Over the next 12 months, a fresh crop of footballers will establish themselves atop the men’s game. Here, theScore takes a look at some talented youngsters – aged 21 and under – who are set to flourish in 2021, while deliberately excluding those who made our lists for 2019 and 2020.

Thiago Almada

Club: Velez Sarsfield | Age: 19 | Position: Winger, attacking midfielder

Velez Sarsfield’s Copa Sudamericana hunt is still alive, and much of that is down to Almada’s efforts. The agile Argentine attacker assisted one and scored the other as they progressed from the first round, and he then scored twice in the last-16 before injury cut short his quarterfinal involvement. He can switch direction in an instant.

Mitchel Bakker

Club: Paris Saint-Germain | Age: 20 | Position: Left-back

Juan Bernat faces a fight for the left-back spot when he overcomes his cruciate ligament injury. Bakker hasn’t been cowed by his premature promotion to the Paris Saint-Germain XI, as he neatly combines his imposing physicality (6-foot-1) with attacking quality (a dangerous left-footed delivery).

Jude Bellingham

Club: Borussia Dortmund | Age: 17 | Position: Midfielder

Many European giants tried to tempt Bellingham from Birmingham City during his time in the academy, but he and his family decided staying put was best for his development. Now, after becoming the youngest debutant and goalscorer in the Blues’ history, he’s already making an impression at Dortmund following his July transfer.

Moises Caicedo

Club: Independiente del Valle | Age: 19 | Position: Midfielder

Ecuador hasn’t been great at producing deep-lying midfielders over the years, but Caicedo looks set to redefine the country’s footballing identity. His skill and composure allow him to wriggle away from opponents, and he always tries to progress play up the pitch. Manchester United are apparently interested.

Rayan Cherki

Club: Lyon | Age: 17 | Position: Attacking midfielder

Cherki’s workload has been carefully managed since his breakout performance in the Coupe de France last January, as he’s started only three matches in the 2020-21 Ligue 1 season. His outrageous street skills, willingness to take on players, and vision make him a joy to watch.

Sergino Dest

Club: Barcelona | Age: 20 | Position: Right-back

Signing a right-back was a priority for Barcelona last summer and, after entertaining a move for Max Aarons, they opted to dish out €21 million for Dest. The American international is settling well in Catalonia after progressing through Ajax’s ranks. He’s a great two-way full-back and a general improvement on Nelson Semedo.

Harvey Elliott

Club: Liverpool | Age: 17 | Position: Winger

With little chance of usurping Mohamed Salah or finding an alternative place in Liverpool’s attack, right-winger Elliott has been granted regular minutes during a loan spell at Blackburn Rovers. He’s among the Championship’s best for key passes and has directly contributed to 10 goals so far.

Wesley Fofana

Club: Leicester City | Age: 20 | Position: Defender

Fofana’s transition into English football has been seamless, as he’s contributed to seven clean sheets across all competitions. His reading of the game is phenomenal for a defender of his tender years, and he’s much more assured in possession than long-term Leicester absentee Caglar Soyuncu.

Marc Guehi

Club: Chelsea | Age: 20 | Position: Defender

Guehi has legitimate hopes of following Reece James into Chelsea’s starting XI next season. The center-back is on his second loan spell with Swansea City, where he’s garnering attention for his incisive distribution, athleticism, and leadership. He could be Thiago Silva’s natural successor.

Reece James

Club: Chelsea | Age: 21 | Position: Right-back

James’ reputation continues to grow since breaking into the Chelsea lineup following a season-long loan with Wigan Athletic in 2018-19. His crossing is pinpoint, he has a venomous shot, and he doesn’t have any clear weaknesses to his defensive game. He’s already one of the Premier League’s finest right-backs.

Curtis Jones

Club: Liverpool | Age: 19 | Position: Midfielder

Jones is turning into a key player for Jurgen Klopp and could be a wise pick for Gareth Southgate’s England squad at this summer’s European Championship. The Liverpool product can create and kibosh attacks in midfield with equal success and is seemingly primed for stardom.

Sekou Koita

Club: Red Bull Salzburg | Age: 21 | Position: Forward

Left-footed Malian marksman Koita is yet another player plotting a rise to the top of the game via Red Bull Salzburg. The 21-year-old has netted 10 times despite starting only five matches in the 2020-21 Austrian Bundesliga term and has a knack for catching out goalkeepers by taking his shots early.

Tariq Lamptey

Club: Brighton & Hove Albion | Age: 20 | Position: Right-back

Lamptey didn’t see enough openings at Chelsea while he was behind James and Cesar Azpilicueta in the pecking order, so he completed a transfer to Brighton last January. The diminutive right-back is arguably the Seagulls’ most prized asset, as his tireless attacking and combative style consistently light up matches.

Youssoufa Moukoko

Club: Borussia Dortmund | Age: 16 | Position: Forward

Moukoko became the youngest goalscorer in Bundesliga history at 16 years and 28 days when he latched onto Raphael Guerreiro’s through-ball and rifled an unstoppable effort into the roof of the net against Union Berlin in December. It was a fitting way for the Cameroon-born phenom to open his account.

