Tom Maston
@tommaston.bsky.social
Features Editor & NXGN compiler at GOAL. Philadelphia Eagles & LUFC fan. He/him.
Pinned
Tom Maston
@tommaston.bsky.social
· Mar 18
NXGN 2025: The 50 best teenage wonderkids in football | Goal.com
GOAL's annual NXGN lists are back for 2025, ranking 50 of the most incredible footballing talents to have been born on or after January 1, 2006
www.goal.com
NXGN 2025: The 50 best teenage wonderkids in world football
Ahead of the Champions League final, the GOAL team put our heads together to rank the best players in Europe this season.
Decent list, all told:
Decent list, all told:
Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembele and GOAL's top 50 players of the 2024-25 European season - ranked | Goal.com UK
GOAL's team of writers and editors has ranked he top 50 players from the 2024-25 European season, including Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembele, Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane
www.goal.com
May 31, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Ahead of the Champions League final, the GOAL team put our heads together to rank the best players in Europe this season.
Decent list, all told:
Decent list, all told:
Myself & the GOAL team have put our heads together to rank the top 50 players in this season’s Premier League.
As is usually the case with wisdom of crowds, we got it totally wrong, but you should check it out anyway:
As is usually the case with wisdom of crowds, we got it totally wrong, but you should check it out anyway:
Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and GOAL's top 50 Premier League players of the 2024-25 season - ranked | Goal.com
Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak are among GOAL's top 50 players from the 2024-25 Premier League season
www.goal.com
May 23, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Myself & the GOAL team have put our heads together to rank the top 50 players in this season’s Premier League.
As is usually the case with wisdom of crowds, we got it totally wrong, but you should check it out anyway:
As is usually the case with wisdom of crowds, we got it totally wrong, but you should check it out anyway:
Reposted by Tom Maston
I've had the pleasure of watching Harry Kane's entire career to this point up close, and the journey has been special.
Nobody remembers a player's trophy count after the tally reaches one. Now, Kane is free to build his legacy without caveat.
Long read on a legend:
www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
Nobody remembers a player's trophy count after the tally reaches one. Now, Kane is free to build his legacy without caveat.
Long read on a legend:
www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
Rejected, belittled, belatedly celebrated: Harry Kane is finally a champion - now he can become Britain's unlikeliest sporting GOAT | Goal.com UK
Harry Kane has finally won a trophy after Bayern Munich were crowned Bundesliga champions, and now he has the chance to become Britain's sporting GOAT.
www.goal.com
May 5, 2025 at 11:07 AM
I've had the pleasure of watching Harry Kane's entire career to this point up close, and the journey has been special.
Nobody remembers a player's trophy count after the tally reaches one. Now, Kane is free to build his legacy without caveat.
Long read on a legend:
www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
Nobody remembers a player's trophy count after the tally reaches one. Now, Kane is free to build his legacy without caveat.
Long read on a legend:
www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
Reposted by Tom Maston
Chelsea secure the earliest Women's Super League title triumph. Only twice has the title race not gone down to the final day, when Arsenal won with one game to spare in 2012 & 2019.
Most wins, a first unbeaten 22-game season and most points all records still on the cards.
Most wins, a first unbeaten 22-game season and most points all records still on the cards.
Six in a row! How Sonia Bompastor ensured Chelsea avoided an Emma Hayes hangover and dominated the Women's Super League once again | Goal.com
After the departure of Emma Hayes, some believed this would be Chelsea's transitional season, but Sonia Bompastor has done a fantastic job in leading the Blues to a sixth-successive Women's Super Leag...
www.goal.com
April 30, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Chelsea secure the earliest Women's Super League title triumph. Only twice has the title race not gone down to the final day, when Arsenal won with one game to spare in 2012 & 2019.
Most wins, a first unbeaten 22-game season and most points all records still on the cards.
Most wins, a first unbeaten 22-game season and most points all records still on the cards.
