Next up: 11 under-the-radar French studs primed for stardom
France is blessed with so much young talent it's mind-boggling.
In the last few years, teenagers Kylian Mbappe, Alban Lafont, and Jean-Kevin Augustin have emerged as future stars, while 20-year-olds Ousmane Dembele, Moussa Dembele, and Kingsley Coman have been deservedly praised for composed first-team performances.
This budding group also includes a slew of players barely into their 20s, counting the likes of Thomas Lemar, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Corentin Tolisso, Presnel Kimpembe, Kurt Zouma, and Benjamin Mendy - all of whom are 22 years old or younger.
One thing all of the aforementioned names have in common is progression through French academies, and while those above have all cemented statuses as football's next stars, there is an abundance of young talents, who, like their countryman, could one day dignify a high-profile move abroad.
With that in mind, here's a look at 11 players poised to break through with their French clubs before appearing on the radars of scouts continent-wide:
GK Jerome Prior (Bordeaux)
Pity Bordeaux shot-stopper Jerome Prior, who at the decrepit age of 21 is three years the senior of Hugo Lloris' heir apparent, Alban Lafont. Part of Girondins' prodigious netminding pair alongside Paul Bernardoni, Prior made 19 starts this season in all competitions, picking up six clean sheets for Jocelyn Gourvennec's young side.
LB Malang Sarr (Nice)
Despite a second-half that tailed off, Nice full-back Malang Sarr, 18, was a revelation, making 27 Ligue 1 appearances for Lucien Favre's lot. A slick-passing left-back, the local boy Sarr - who joined Les Aiglons as a 5-year-old - can also slide inside to play in a central role, and this season became the second-youngest player to ever score on a Ligue 1 debut.
CB Issa Diop (Toulouse)
One of the most experienced 20-year-olds on the continent, Toulouse centre-half Issa Diop enters the 2017-18 campaign with 51 league starts under his belt. Physically imposing at 6-foot-3 and composed on the ball, Diop anchored France's Under-19 European Championship winner, will do so with the Under-20 outfit this summer, and appears set for a long tenure with Les Bleus' senior side.
CB Mouctar Diakhaby (Lyon)
Like Diop, Lyon centre-half Mouctar Diakhaby has cut his first-team teeth at a young age, making 33 appearances for Les Gones this season, including standout performances on the continent against Juventus and Roma. The youngest central defender to ever start a Champions League match, Diakhaby, 20, also bagged five goals this season, not the least of which were tallies in each leg of the Giallorossi clash.
RB Joris Gnagnon (Rennes)
Out of position for the purposes of this team, Rennes central defender Joris Gnagnon, 20, had a breakthrough campaign for Les Rouges et Noirs that has reportedly drawn the attention of Chelsea, among others. With 38 first-team appearances since promotion from the Bretons academy a year ago, the France Under-20 is certain for stardom, with a combination of poise and ball skills well beyond his years.
CM Lucas Tousart (Lyon)
Alongside Diakhaby in banging the drum of Lyon's celebrated youth set-up, Lucas Tousart emerged this year against expectations on the heels of a stellar run with France's Under-19 outfit. A deep-lying centre-mid, Tousart made a good account of himself in 33 outings in all comps, with Manchester United heavily scouting the Valenciennes academy product as an eventual replacement for Michael Carrick.
CM Maxime Lopez (Marseille)
Ligue 1's Player of the Month from December, Marseille midfielder Maxime Lopez, 19, was a big part of the south coast side's bounce-back campaign. In 30 league appearances, Lopez paired three goals with seven assists for Rudi Garcia's Europa League qualifiers, displaying a knack for passing that had Liverpool scouting the lad as a potential Philippe Coutinho replacement.
AM Amine Harit (Nantes)
After a trial with Arsenal in 2015 saw Nantes midfielder Amine Harit impress among Arsene Wenger's first team, the French tactician may regret not signing the Under-20 stud then and there. Instead, the Gunners will have to contend with Europe's marquee sides for Harit's signature, and for the 19-year-old with a penchant for a perfectly weighted ball, it's deserved after the 2016-17 campaign witnessed the versatile player star in 30 league appearances for Les Canaris.
LW Marcus Thuram (Sochaux)
While his father, Lilian, was a defensive rock, Marcus, 19, excels at the other end of the pitch. It's all about potential for Thuram after breaking through with Sochaux's first team this year before starring for the Under-20 side at the World Cup in South Korea on the left flank. A towering presence for a winger at 6-foot-2, he can play on either wing or as a No. 9, with equal parts pace and power.
RW Allan Saint-Maximin (Monaco)
Were it not for Allan Saint-Maximin, Bastia's dire 2016-17 season could have been that much worse, as Monaco's on-loan attacker was electric this season whilst playing across the midfield and up top. A dribbling wizard who sprints at defenders, Saint-Maximin, 20, is likely to compete for a spot in Leonardo Jardim's squad this season. His 134 take-ons topped Ligue 1, and for comparison, that number was 15 more than Leo Messi completed this term for Barcelona.
FW Yann Karamoh (Caen)
Reports suggest that Newcastle is aggressively pursuing Caen stud Yann Karamoh, though from the looks of it, Rafa Benitez's lot will face stiff competition from Fiorentina, Nice, and Monaco for the versatile attacker. With appearances in all but three of SMC's Ligue 1 clashes this season, Karamoh, 18, bagged five goals with four helpers, including a winner against Metz in December that was one of the top-flight's stellar displays of the campaign.
Honourable mention: GK Paul Bernardoni (Bordeaux), DF Enock Kwateng (Nantes), DF Olivier Boscagli (Nice), MF Ludovic Blas (Guingamp), FW Martin Terrier (Lille)
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)