A look at five of the best young midfielders in the world. These players were all born in the 1990s and look to have outstanding careers ahead of them.
1. Eden Hazard (Lille)
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The Lille winger is one of a number of highly promising Belgium players. Dubbed a 'right footed Lionel Messi' in some quarters, Hazard has pace to burn and is regularly linked with a move to England or Spain. Accused of being a little too flashy by Belgium coach Georges Leekens, Real Madrid and Arsenal would nonetheless welcome him with open arms, such is the potential he has shown in Ligue 1 and Europe. He became the first foreign player to win the Young Player of the Year award in France after a super 2008-09 season.
2. Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
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With a fair wind behind him, Wilshere could be a mainstay in the England midfield for the next 10 years. The young midfielder looks after the ball as if it were the crown jewels, rarely losing possession and controlling the tempo of a match. The 2010-11 season is his first full campaign in the Arsenal senior team and he has not disappointed. The left-footed Wilshere strokes the ball around the Emirates Stadium pitch as if he has been playing there for years. His performance against Barcelona in a February 2011 Champions League match had many observers suggesting that he would not look out of place in the Catalans' midfield.
3. Christian Eriksen (Ajax)
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4. Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund)
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This 18-year-old creative midfielder entered the Borussia Dortmund academy as a nine-year-old. Player of the tournament when Germany won the Euro Under-17 title in 2009, Gotze is a player of rare technique, who is capable of scoring goals. Dortmund have some excellent young players and Gotze might just be the best of the bunch. A virtuoso second-half display in a thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen in January 2011 prompted his coach to take him off for fear of reprisals from opposition players looking to take the youngster down a peg or two.
5. Erik Lamela (Roma)
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Barcelona tried to sign the youngster when he was 12, but River Plate won the tug-of-war. This elegant midfielder caught the eye in his first River Plate-Boca Juniors derby in November 2010. The left-footer passes the ball well, is a danger from set-pieces, and capable of producing a sudden dribble to get away from defenders. He may not quite be the new Lionel Messi, but he has a promising career ahead of him. Italian club Roma signed him in July 2011.