Reposted by Tom Maston
🔮 Had a go at predicting the end of the Premier League season, revolving around the race for the European places - and just how low Manchester United and Tottenham will finish.
www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
Man City and Newcastle to make it but Chelsea to miss out: GOAL predicts the Premier League's top-five race as epic fight for Champions League places resumes | Goal.com UK
GOAL predicts which Premier League teams will qualify for Europe, with Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, Man City, Newcastle, Brighton, Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Fulham all in the mix.
www.goal.com
March 31, 2025 at 11:43 AM
🔮 Had a go at predicting the end of the Premier League season, revolving around the race for the European places - and just how low Manchester United and Tottenham will finish.
www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
Not that I'm wishing another crushing tournament disappointment away, but as Thomas Tuchel prepares for his first match as England manager, here's 20 players who could become key figures under his successor:
NXGN 2025: The 20 best English teenage wonderkids in football | Goal.com
England aren't short of talented young players but the conveyor belt is showing no signs of slowing down as a new generation of teenage wonderkids is starting to emerge
www.goal.com
March 20, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Not that I'm wishing another crushing tournament disappointment away, but as Thomas Tuchel prepares for his first match as England manager, here's 20 players who could become key figures under his successor:
Reposted by Tom Maston
“When you are playing with your friends on the street, I think she feels something like that when she's playing football. She does the same things when she is training with the best players in the world.”
GOAL's 2025 Women's NXGN winner: Vicky Lopez 🌟
GOAL's 2025 Women's NXGN winner: Vicky Lopez 🌟
The rise of Vicky Lopez: Barcelona's best teenage footballer in women's football | Goal.com
Eighteen-year-old Vicky Lopez has been crowned the winner of NXGN 2025 after excelling for both Barcelona and the Spain national team
www.goal.com
March 19, 2025 at 12:25 PM
“When you are playing with your friends on the street, I think she feels something like that when she's playing football. She does the same things when she is training with the best players in the world.”
GOAL's 2025 Women's NXGN winner: Vicky Lopez 🌟
GOAL's 2025 Women's NXGN winner: Vicky Lopez 🌟
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi, aged 17 years & 8 months, for club and country:
⚽ Goals: 0
🎯 Assists: 0
🇪🇸 Lamine Yamal, aged 17 years & 8 months, for club and country:
⚽ Goals: 23
🎯 Assists: 32
Not sure world football has ever known a more talented teenager...
⚽ Goals: 0
🎯 Assists: 0
🇪🇸 Lamine Yamal, aged 17 years & 8 months, for club and country:
⚽ Goals: 23
🎯 Assists: 32
Not sure world football has ever known a more talented teenager...
Lamine Yamal: The greatest teenage footballer the world has ever seen | Goal.com
Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal is the greatest teenage footballer the world has even seen, having already surpassed Lionel Messi's achievements at the same age
www.goal.com
March 19, 2025 at 9:23 AM
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi, aged 17 years & 8 months, for club and country:
⚽ Goals: 0
🎯 Assists: 0
🇪🇸 Lamine Yamal, aged 17 years & 8 months, for club and country:
⚽ Goals: 23
🎯 Assists: 32
Not sure world football has ever known a more talented teenager...
⚽ Goals: 0
🎯 Assists: 0
🇪🇸 Lamine Yamal, aged 17 years & 8 months, for club and country:
⚽ Goals: 23
🎯 Assists: 32
Not sure world football has ever known a more talented teenager...
About three months of work from colleagues around the world condensed into one breakdown of the best teenage footballers on the planet...
NXGN 2025: The 50 best teenage wonderkids in world football
NXGN 2025: The 50 best teenage wonderkids in football | Goal.com
GOAL's annual NXGN lists are back for 2025, ranking 50 of the most incredible footballing talents to have been born on or after January 1, 2006
www.goal.com
March 18, 2025 at 4:33 PM
About three months of work from colleagues around the world condensed into one breakdown of the best teenage footballers on the planet...
NXGN 2025: The 50 best teenage wonderkids in world football
NXGN 2025: The 50 best teenage wonderkids in football | Goal.com
GOAL's annual NXGN lists are back for 2025, ranking 50 of the most incredible footballing talents to have been born on or after January 1, 2006
www.goal.com
March 18, 2025 at 12:12 PM
NXGN 2025: The 50 best teenage wonderkids in world football
GO - and I cannot emphasise this enough - BIRDS!!!!!
February 10, 2025 at 3:25 AM
GO - and I cannot emphasise this enough - BIRDS!!!!!
