Canada hasn’t enjoyed much success in football, unlike in other sports. But in recent years, the North American country has been making waves.
First was the production of brilliant youngsters in recent years. Some have even taken European football by storm.
Then recently was the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification that Canada secured. Its first appearance at the global Mundial in 36 years (the last appearance was in 1986).
In this piece, TOP SOCCER BLOG brings you the top 5 Canadian youngsters in 2022.
1. Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich, 22 years old)
Alphonso Davies is a versatile full-back who is also very capable of playing as a winger. He possesses an electric pace and makes marauding runs on the wings, and has a high work rate. He is one of the best full-backs in world football.
Davies joined Bayern Munich ahead of the 2019/20 season and instantly established himself in the first team.
In his first season at the Allianz Arena, he won the treble — including the UEFA Champions League — at just 19 years old.
He became the first Canadian to appear in the Champions League and the first-ever to win it. He is already considered one of the greatest Canadian soccer players of all time.
So far, he has won 10 trophies at Bayern Munich.
Davies made his first international appearance for Canada in 2017 at just 17 years of age and scored at the same age — becoming the youngest player to represent and score for Canada.
He is on course to become Canada’s greatest player of all time.
2. Jonathan David (Lille, 22 years old)
Jonathan Davies was signed by Belgian top side Genk as an 18-year-old. He impressed in Belgium, scoring 37 goals in 83 appearances.
He was the Belgian Jupiter League Top Scorer in 2019/20.
David was signed by French Ligue 1 side Lille in the summer of 2020 for €30m, thus becoming the most expensive Canadian footballer in history.
In his first season with Lille, he helped the club to shockingly win the Ligue ahead of PSG. Lille also won the Trophée des Champions in 2021.
Jonathan David is one of the most sought-after young strikers in the world of football at the moment.
3. Tajon Buchanan (Club Brugge, 23 years)
Tajon Buchanan is a Canadian winger who plays for Club Brugge in Belgium.
He broke through at MLS side New England Revolution. He was named in the MLS best XI in 2021.
He was signed by Club Brugge in the summer of 2021 but was loaned back to his MLS club. He eventually joined Brugge in January 2022.
Buchanan is one of the brightest players on the Canadian national team right now and was named the Best Young Player at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2020.
He won the Canadian Young Player of the Year award in 2020.
Tajon Buchanan scored in Canada’s 4-0 defeat of Jamaica that secured their FIFA World Cup qualification for the first time in 36 years.
4. Liam Millar (Basel, 22 years old)
Millar joined Fulham academy as a child and later transferred to Liverpool academy.
As a young forward at Liverpool, he found playing time difficult due to the presence of Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino.
After some loan spells, he moved permanently to Swiss giants FC Basel last summer, and he is gradually finding his feet in Switzerland.
5. Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty (Toronto FC, 17 years old)
Marshall-Rutty became the youngest ever player to play for MLS club Toronto FC in 2020 at just 16 years of age.
He was called to the Canadian national team in January 2021 at just 16 but hasn’t made his full international debut yet. With his call-up, Marshall-Rutty became the youngest player to ever be called up to the Canadian senior team, breaking the record of Alphonso Davies by five days.
The winger is being tipped to be a future superstar for Canada.
