As most of the big leagues in Europe prepare for their winter break, it is worth taking some time to praise the young players who have caught the eye this season. Here is a team made up of players aged 23 or under who have ensured that 2019-20 will be seen as the breakthrough campaign of their careers.

Goalkeeper: Gautier Larsonneur, Brest

Gautier Larsonneur has been Brest’s starting goalkeeper for the last two seasons in Ligue 2 and now he has stepped up to top-flight football with exceptional ease. The 22-year-old’s heroics between the posts have kept the promoted side in midtable. Brest have only conceded 20 goals this season – the same number as second-place Marseille – and they are currently six points above the relegation zone. Larsonneur has made 14 more saves than any other keeper in Ligue 1 and is our top rated goalkeeper in Europe’s biggest leagues. Rating this season: 7.37

Right-back: Fabien Centonze, Metz

Even though he is still just 23, Fabien Centonze is already on to the fourth club of his senior career. Having played for Evian, Clermont and Lens, he is now enjoying his first foray into top flight football with Metz. The full-back has adapted seamlessly to life in Ligue 1, ranking sixth in the division for tackles (53) and third for interceptions (37). He has been on the field for 1,710 minutes this season and has only been dribbled past 13 times. Rating: 6.98

Centre-back: Fikayo Tomori, Chelsea

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It could be argued that Fikayo Tomori made his real breakthrough while on loan with Derby County last season, but he has been more prominent at Chelsea than many would have expected. The 21-year-old has been impressive for Chelsea at centre-back and even earned his first England cap last month in the Euro 2020 qualifier against Kosovo. Tomori signed a new five-and-a-half year contract earlier this week and it’s clear to see why Chelsea are keen to tie down his services. He has made the second most tackles per 90 minutes of all Premier League defenders (2.3) and leads the way in the whole division for passes per game (79.5) at a success rate of 88% . Rating: 6.99

Centre-back: Caglar Soyuncu, Leicester City

Caglar Soyuncu made his debut for Turkey back in March 2016 and joined Freiburg in the Bundesliga a few weeks later, but he has been a real revelation this season. The 23-year-old centre-back combines a no-nonsense style of defending with a composure in possession. Some Leicester fans were concerned about about how they would replace Harry Maguire. They need not have worried. Soyuncu ranks second to Virgil van Dijk for accurate short passes in the Premier League and he has been a key cog in the division’s strongest defence – Leicester have only conceded 11 goals in their 17 games so far. Rating: 7.22

Left-back: Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich

When Alphonso Davies joined Bayern Munich from MLS club Vancouver Whitecaps in January, he was seen as one for the future. But the Canadian teenager has performed brilliantly this season – and has done so as a makeshift full-back. The 19-year-old joined Bayern as an enterprising and exciting winger – earmarked as a future successor to Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben – but injuries to defenders have given him a chance at left-back and he has taken it with both hands. He is still dazzling with the ball at his feet – he has made more dribbles per 90 minutes than any other player in the Bundesliga – and he also ranks third for tackles – a remarkable feat given he plays in a team that boasts almost 63% possession. Rating: 7.38

Central midfield: Eduardo Camavinga, Rennes

It’s been some season for Eduardo Camavinga. Having broken into the first-team setup at Rennes earlier this year, he has become a mainstay this season. He only turned 17 last month but already looks like a mature player. Camavinga has completed 87.5% of his passes this season and has shown real tenacity in midfield. He has made the most tackles in Ligue 1, with 68 enough to rank third across Europe’s top five leagues. Rating: 7.09

Central midfield: Gaetano Castrovilli, Fiorentina

Having spent the last two years on loan at Cremonese in Serie B, Gaetano Castrovilli went into this season having never kicked a ball in a Fiorentina shirt. However, the 22-year-old has quickly emerged as a mainstay in Vincenzo Montella’s side, playing an important role with and without the ball. The midfielder has scored three goals and picked up two assists in 15 league appearances. while averaging 2 tackles per 90. It is, however, his ability to carry the ball and offer some forward drive in the midfield that has really stood out, completing 3.6 dribbles per 90 minutes - second in Serie A - at an impressive 75 per cent success rate. Rating: 7.16

Central midfield: Scott McTominay, Manchester United

Scott McTominay has been around the first team setup at Manchester United for some time but it was difficult to pinpoint his value to the side until this season. The 23-year-old has arguably been Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s most important player this term, with the manager recently describing his midfielder as “undroppable”. His improvement across the board has been incredible, with tackles (1 to 2.4), key passes (0.1 to 0.9) and dribbles (0.1 to 1.5) per 90 minutes all rocketing from meagre averages last season. Rating: 7.22

Right wing: Dejan Kulusevski, Parma

Arguably the real breakthrough star in Italy so far this season, Kulusevski joined Parma on loan from Atalanta in the summer and has already proven what his parent club is missing. The 19-year-old has earned a first international cap for Sweden off the back of some sparkling displays in Serie A, the latest of which saw him score one and set up another in a 2-1 win at Napoli. The winger has six goals and four assists in total over his 16 appearances, while averaging 2.5 key passes and 2.3 dribbles per 90 minutes. In fact, only Kevin De Bruyne has created more chances from open play in Europe’s top five leagues (35). Rating: 7.20

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Left wing: Mounir Chouiar, Dijon

Mounir Chouiar is the second player on this list who was at Lens in Ligue 2 last season. The 20-year-old did not start a game in Ligue 1 until late September, but he has been Dijon’s star man ever since. Chouiar’s attacking threat has been clear to see, scoring in 2-1 wins against both Rennes and PSG this season. He has really dazzled with his dribbling, averaging four successful dribbles per 90 minutes. Rating: 7.38

Striker: Victor Osimhen, Lille

While his goalscoring form has waned a little of late, there’s no denying that Victor Osimhen – who joined Lille from Wolfsburg this summer following a successful loan spell with Charleroi in Belgium – has been an inspired acquisition. The Nigerian has become a full international this season due to his fine form in Ligue 1. He has scored nine goals in 17 league games this season – and, bizarrely, all of them have come at home. Rating: 7.16

Premier League team of the week

La Liga team of the week

Serie A team of the week

Bundesliga team of the week

Ligue 1 team of the week

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