Reposted by Tom Maston
There are only nine women in head coach roles in the top two tiers of English women’s football.
Earlier this month, I got some insight one of the ways the FA is trying to address the issue, with Steph Houghton, Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema among those taking part.
www.goal.com/en/lists/nex...
Earlier this month, I got some insight one of the ways the FA is trying to address the issue, with Steph Houghton, Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema among those taking part.
www.goal.com/en/lists/nex...
Where's the next Emma Hayes coming from? Inside the FA's bid to produce more top female coaches and address lack of representation as WSL stars past and present eye success in the dugout | Goal.com
Only nine coaches in the Women's Super League and Women's Championship are women, but the FA is appealing to the likes of Steph Houghton and Beth Mead in a bid to change that and find the next Emma Ha...
www.goal.com
December 23, 2024 at 11:23 AM
There are only nine women in head coach roles in the top two tiers of English women’s football.
Earlier this month, I got some insight one of the ways the FA is trying to address the issue, with Steph Houghton, Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema among those taking part.
www.goal.com/en/lists/nex...
Earlier this month, I got some insight one of the ways the FA is trying to address the issue, with Steph Houghton, Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema among those taking part.
www.goal.com/en/lists/nex...
Reposted by Tom Maston
🏆 Every Premier League team's true MVP.
Had fun trying to differentiate between 'most important' and 'best'. What do you think?
www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
Had fun trying to differentiate between 'most important' and 'best'. What do you think?
www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
Martin Odegaard, Rodri and every Premier League club's true MVP | Goal.com UK
Every Premier League club's most valuable player, including Arsenal's Martin Odegaard, Manchester City's Rodri and more
www.goal.com
December 2, 2024 at 1:22 PM
🏆 Every Premier League team's true MVP.
Had fun trying to differentiate between 'most important' and 'best'. What do you think?
www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
Had fun trying to differentiate between 'most important' and 'best'. What do you think?
www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
Ahead of ‘Der Klassiker’ later today, @seandzwalsh.bsky.social wrote about how Bayern went from being thrashed by Barcelona to keeping seven successive clean sheets while finding a new role for Harry Kane.
AKA how Vincent Kompany learned the meaning of pragmatism:
AKA how Vincent Kompany learned the meaning of pragmatism:
Bayern Munich are back! Vincent Kompany's tactical tweaks are paying off as Harry Kane finds new role in search of first-ever trophy | Goal.com
Bayern Munich have reinvented themselves under the management of Vincent Kompany, with Harry Kane taking on a new role
www.goal.com
November 30, 2024 at 12:45 PM
Ahead of ‘Der Klassiker’ later today, @seandzwalsh.bsky.social wrote about how Bayern went from being thrashed by Barcelona to keeping seven successive clean sheets while finding a new role for Harry Kane.
AKA how Vincent Kompany learned the meaning of pragmatism:
AKA how Vincent Kompany learned the meaning of pragmatism:
Max Dowman won’t be making his Arsenal debut quite yet, but at just 14, he is already training with the first team while making waves with the U19s.
@seandzwalsh.bsky.social wrote about the teenage phenom this week:
@seandzwalsh.bsky.social wrote about the teenage phenom this week:
Max Dowman: The 14-year-old phenom on course to smash Arsenal records after earning Mikel Arteta's trust | Goal.com
Arsenal academy midfielder Max Dowman doesn't turn 15 until New Year's Eve, but is already being tipped to become the Premier League's youngest-ever player
www.goal.com
November 30, 2024 at 12:36 PM
Max Dowman won’t be making his Arsenal debut quite yet, but at just 14, he is already training with the first team while making waves with the U19s.
