The next Iniesta or Fernandinho's stand-in? Seven players born in 2000 and their futures

Having avoided the collapse of society in the year 2000 following the twin threat of a rumoured apocalypse predicted by Argentine goalkeeper Carlos Roa, and the Y2K bug, the world started to churn out the footballers of the future. There are now a handful of players born in the year 2000 playing Europe’s top leagues. Yahoo Sport UK takes a look at the best of the lot, and which of the superannuated thirty-somethings they could eventually replace.

Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham)

Sessegnon is perhaps the surest thing of all the players listed here. Despite his youth, he has played more first team games than many players years older than him, with almost 100 games to his name. Sessegnon made his debut for Fulham at 16 and can play at both left-back and on the left wing, but having scored a hat-trick already it would be both a shame and a surprise if he were not to establish himself further up the pitch.

His remarkable pace and technique mean that he has already been linked with the best clubs in England and Europe, as well as Manchester United. If United do part ways with Anthony Martial at the end of the season, then he might be an option to replace him.

Phil Foden (Manchester City)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes that Foden has the talent to stay at the Etihad for the next decade, but has warned of expecting too much from the 18-year-old for now. Foden has earned the nickname the ‘Stockport Iniesta’ already, but he is far from the Spaniard’s equal yet. Nevertheless, he has been included in the England Under-21 set-up, and is expected to take a position in central midfield for both City and the full international line-up before too long.

At City, he might inherit the berth left by the ageing Fernandinho, but could be a better alternative to the more prosaic Jordan Henderson in the England side – he is certainly already a technically superior presence, should Gareth Southgate wish to establish a more sophisticated approach for the European Championships.

Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)

Sancho established himself as the most impressive and ambitious name of his peers last season, when he was willing to remove himself from the comfort of the Elite Development Squad – whatever that actually means – and try his luck abroad. At Borussia Dortmund he subjected himself to the responsibilities of a first-team player and the need to learn German, something the English have not always been able to manage.

Where older players have struggled, Sancho has flourished. 12 games last season, he is only one behind that total this year. He has two goals already, and in October made his debut for the England senior team against Croatia. City received just £8 million for him when he left, and he has signed a new contract in Germany to keep him at Dortmund until 2022. If Raheem Sterling’s contract situation forces him to Real Madrid, City may end up paying 10 times as much to bring him back.

Morgan Gibbs-White (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

Gibbs-White has shown that the presence of foreign players in the Premier League is not necessarily an obstacle to first team football. At Wolverhampton Wanderers he plays alongside Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho, but has 31 appearances over the course of three seasons.

An England youth international, Gibbs-White presence as an attacking midfielder could see him develop into a potential replacement for Neves should he move to one of the Manchester sides as rumoured, or take over from veteran Moutinho.

Angel Gomes (Manchester United)

Gomes made his first team debut for United aged just 16 years and 263 days, making him the youngest debutant since Duncan Edwards. Gomes replaced Wayne Rooney in his final match for the club, and the diminutive player – he is not quite 5ft 4in – darted about the pitch displaying promising technique, but his career has since stalled at club level. However, he is an England Under-19 international.

Gomes has been compared to Paul Scholes, though he may be suited to playing in a wider position, like his godfather, former United winger Nani. Whether he has the physique to make it at United is unclear, especially under a manager who places such an emphasis on strength as Jose Mourinho. But were Juan Mata to leave in the end-of-season clearout at Old Trafford, he may get a chance to fulfill a similar role, at twice the speed.

Moise Kean (Juventus)

Like Gomes, Kean also made his professional debut at 16, replacing Mario Mandzukic at Juventus with a few minutes remaining against Pescara. He then spent last season on loan at Verona, scoring four goals in 19 league appearances, and has been kept on by his owners for the current season.

So far, he has played only once, in the Champions League, and with Paulo Dybala, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mandzukic blocking his path, he may ultimately replace one of them, but he will likely have to go elsewhere for more immediate first team experience.

Ferran Torres (Valencia)

The idea that Lionel Messi can be directly replaced is as far fetched as the notion of replacing someone like Michael Carrick could adequately replace Roy Keane. There is no like-for-like replacement, but a team has to be altered and a new focus be found. One of the players who Barcelona are considering for a post-Messi world is Ferran Torres at Valencia.

Torres has been linked with the other half of the Spanish old firm, too, with Real Madrid reportedly interested. It is easy to see why. The 18-year-old has already displayed with Valencia and Spanish youth sides that he has excellent footwork, plenty of pace, and the ability to cut in from the right wing to provide goals, assists and creativity. His release clause stands at a provocative 100 million euros.