The NXGN lists were created by GOAL in 2016 to celebrate the best young talent in world football and have since grown to become their own football media brand.
NXGN exists to celebrate the next generation of young talent breaking into the game by finding the superstars of tomorrow and through ongoing content, helping fans know them on and off the pitch.
For this year’s NXGN lists, eligible players needed to be born on or after January 1, 2003, with players aged predominantly 18 and under.
The NXGN list is compiled by GOAL’s global network of journalists operating in 37 countries, with hundreds of football experts contributing to the final list of talented teenagers.
Upon being presented with his award, Bellingham said: “Thank you to NXGN and all the BVB fans for their support this year. I appreciate it”
Melchie Dumornay said: “I’m very happy to win this trophy because, to me, it feels like a reward for all the hard work on the field.
“I also know that I owe it to my teammates who pull me up every day.
“For me, it’s a step, which makes me want to work more to achieve more.
“[when I heard], I was in the locker room and I cried out in surprise and joy.”
Mark Patterson, content director for NXGN said: “Bellingham has emerged as one of the finest young midfielders on the planet since joining Borussia Dortmund and has proved capable of dictating the tempo of matches at the very highest level of the European game.
“He has all the ingredients a modern-day coach would want, particularly given his goal and assist numbers this season.”
Amee Ruszkai, women’s football writer for GOAL said: “Melchie Dumornay has been a stand-out player in youth and senior tournaments in Concacaf, as well as the Under-20 Women’s World Cup where she played at the age of 14.
“Those glimpses of her talent made her move into professional club football in 2021 all the more anticipated.
“If anyone questioned whether she could apply herself to that environment, Dumornay proved them wrong instantly by coming off the bench at halftime on her debut and grabbing two assists.”
To win this year’s award, Bellingham finished above Florian Wirtz of Bayer Leverkusen, Barcelona’s Gavi, Jamal Musiala of Bayern Munich, and Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott.
Dumornay’s win saw her named above Montpellier’s Mary Fowler, Haley Bugeja of Sassuolo, Alexis Missimo from the University of Texas, and Lisanne Gräwe of Bayer Leverkusen.
Past winners of the men’s list include Ansu Fati, Jadon Sancho, Justin Kluivert, Rodrygo, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Youri Tielemans.
Dumornay is the third woman to top a NXGN list, following in the footsteps of Lena Oberdorf, and Hanna Bennison.
Arsen Zakharyan was placed at number 11 on the men’s list. Since then, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, NXGN’s editorial team made the decision to leave place 11 vacant.
Alex Chick, VP Content, said: “Our panel placed Arsen Zakharyan 11th when it selected the NXGN list before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“NXGN exists to celebrate talented young footballers and Zakharyan is certainly one, and we hope he has a great future.
“However, in support of FIFA and UEFA’s ban of Russia from club and international competitions, we do not want to endorse or validate the teams Zakharyan plays for.
“We have therefore decided to leave 11th place vacant.”
The top ten NXGN lists for the men and women are below with the full lists available on NXGN’s Instagram account: @nxgn_football
NXGN Men’s list top ten
- Jude Bellingham – Borussia Dortmund
- Florian Wirtz -Bayer Leverkusen
- Gavi – Barcelona
- Jamal Musiala – Bayern Munich
- Harvey Elliott – Liverpool
- Rayan Cherki – Lyon
- Devyne Rensch – Ajax
- Youssoufa Moukoko – Borussia Dortmund
- Benjamin Šeško – Red Bull Salzburg
- Ricardo Pepi – Augsburg
NXGN Women’s list top ten
- Melchie Dumornay – Reims
- Mary Fowler – Montpellier
- Haley Bugeja -Sassuolo
- Alexis Missimo – University of Texas
- Lisanne Gräwe – Bayer Leverkusen
- Alice Sombath – Lyon
- Kathrine Møller Kühl – FC Nordsjaelland
- Andrea Medina – Real Betis
- Camilla Küver – Eintracht Frankfurt
- Gio – Barcelona (on loan at Levante)