@seandzwalsh.bsky.social wrote about the teenage phenom this week:
@seandzwalsh.bsky.social wrote about the teenage phenom this week:
Reposted by Tom Maston
Player ratings from a truly unbelievable 90 minutes at the Etihad Stadium
www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
Man City player ratings vs Tottenham: Absolutely shameful! Pathetic Josko Gvardiol, Erling Haaland & Phil Foden sum it all up as Pep Guardiola's champions get utterly pulverised | Goal.com UK
The Cityzens were left dumbstruck as they fell to a logic-defying 4-0 defeat at home to Spurs, their first loss at the Etihad Stadium in two years
www.goal.com
November 23, 2024 at 7:33 PM
Player ratings from a truly unbelievable 90 minutes at the Etihad Stadium
www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
ICYMI from the GOAL features team this week:
- Mark Doyle on 2025's threat of a player strike: tinyurl.com/2rm26kjd
- James Westwood on Harry Kane's England future: tinyurl.com/ms3wh9z3
- @ameeruszkai.bsky.social on Chelsea's young guns: tinyurl.com/ycyyd5yh
- Mark Doyle on 2025's threat of a player strike: tinyurl.com/2rm26kjd
- James Westwood on Harry Kane's England future: tinyurl.com/ms3wh9z3
- @ameeruszkai.bsky.social on Chelsea's young guns: tinyurl.com/ycyyd5yh
November 22, 2024 at 1:33 PM
ICYMI from the GOAL features team this week:
- Mark Doyle on 2025's threat of a player strike: tinyurl.com/2rm26kjd
- James Westwood on Harry Kane's England future: tinyurl.com/ms3wh9z3
- @ameeruszkai.bsky.social on Chelsea's young guns: tinyurl.com/ycyyd5yh
- Mark Doyle on 2025's threat of a player strike: tinyurl.com/2rm26kjd
- James Westwood on Harry Kane's England future: tinyurl.com/ms3wh9z3
- @ameeruszkai.bsky.social on Chelsea's young guns: tinyurl.com/ycyyd5yh
Reposted by Tom Maston
⚪️ Tottenham's 25 best players of the 21st century, ranked.
I am not available for comment.
www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
I am not available for comment.
www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
Harry Kane, Gareth Bale & the 25 best Tottenham players of the 21st century so far - ranked | Goal.com UK
GOAL rules the roost over Spurs' best players in the 21st century, including Harry Kane, Gareth Bale and more.
www.goal.com
November 22, 2024 at 8:13 AM
⚪️ Tottenham's 25 best players of the 21st century, ranked.
I am not available for comment.
www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
I am not available for comment.
www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
On his 17th birthday, Ayyoub Bouaddi ran rings around Real Madrid. One month later, he was Player of the Match vs Juventus.
Lille believe Bouaddi is their best prospect since Eden Hazard, and top English teams are taking notice.
GOAL's Mark Doyle explains why:
Lille believe Bouaddi is their best prospect since Eden Hazard, and top English teams are taking notice.
GOAL's Mark Doyle explains why:
Ayyoub Bouaddi: Lille's best prospect since Eden Hazard being linked with Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea after running rings around Real Madrid | Goal.com
Lille's 17-year-old sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi has attracted the attention of Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea after impressing in this season's Champions League against Real Madrid and Juventus
www.goal.com
November 22, 2024 at 11:07 AM
On his 17th birthday, Ayyoub Bouaddi ran rings around Real Madrid. One month later, he was Player of the Match vs Juventus.
Lille believe Bouaddi is their best prospect since Eden Hazard, and top English teams are taking notice.
GOAL's Mark Doyle explains why:
Lille believe Bouaddi is their best prospect since Eden Hazard, and top English teams are taking notice.
GOAL's Mark Doyle explains why:
Reposted by Tom Maston
It took Maika Hamano time to make an impact at Chelsea and, as such, some will have doubted whether or not she would. But her performance on Saturday underlined a new approach at the club, one focused on youth. It's paying dividends now and will in the future, too.
www.goal.com/en/lists/agg...
www.goal.com/en/lists/agg...
Aggie Beever-Jones, Maika Hamano & Chelsea's young guns highlighting Sonia Bompastor's perfect Blues start to the post-Emma Hayes era | Goal.com
While stars like Sam Kerr and Lauren James have been sidelined, Chelsea's perfect start to life beyond Emma Hayes has been driven by some top young talents
www.goal.com
November 19, 2024 at 8:26 AM
It took Maika Hamano time to make an impact at Chelsea and, as such, some will have doubted whether or not she would. But her performance on Saturday underlined a new approach at the club, one focused on youth. It's paying dividends now and will in the future, too.
www.goal.com/en/lists/agg...
www.goal.com/en/lists/agg...