Michael Olise

Club: Reading | Age: 19 | Position: Midfielder

Olise’s current productivity may not last the season – he’s scored four and assisted eight – but the French teen is already one of the Championship’s most creative players. He’s destined to be another EFL-schooled star to graduate to the top flight, following the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Eberechi Eze.

Pedri

Club: Barcelona | Age: 18 | Position: Attacking midfielder

Pedri’s twinkle-toed footwork has been a welcome highlight of a largely miserable campaign for Barcelona. He’s second to Valencia’s Yunus Musah for 2020-21 La Liga minutes tallied by a player born in 2000 or later and is forging a promising on-pitch partnership with Lionel Messi.

Giovanni Reyna

Club: Borussia Dortmund | Age: 18 | Position: Attacking midfielder

As a son of two former U.S. internationals, Reyna was probably a waste of the school guidance counselor’s time. Soccer is in his blood. His fidgety movement and ability to ride opposition lunges make him one of the most slippery attackers in Europe, and his vision and weight of pass are reminiscent of his father, Claudio.

Perr Schuurs

Club: Ajax | Age: 21 | Position: Defender

Liverpool are reportedly among the clubs most interested in acquiring Schuurs from Ajax. He twice performed well against the Reds’ vaunted attack in the Champions League group stage and has consistently shown similarities to fellow Ajax academy alumnus Matthijs de Ligt.

Ferran Torres

Club: Manchester City | Age: 20 | Position: Winger, forward

Torres rarely ventured too far from the right flank with Valencia, but he’s already cropped up in various positions at Manchester City – including as a striker – and has impressed. His tactical intelligence, work rate, and vision are ingredients Pep Guardiola can use to turn Torres into a world-class operator.

Florian Wirtz

Club: Bayer Leverkusen | Age: 17 | Position: Midfielder

Kai Havertz, Julian Brandt, and Benjamin Henrichs all played in the Champions League as youngsters at Leverkusen, and considering the club’s current domestic performance, Wirtz could soon follow suit. He can fulfill a range of midfield roles, his dribbling can be hypnotic, and he’s blessed with sublime creativity.

Joshua Zirkzee

Club: Bayern Munich | Age: 19 | Position: Forward

Zirkzee started getting game time at Bayern in 2019 and has arguably the game’s finest tutor in Robert Lewandowski. “He’s the kind of player who is highly sought-after: a powerful striker who keeps his cool and doesn’t let himself be caught out,” the club’s academy boss, Holger Seitz, said when Zirkzee reached the senior ranks.

Honorable mentions: Riccardo Calafiori (Roma), Billy Gilmour (Chelsea) Yunus Musah (Valencia), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka (both Arsenal)

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Leonard Floyd was taken to the hospital Friday for precautionary measures after complaining about abdominal pain to a team trainer before practice, a Rams spokesperson said.

Floyd will be listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals (8-7). The Rams (9-6) can clinch a playoff berth with a win or a Chicago Bears (8-7) loss at home to the Green Bay Packers (12-3).

Playing on a one-year, $10 million contract, Floyd has 9½ sacks this season and has played a critical role on a defense that ranks second in efficiency.

“He has been so steady, so consistent, so versatile,” Rams coach Sean McVay said Friday before practice. “He is really affecting and influencing the game in a variety of ways.”

If Floyd is unable to play Sunday, expect rookie Terrell Lewis and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo to step in.

The uncertainty around Floyd’s health and availability Sunday adds to what has already been a tumultuous week for the Rams, who will be relying on several backups against the Cardinals for various reasons.

Undrafted free agent John Wolford will make his first NFL start in place of quarterback Jared Goff, who underwent surgery on his throwing-hand thumb last Monday and will be sidelined at least a week.

Malcolm Brown could be the only experienced running back available in a three-player committee after leading rusher Darrell Henderson was placed on injured reserve because of a high ankle sprain. McVay said Friday that Cam Akers will be a game-time decision because of a high ankle sprain that kept him out of Week 16. Rookies Xavier Jones and Raymond Calais have played only on special teams this season, but will be asked to step up if Akers can’t play.

And leading wide receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive lineman Michael Brockers, who has 5 sacks, will remain on the reserve/COVID-19 list and will not be available Sunday, according to McVay. This is the first game this season that a Rams starter will miss because of being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

It’s officially time to start looking ahead. With 2020 finally coming to a merciful end, here are five things we expect to see happen in world soccer in 2021.

Liverpool win Premier League on final day

Liverpool’s path to a successive Premier League title is going to be much rockier compared to the cakewalk Jurgen Klopp’s record-breaking side enjoyed during an unparalleled 2019-20 campaign.

Six months after the Reds ended their 30-year wait for a top-flight crown with a record seven matches remaining in a season interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, Liverpool struggle to separate from the pack due to a slew of injuries that have devastated the squad since the new season kicked off in September.

