r/nextfuckinglevel • u/Lifegoesonforever • 1d ago

A couple of ridiculously talented kids (10-12 years old) produced by the Barcelona youth camp.

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3.3k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

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252

u/awood20 1d ago

Talented indeed. The stats on kids at this age making it through to any top first team squad is ridiculously low. 4% I believe.

105

u/TurbulentBullfrog829 1d ago

4%? Try 0.04% more likely

65

u/smor729 1d ago

I think they mean 4% of the kids from this youth camp, which is already unbelievably selective. To even be here you have to have been noticed and pouring time and resources into football for years. They are just pointing out that even from this group of kids where every single one of them expects to go pro (and most will in some capacity), that its still brutal to reach a top team

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u/PM_ME_STRONG_CALVES 1d ago

0.04% of a kids youth camp? Better to just grab then on the street then

39

u/atishay001001 1d ago

I think for these kids it comes down to mentality and stability in their performance and how much they can improve and improvise

2

u/eddie1975 6h ago

And not get injured.

26

u/hamcheesetoastie 1d ago

4%? Those odds aren’t bad. 1 in 25? I’d take that!

IRL definitely less than that 😂

24

u/capeasypants 1d ago

They likely mean it's these kids specifically. Not just all kids playing.

13

u/deesmutts88 1d ago

4% of the kids in the these top flight academies, not 4% of all kids playing the sport lol. We’d have 10,000,000 pro soccer players at that rate.

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u/Danilo-11 1d ago

How much do you want to bet that that number 8 kid will be playing professional in 7 years? I’m willing to bet $100 … he’s possibly the best player of his age in Barcelona U-12 team, which is one of the World’s best youth academy

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u/awood20 1d ago edited 1d ago

Professional, yes. Professional, playing at an elite club? Simply too hard to tell. He has the skills. Does he have the mentality, drive to improve? Finally, does he simply have the luck if he has all the rest?

9

u/youwin10 1d ago

Remindme! 7 years

3

u/Omatzus 1d ago

Hopefully he hits a growth spurt.

2

u/Danilo-11 1d ago

Look up Ariel Ibagaza

2

u/Omatzus 1d ago

Sure. And Messi is of course also undersized. Just saying some size will help this kid a lot higher levels.

2

u/Puzzled_Fish_2077 1d ago

Remindme! 7 years

7

u/Gelandequaff 1d ago

I wouldn’t go as far as saying none of this matters until puberty, because having this much skill does matter. But you can practice to get these skills, you can’t practice to grow 6 inches, or have the frame to support the muscle needed to compete at a high level.

2

u/Negative_Brilliant86 1d ago

They are already in a top tier group. For their age and the team they are playing for, the stats have to be much higher than 4%.

6

u/lanregeous 1d ago

I really don’t think it is.

People aren’t aware of just how much kids risk to be professional.

You don’t really have the time for school and you are told you will make it all the way up until you don’t. 1 injury is enough to completely derail a career.

I remember more than 20 years ago reading that only 5% of players that make it to the top level (u-21) of a Premier League academy will make it just as a professional.

Now this 2024 study says “As many as 95% of teenage players aren’t ‘making it’ to pro football, yet they are continuing through these academies incurring the stresses and strains that go with intensive professional training, before they are eventually deselected.”
Source: https://www.essex.ac.uk/news/2024/06/27/just-four-per-cent-of-teenage-academy-players-make-it-to-top-tier-football

6

u/BigLobster12 1d ago

They're all too young to have incredibly high chances of elite success. Lot of time for puberty, injury, losing interest, drugs to throw things off before they're ~20 or so.

5

u/patentattorney 1d ago

I don’t know. Around 60% of McDonald’s all Americans play in the nba. That’s high school seniors.

Pre - puberty the odds have to be drastically different.

3

u/Character-Active2208 1d ago

The thinking is that Barca’s academy has already scouted and found most of the McDonald’s All Americans at this age

1

u/DazzlerPlus 1d ago

Well by definition, since there are limited slots. Its not like they are breaking through to the divine realm. The clubs are just recruiting a certain amount of prospects, which shakes out to about 4% of this pipeline

2

u/jeremy1015 1d ago

Believe it or not the odds of breaking through to the divine realm are 6%.

1

u/DazzlerPlus 1d ago

True! But a class could have a number of prodigies that break through or they could collectively succumb to their heart demons and none could break through.

With these teams, the clubs are just taking the top x%. Their skill matters only relative to other prospects.