Reposted by Tom Maston
🏴 Winners and losers from England’s Nations League campaign.
As I said on Twitter, not getting involved in Kane discourse. I’m not falling for that one again. www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
As I said on Twitter, not getting involved in Kane discourse. I’m not falling for that one again. www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
England are going up! Winners & losers as Lee Carsley leads Three Lions to Nations League promotion & sets Thomas Tuchel era up for World Cup success | Goal.com UK
England won five of six games to secure Nations League promotion, but who were the biggest winners and losers of Lee Carsley's interim spell in charge?
www.goal.com
November 18, 2024 at 1:13 PM
🏴 Winners and losers from England’s Nations League campaign.
As I said on Twitter, not getting involved in Kane discourse. I’m not falling for that one again. www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
As I said on Twitter, not getting involved in Kane discourse. I’m not falling for that one again. www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...
Evan Ferguson starts for Ireland vs England at Wembley after a year to forget for the Brighton youngster that has seen him score just three goals in 384 days.
GOAL's resident Irishman, Mark Doyle, took a look into what's gone wrong for one of the Premier League's brightest prospects:
GOAL's resident Irishman, Mark Doyle, took a look into what's gone wrong for one of the Premier League's brightest prospects:
Three goals in 384 days: Ireland's great hope Evan Ferguson needs to rediscover his mojo after year from hell | Goal.com
Brighton and Ireland striker Evan Ferguson has struggled horribly for form and fitness since making Premier League history but there are signs that the 20-year-old is getting back to his best
www.goal.com
November 17, 2024 at 4:06 PM
Evan Ferguson starts for Ireland vs England at Wembley after a year to forget for the Brighton youngster that has seen him score just three goals in 384 days.
GOAL's resident Irishman, Mark Doyle, took a look into what's gone wrong for one of the Premier League's brightest prospects:
GOAL's resident Irishman, Mark Doyle, took a look into what's gone wrong for one of the Premier League's brightest prospects:
The Arsenal full-back leading Serie A's assist charts
The Chelsea midfielder scoring every other game in Ligue 1
The Liverpool winger tearing up the Championship
GOAL's James Westwood has run through the best-performing Premier League loanees so far this season:
The Chelsea midfielder scoring every other game in Ligue 1
The Liverpool winger tearing up the Championship
GOAL's James Westwood has run through the best-performing Premier League loanees so far this season:
Andrey Santos, Ben Doak & the eight best Premier League loanees of the 2024-25 season so far | Goal.com
The eight best Premier League loanees of the 2024-25 season so far, including Chelsea's Andrey Santos and Liverpool prospect Ben Doak
www.goal.com
November 17, 2024 at 11:54 AM
The Arsenal full-back leading Serie A's assist charts
The Chelsea midfielder scoring every other game in Ligue 1
The Liverpool winger tearing up the Championship
GOAL's James Westwood has run through the best-performing Premier League loanees so far this season:
The Chelsea midfielder scoring every other game in Ligue 1
The Liverpool winger tearing up the Championship
GOAL's James Westwood has run through the best-performing Premier League loanees so far this season:
Manchester United & Liverpool are both looking to the future at left-back, and both have been impressed by Argentine teenager Julio Soler.
The 19-year-old shone at the Olympics & has already earned a first full international call-up.
GOAL's James Westwood profiled Soler for our NXGN series:
The 19-year-old shone at the Olympics & has already earned a first full international call-up.
GOAL's James Westwood profiled Soler for our NXGN series:
Julio Soler: Why Man Utd & Liverpool are set to battle for Argentina's teenage Olympics star who has already rubbed shoulders with Lionel Messi | Goal.com
Lanus sensation Julio Soler is already on the radar of Manchester United and Liverpool after shining at the Olympics with Argentina and rubbing shoulders with Lionel Messi.
www.goal.com
November 15, 2024 at 11:45 AM
Manchester United & Liverpool are both looking to the future at left-back, and both have been impressed by Argentine teenager Julio Soler.
The 19-year-old shone at the Olympics & has already earned a first full international call-up.
GOAL's James Westwood profiled Soler for our NXGN series:
The 19-year-old shone at the Olympics & has already earned a first full international call-up.
GOAL's James Westwood profiled Soler for our NXGN series: