As the title suggests, more and more so-called "geniuses" are starting to play in the top flight sooner and later. In the past, 18-year-olds and 19-year-olds were already geniuses who could play in the first team rotation, but now the people who can be called geniuses are basically 16/17 years old to play in the first team, and by the age of 19/20, they are already a stable first-team starter. But for me, I'm more bullish on players who can't play in their 20s because I'm more bullish on their steady playing time and athletic life.
Although with the advancement of technology and the advancement of mankind, there are many players who are already very strong at the age of 16/17, and even look no different from adults, which is why so many genius demons appear. Mukoko has already played 15 games for boreal first team Borussia Dortmund at the age of 16; Bellingham played 35 games for Birmingham at the age of 16 and 46 for Borussia Dortmund at the age of 17 and 44 respectively; Garvey played 44 games for Barca at the age of 17; Pedri played 52 games for Barca at the age of 17. There are too many such examples, and all of them are popular players at the Golden Boy Awards.
But is this really good? Is it really not pulling seedlings to help grow? Although these players look no different from adults at the age of 16/17, science is science, and the real peak of physical function is around 23-25 years old, which is scientifically based. So, when these junior players are 3 years ahead of schedule, 5 years ahead of schedule to participate in the most competitive, physically the strongest top league is really good? In the top flight they will play against players who are 25, 28, 30! When the muscles of the body have not yet fully developed, when the bones have not yet fully matured, it is necessary to participate in such a fierce confrontation, which will really leave hidden dangers.
This kind of hidden danger may not be seen by the player at the age of 17, not seen at the age of 20, and may not be seen at the age of 25, but what about at the age of 28? By the age of 30? Those "dark wounds" we call "dark wounds" will definitely have a concentrated outbreak period, sooner or later. Some outbreaks are a little earlier, like Pedri suffered a serious injury this season, resulting in only 22 appearances for Barca, you know he is only 19 years old now! Fati, on the other hand, suffered injuries last season and this season, and he is now 19 years old; Mukoko, who played in the Bundesliga at the age of 16, tasted injuries at the age of 17.
So I'm really not very optimistic about the players who play in the top league at the age of 16 or 17, and there is no other reason, because I think they are too injured and probably don't have a long athletic life, or they can't maintain their peak state for a long time. On the contrary, those who play in the top league at the age of 19/20 may be relatively better at maintaining their ability to peak, after all, the 19-year-old and 20-year-old are already very mature. For example, Rodrigo, who really became the main rotation player of Real Madrid at the age of 19, I am more optimistic. There is also Alfonso Davis, who also became Bayern's main defender at the age of 19, and is also a player I like.