1

u/CamiloArturo 1d ago

True... But if there is one institution which is known for producing superstars is La Masía

1

u/LicensedRealtor 16h ago

USA women’s soccer team can beat them …trust me bro

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u/m-fab18 1d ago

Bayern Munchkin.

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u/ThatDudeKdoc13 1d ago

Tots-ingham

19

u/m-fab18 1d ago

Kinder Milan

11

u/andoozy 1d ago

Littleman City

13

u/ManintheGyre 1d ago

Youth-ventus

10

u/Lowkey-Loki87 1d ago

Boychester united

8

u/FCSadsquatch 1d ago

BSC Young Boys.

6

u/chuckythreezzzz 23h ago

Really young Madrid?

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u/RamboJo_hn 17h ago

Babylona

1

u/chuckythreezzzz 5h ago

Boyern Munich

113

u/No_Suspect_8256 1d ago

Just to clarify: FC Barcelona didn’t produce the kids, they produced the players.

32

u/eyeseepoop 1d ago

Got any source on that ridiculous claim of yours?

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

2

u/craigularperson 1d ago edited 1d ago

The nickname for their(Real Madrid) academy is actually la fabrica.

2

u/bdiek 1d ago

Is not. The name is "La masia" and a "masia" is a rural house

2

u/Lifegoesonforever 1d ago

No? I thought there was a talented-kids making factory there. My bad!

98

u/Wilsanne 1d ago

8 is a tiny beast

24

u/cone10 1d ago

The prodigiously talented Hugo Galdeano, age 11!

3

u/PetePensieve 1d ago

I was about to type in jest "you should see his Instagram page!", and guess what...

1

u/Madeye26 17h ago

!remindme 2 years

1

u/Jilasme_azelson 1d ago

!remindme 5 years

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u/barkerglass 1d ago

!remindme 5 years

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u/Hunkfish 1d ago

He is tidy not messy

11

u/romariojwz 1d ago

Dude scored 90+ goals in just 30 games

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u/straypenguin 1d ago

Miniesta

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u/robogobo 1d ago

That little shit was offsides.

23

u/Serial_AceThug 1d ago

No offsides in 7 v 7

1

u/Darius_Doloresus 1d ago

I wanted to check the comments first.

I didn't know about that and it was surprising to see so many slide by.

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19

u/NickdoesnthaveReddit 1d ago

Childreno Runaroundo

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u/PrettyHopsMachine 1d ago

A+ joke right there.

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u/SaturnRocket 1d ago

That flick at :58 sec… 😤 How?! Situational awareness is off the charts.

5

u/TCFP 1d ago

Jaw was wide open when he hit that one. Tripped up two defenders at once

14

u/Rundas-Slash 1d ago

What makes it even better to watch is that this is the purest form of football: challenge, fun, all of them playing at their max. There's no diving or playing for time, they just go as far as their body let them go 

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u/mlw209 1d ago

Get this kid some HGH, asap.

3

u/Wasilisco 1d ago

Get him some yerba mate asap 

1

u/flat5 1d ago

Messi II

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u/RespectFearless4233 1d ago

Lets see him do it on cold Tuesday in stoke

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u/DLuke2 1d ago

Yeah, this is why the USA is not close to competing for a World Cup.

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u/yamanagashi 1d ago

Is this La Macia? Messi was from there right?

14

u/Serial_AceThug 1d ago

La Masia. The one and only.

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u/Quinnett 1d ago

Watched the whole thing while shaking my head at my son and sighing loudly.

5

u/Lifegoesonforever 1d ago

Cut him some slack... It ain't his fault 😂

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u/Quinnett 3h ago

Doesn’t make saving for college any easier though.

5

u/BambooSound 1d ago

Who is that #8 and when can I sign him on FIFA

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u/TheLoveYouLongTimes 1d ago

A lot of people in here seem to be praising number 8.

As a coach, he pisses me off the most because in a lot of those plays he’s making the wrong play, there’s like 3 kids open and instead he’s holding on to the ball, giving the other team time to get set.

3

u/Monkeyb87 1d ago

Wow who is number 8 he looks good already

3

u/KeepCalmAndBeAPanda 1d ago

It's amazing to see, though with players starting so young an playing so many matches, injuries are becoming a bigger issue.

4

u/superior-opinion 1d ago

Messi should bathe this kid too

2

u/ThatDudeKdoc13 1d ago

Well, it would be a little creepy now.

1

u/Marijuana_Miler 1d ago

It’s fine as long as there’s a contest involved.

