Where are they now? Marca’s ‘best European Under-18 XI’ from 2016

In February 2016, Spanish sports newspaper Marca published an XI of what they considered the best footballers in Europe aged 18 or under at the time. Here, we take a look at how those players’ careers are progressing.

It’s often hard to judge how good a teenage player will be, whether undoubted talent will amount to a glistening career in the game.

We’ve heard countless stories in years gone by of youngsters destined for greatness who never reached the levels many thought they were capable of – Ravel Morrison being just one example in an endless catalogue of names.

But five years on – despite the threat of early promise fizzling out – most of the inclusions in Marca’s subjectively selected team have gone on to shine in various top European leagues and on the international stage. There’s one French forward in particular who hasn’t done too badly.

We’ve decided to revisit the players Marca earmarked as exceptional and see what they’re up to now.

It’s difficult to believe Donnarumma is only 23; it feels like he’s been playing for decades.

As the star of Italy’s dramatic penalty shootout victory in the Euro final last summer, most would agree that Donnarumma is one of the best goalkeepers in Europe – he was named player of the tournament.

He made his first-team debut for AC Milan in October 2015, when he was 16. The custodian’s rapid rise came as little surprise after the Rossoneri battled hard to secure his signature from youth side ASD Napoli.

“The first club interested was Inter,” Ciro Amore, his former head of football at ASD Napoli said.

“Their youth team manager came here to the office, to discuss it with his father. We even went to Milan to sign a pre-contract agreement with them.”

Inter no doubt rue the fact he