Virgil van Dijk was the first to go down with a potentially season-ending injury before Joe Gomez was also ruled out for the majority of the campaign. The injuries continued to pile up, as new signings Diogo Jota and Thiago Alcantara were also sidelined following impressive starts to life at Anfield.

Given the nature of the sport and congested schedule, there’s bound to be more injury concerns that could derail Liverpool’s season. But the club has shown the ability to persevere and will have its 20th league trophy wrapped up when the final whistle sounds on the last day of the season.

Bayern retain Champions League title

One look at the Champions League winners over the last 30 years and you can see just how difficult it is to defend the most coveted prize in European club football.

But Bayern Munich will join Real Madrid – who won three titles in a row from 2016 to 2018 – as the only teams to repeat as champions in the modern era.

Bayern were unable to hang on to the ultra-talented Thiago, and summer signing Leroy Sane has struggled with injuries and poor form during his first few months. But Hansi Flick’s side picked up where it left off in August by running away with its group and completing the opening phase in dominant fashion.

Though a draw in the group stage stopped Bayern from continuing last season’s breathtaking string of performances when the Bundesliga side completed the tournament by winning 11 straight matches, the reigning champions look just as strong this term with the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, Joshua Kimmich, and Alphonso Davies leading the charge.

Italy crowned European champion

Italy’s wait for another major trophy is set to end.

Roberto Mancini’s team closed out 2020 as one of the best on the international stage and looks poised to carry that form into the new year.

In need of a strong response to the humiliation of missing out on the 2018 World Cup, Italy put on a masterclass performance to secure a spot at Euro 2020 by completing the qualifying stage with a perfect record.

Goals poured in from anyone who put on the famous blue strip; Italy ended its qualifying stage with 37 goals from 18 different players. The team’s performance at the back was equally impressive, as it conceded just four times in 10 qualifying games.

Though there’s no doubting Mancini’s squad is brimming with exciting young players such as Nicolo Barella, Federico Chiesa, and Nicolo Zaniolo (who vowed to be fit for the tournament), finding the right blend of veteran experience will be crucial for a side in search of its first major trophy since winning the 2006 World Cup.

Messi leaves Barcelona for PSG

Winning the Champions League or overcoming a poor start to win La Liga probably won’t be enough to convince Lionel Messi to stay at Barcelona.

After failing to engineer his departure amid an acrimonious saga this past summer, Messi’s future at the Camp Nou remains very much in doubt, with the Argentine appearing to have his heart set on a move abroad. And Barcelona’s struggles in the first half of the season aren’t helping matters.

So, where will the six-time Ballon d’Or winner end up?

Manchester City were the favorites to land the 33-year-old superstar thanks to their seemingly bottomless financial resources. But there’s a very good chance Messi will spurn a chance to play in the Premier League and send shockwaves through the football world by joining Paris Saint-Germain – who, like City, are backed by billionaire owners desperate to improve the team at virtually any cost.

In choosing Paris over Manchester, Messi will link up with old Barcelona pal Neymar to form an attack with Kylian Mbappe that could be more lethal than their triumvirate with Luis Suarez that terrorized opponents in Spain.

Mbappe wins Ballon d’Or

If Messi does end up in Paris, it could go a long way in helping PSG convince Mbappe to commit his future to the club and snub a long-rumored transfer to Real Madrid next summer.

However, a bit of an awkward situation could arise shortly after the partnership is formed, with Mbappe potentially beating Messi to capture the Ballon d’Or for the first time in his career.

The 22-year-old would be the fifth-youngest player to capture the award – assuming it’s handed out at its usual time next December – and just six months older than Messi was when he won the first of his six Ballon d’Or crowns in 2009.

Similar to the popular belief after Messi’s first win, it likely won’t be the last time Mbappe wins the top individual honor in football. The French forward, already highly decorated despite his age, is poised to evolve into one of the few players capable of equalling the impossibly high standard Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo set over the years.

DAVIE, Fla. — Miami Dolphins veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has tested positive for COVID-19 and will be unavailable for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Buffalo Bills, a source confirmed to ESPN.

He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday afternoon, the team announced.

The Dolphins and the NFL have conducted initial contact tracing with no high-risk close contacts determined as of Thursday afternoon, a source told ESPN, but that process will continue. Fitzpatrick practiced fully Wednesday and wasn’t listed on the injury report, but he didn’t practice Thursday afternoon, indicating that the positive COVID-19 test was a recent surprise.

Dolphins safety Eric Rowe said that coach Brian Flores informed the team about Fitzpatrick’s status during a Zoom meeting.

“It hurts. He’s a leader on our team. He brings energy,” Rowe said. “I’m sure it’s worse for him because he loves the game and no one wants to catch COVID. With that, you have to push forward.

“COVID is a real-deal thing whether you don’t have symptoms or you do. Just praying he doesn’t have symptoms or he didn’t pass it to his kids.”