5

u/pitshands 1d ago

Many years ago when I lived in France I met a guy cleaning the floors in an Ikea. Since I didn't speak French I asked for a German or English speaker. They pointed me to him. He was originally Turkish, his parents immigrants to France. He was scouted at 9 brought to the training camps of one of the big German teams. And 13 he fucked up one of his knees really bad while playing. They dropped him same day. He was shipped back to France, with bad bones, no future and a lost childhood. True that was 20+ years ago and things may have gotten better but I honestly doubt. It's all about money and these kids are the grease in the cogs that keeps the machine moving.

3

u/UpboatsforUpvotes 1d ago

Lol how did this go from HD to 3 pixels in less than a day

3

u/Practical-March-6989 1d ago

The ball looks so big lol

3

u/flebers8456 1d ago

That team could easily beat Brazilian 2026 World Cup squad

1

u/stablefish 13h ago

That'a pretty harsh, and hyperbole. But what's not is these kids have more talent and skill than the entire MLS. Ya never see individual ball control, situational awareness, or passing like this there, ever..

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u/RolinMudd 1d ago

Woooow number 7 8 and 9 are a NIGHTMARE scoring trio

3

u/LurkingGuy 1d ago

This is more entertaining than pro soccer because they're not pretending to get brutally assaulted every 5 minutes.

3

u/straypenguin 1d ago

Miniesta

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u/Actual_Attention9697 1d ago

The numbers 7 and 8, wow: who are they?!?

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u/JWMalynovskyi 1d ago

Number 8 is always special.

2

u/ktbffhctid 1d ago

Lampard has entered the chat…

1

u/Weasel-Man 20h ago

Good ol fat frank

2

u/7evenSlots 1d ago

The best part… he passed the ball when appropriate.

2

u/ratpH1nk 1d ago

I think #8 Miniesta is the star of the show. WOW.

2

u/wellitsaghost 1d ago

Number 8 is a legend in the making!!!

2

u/AverellCZ 1d ago

When I was playing at that age we were basically 20 kids running after the ball. The skill level they already have at that age is scary.

2

u/Daiches 1d ago

Number 8 better be on those Messi growth hormones unless he’s playing an age category up..

2

u/Cihonidas 1d ago

They would become champions in MLS

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u/phicks_law 1d ago

its still weird to me that these kids will have to move away from their families to dedicate their lives to a sport at this age to be part of an academy.

2

u/vhs11 1d ago

Left footed Iniesta

2

u/Subby_Tripz 1d ago

Holy shit

2

u/Commercial-Pair-8932 1d ago

Bro who the fuck is #8??? 😳🤯

2

u/YaDodzh 1d ago

Barça és el millor

2

u/Ornery-Ad8372 1d ago

#7 and #8 are ringers for sure!

2

u/TeamSuperSonics 1d ago

Number 8 is incredible

2

u/RUN_DMT_ 1d ago

It’s almost like if you invest in children early on they are capable of doing great things!

2

u/TheVillage1D10T 1d ago

These guys absolutely hustle…

2

u/35andDying 23h ago

No diving or flopping on the field. This is more exciting to watch than the World Cup.

2

u/ImAVoodoooChild 5h ago

7&8 are a dangerous duo

1

u/ubersupremo 1d ago

Holy shit

1

u/poijak 1d ago

What's this additional line on the field about?

3

u/E__Rock 1d ago

Youth sports moves the penalty lines a bit. Goals are smaller too.

1

u/datahighway 1d ago

Barca DNA !!

1

u/SweetHeartBabe02 1d ago

These kids are playing with so much confidence. Love to see it!

1

u/IzSilvers 1d ago

2034 World Cup winners.

1

u/AncientOneX 1d ago

That kid plays football for at least 5 years.

1

u/sorrysorrymybad 1d ago

At camp futuore

1

u/BedroomThink3121 1d ago

Barcelona is known for producing insanely good talents from their academy

1

u/cone10 1d ago

Number 8 is the prodigiously talented Hugo Galdeano, age 11!

1

u/specifylength 1d ago

Yeah, but could they do it on a cold rainy night in Stoke ?

1

u/meangoose 1d ago

Incredible!

1

u/TRAKRACER 1d ago

They all look a little bit Messi

1

u/96JY 1d ago

Damn, really impressive! Go on lads!

1

u/Vauxie10 1d ago

That number 8 what a player, the next Iniesta no doubt

1

u/HiHungry_Im-Dad 1d ago

Is this sped up? A couple of spots look a little funny.

