the trophy at the tender age of 19. Davies' contribution to Bayern's journey to lift the title in the 2019/20 season was remarkable. At 20 years, the young Canadian superstar has already claimed two German Cups, two League titles, and a Club World Cup besides the Champions League.
Davies has exhibited some excellent performances on the national scene. Generations will remember him as one of the best Canadian Wonderkidsfor his contribution to the national team. His electric speed assisted the nation to sit at the top of the CONCACAF teams in the World cup qualifiers. He has been good at home and on the international scene. It will take some little effort for Davies to become the best young Canadian player of all time.
Jonathan David
Jonathan David is on the list of young Canadian soccer players because of his sterling performance. Only a few players can match his prowess. The Ottawa-born Canadian professional was first spotted by Genk when he was just 18 years old. The young star mastered 37 goals after making 83 appearances. In the 2019/20 season, he was the Jupiler Pro League’s joint-top scorer. Jupiler Pro gave David a platform to showcase his talent to the popular leagues.
Top-fight appearance
Lille scouts spotted him in 2020 and paid a transfer fee of 30 million pounds for his signature. He became the most expensive Canadian player at that time. While at Lille, he has stood out as one of the best Canadian wonder kidsby continuing his goal-scoring prowess. Jonathan David is one of the lithal strikers in the French Ligue 1. Lille relied on his goal-scoring form to topple PSG from the top position in the Ligue 1 table for the 201/20 season.
National glory
Jonathan David made several call-ups to the Canadian youth teams-U-15 and u-17. It was during the 2017 CONCACAF tournament that he became more famous. Most people started developing interest in the striker when he scored a brace against Suriname in the final group match. He remains one of the most talented young Canadian soccer players following his record for the highest number of goals for a Canadian player in a single year in 2019. He had a total of eight goals for the country. His first senior call-up to the national team came in 2018 against the U.S. Virgin Island.
Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty
If you want to know the players who make the list for best Canadian Wonderkids, you need to look no further than Jahkeele Marshall. The young star made his MLS debut in October 2020 against Philadelphia. This event allowed him to get a call up to the Canadian national team two months later. He holds the record for the youngest footballer to earn a call-up to the Canada national soccer team. The wonder kid prides himself in the ability to dribble past defences with ease. He makes neat passes to unlock defences with ease to create goal-scoring opportunities.
In case Marshall continues his work rate, he will become a great player. It will be a little wonder to meet the name of Marshall-Rutty among the European Elites. He has mastered the art of a right-winger and contributes with consistency in his teams in the club (Toronto FC) as well as in the national arena.
Ralph Priso
TFC will remember Ralph Priso for his contribution in the last five games in MLS in the 2021 season. He went ahead to play a pivotal role for the club in the playoffs. The central midfielder fits the shoes of Toronto FC's ageing midfield maestro, Michal Bradley. If he continues to perform the way he has started in the recent matches, he will be guaranteed more playtime in the club.
Priso made it to the scene by excelling in the Canada u-17 team where he made six appearances before getting a call up to the senior team. After watching his last six games, I will not be surprised if he makes his first debut for the national team. Canadian football fans will remember Priso as one of the best Canadian wonder kids who served the country well.
Liam Millar
Liverpool fans will remember the young Canadian for his scintillating performance during his debut for the clubs' U-18 team. He scored a hat-trick to make a major announcement in the field of soccer. His loan spells at Kilmarnock and Chalton are a testimony of what to expect from the young winger.
At 18, Miller was called to the senior team for the first time in 2018. He made his first appearance at the 2019 Gold Cup and the CONCACAF Nations League.