Julien Laurens praises the rise of Alphonso Davies but hesitates to call him the best player in CONCACAF. (1:28)

Christian Pulisic of the U.S. and Mexico's Raul Jimenez have established themselves in Europe's top leagues, but the form of Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies has seen the Canadian international garner increasing attention. Does he belong in the conversation among the leading overseas CONCACAF stars? Indeed, is he already No. 1? We asked ESPN writers Arch Bell (@ArchBell) and Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup).

Alphonso Davies' form this season has seen him emerge as a top talent. Arch, what's his deal?

Davies is coming like a freight train. Barely a year after arriving from MLS, the 19-year-old has become a surefire starter at Bayern Munich, showcasing blistering pace and an ability to win 50-50 challenges. No doubt he has the talent and skill to surpass the likes of Jimenez and Pulisic, but the question is whether he can lift Canada to new heights.

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What Davies has going for him at the international level is that he can provide service on the left to fellow emerging Canadian star Jonathan David, who plays in Belgium for gent and is just 20. That combination has the potential to score a lot of goals for Canada in the coming decade.

Tom, how far is Davies from being up there with the best from these parts?

Davies is the continent's biggest under-20 talent. While his path from Vancouver Whitecaps hasn't always been smooth, the fact he is now starting regularly at a global giant tells you all you need to know about his development. Bayern don't gradually build players up; they field them when they are ready to do a job. And Davies is doing that, particularly impressing in the 3-0 Champions League win at Chelsea.

The one thing stopping him from challenging the likes of Pulisic and Jimenez right now is that he only began to get regular starts with his club in October. In other words, he has shown good form so far, but must perform over a longer period -- 18 months, say -- if he is going to claim the crown.