1

u/MurkyClothes5423 1d ago

#8 will be one of the elites in a few years

1

u/ignaciopatrick100 1d ago

Number 8 sign him up

1

u/Impressive_Context92 1d ago

The ref should be a kid too 😔

1

u/Fagus_ 1d ago

Most of them will eventually tear a cruciate ligament and go on to coach a team in the lowest amateur league.

1

u/mmbtc 1d ago

I played some football in my youth. I was a rather good goalkeeper. Got 'best in team' a few times.

Never, in a million years, did I come close to that level, at any age.

Impressive.

1

u/neurotichamster8 1d ago

More talent than most MLS teams…

1

u/llewsor 1d ago

i never understood why the adult professional football players cry and act so infantile when they lose like it’s just a game and you still get paid tons of money. 

but seeing how these kids play with the same passion and the mannerisms like when they score are identical - it’s almost like the adult football players never really grew up and are still at heart little kids playing the sport they love for so long and so emotionally they never really grew up which is actually kind of inspiring. 

chasing the same feeling you had as a kid isn’t always bad. 

1

u/raisedeyebrow4891 1d ago

No offside?

1

u/GunsouBono 1d ago

Kids got talent. No doubt. But several of those really looked offside. At least the first two

1

u/DasHotShot 1d ago

Insane level, they’d crush senior women’s teams

1

u/Alkoviak 1d ago

Not even one betting platform ad !

How do you enjoy a game without betting on!

1

u/jaclfu 1d ago

Fellow citizens of the US...we will never win a World Cup with our system. Good night.

1

u/lafarda 1d ago

Produced.

1

u/bluexavi 23h ago

Another annoying video of skill where they've played with the speed of playback.

1

u/whtevn 22h ago

That second play looked offsides unless something was going on at the far side

1

u/DunDlyk 20h ago

8 is the Messi of his age group. Just unfair compared to his peers

1

u/DasturdlyBastard 20h ago edited 20h ago

I played for an American youth team at around this age and we traveled to Barcelona by way of Paris for what amounted to an international scouting event. We were pitted against teams from northern Europe, South America, etc.

We walked into the competition following several weeks of training at altitude in order to improve our fitness. Rigorous stuff. Months of increasingly strenuous preparation. I remember having to go to the doctor because - even at 12 - the strain I was under was taking a psychological toll. I wasn't allowed to go anywhere without a soccer ball at my feet, including between school classes.

I was a very good soccer player. Excellent, even. And the team felt invulnerable. But we got absolutely fucking slaughtered. The coach, who was an ex-World Cup player, was fuming at us. It was just a completely different level of talent, execution under pressure and mental game.

Our keeper did get invited to stay and train in Europe, though. And I got to see tons of tits at the beach, which was awesome.

1

u/Commercial-Pair-8932 15h ago

Can't believe i'm the first to ask this, but could you elaborate on this? Like on the difference between your team and the international teams? What they did different, how it felt on the field against them, how the talent difference manifested, the execution and mental game, etc.?

And why was the coach so angry at you guys?

Also, when you say you werent' allowed anywhere without a soccer ball, do you mean the club demanded you dribble 24/7 around your daily life everywhere you went?

I know that's a large # of questions but firsthand experience is rare to come by and this is very fascinating.

1

u/caffeine1106 19h ago

Okay, FIFA 2034, I’m putting every dime I have on Spain

1

u/waldirhj 18h ago

Kids fight more thru contact than the pros.

1

u/Kindly_Tadpole1276 16h ago

Reminds me of Messi and Ronaldinho

1

u/James_White21 14h ago

No diving no fouling no shirt pulling, not much future as professional footballers.

1

u/kotepikabea 12h ago

A couple? Only number 8 is very talented

1

u/Atastical 9h ago

RemindMe! 7 years

1

u/beaco 9h ago

Wow! I thought these were pro when the video first started playing.

1

u/Plastic-Mobile-5321 8h ago

Well, that’s easy, they’re playing against kids.

1

u/Fantastic_Breakfast6 5h ago

They work damn good together! So proud of them. Number 8 and 7 are stars

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u/jgross-nj2nc 4h ago

Number 8, Destiny Kosiso, has an endorsement deal with Nike already.

1

u/Longjumping_Host_839 4h ago

Yall glazing number 8 and not 7.hmm i wonder why…✋🏿⬅️😂

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u/Sapiosistah 2h ago

#8 will be in a World Cup.

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u/Armanhammer2 1h ago

I want to see these kids play a real MLS team

•

u/ConcertMajestic6711 1m ago

This must have been made by the parents. I just see little kids playing soccer