Manchester City star Phil Foden names Lamine Yamal as young player he enjoys watching most - 'Performing really well'
Updated 03/04/2025 at 16:40 GMT+1
Phil Foden has been one of the top young players in world football over the last five years, winning the Premier League Young Player of the Season award in 2021 and 2022, and the Player of the Season award in 2024. So who does the 24-year-old Man City star love watching among the current crop of young players? And how does he assess Man City's struggles this season?
Foden on his favourite young player to watch, and Man City keeping belief
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Manchester City’s Phil Foden knows a fair bit about rising young stars in world football, having been one himself.
Foden was the youngest English player to score in the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League when he netted for Man City at the age of 18 in 2019.
He was then named the Premier League Young Player of the Season in 2021 and 2022, before winning the Player of the Season award in 2024.
Now 24, Foden is an established starter at City and has made over 300 appearances for the club.
So which young player in world football does he now enjoy watching the most?
"There are so many talented players in world football right now," Foden told Sign Up - Into Football, a series presented by Damaris Cooke and Rolf Choutan, who are both deaf.
"I like the Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal. I think he is performing really well at such a young age as well – I enjoy watching him at the moment."
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Yamal, 17, has enjoyed a stunning 12 months, becoming a regular starter for Barcelona and helping Spain win Euro 2024, where he won the Young Player of the Tournament award.
Last year he won the Kopa Trophy, which is given to the best player in the world under the age of 21.
Foden has not been able to replicate his award-winning form this season as Man City have struggled in the Premier League and were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League in the last 16 by Real Madrid.
Asked about City’s form this season, Foden said: "I would put it down to a number of things. Obviously we have had a lot of injuries, all of the stuff we have won in the past has been so demanding on the body.Â
"You cannot stay at the top forever, sometimes there are downs in life. I feel like this season, even though we have not won [as much], I have learnt the most from it.Â
"It just shows how much you have to put in to win these trophies and the level that is set to win. It’s a learning curve for me this season and next season hopefully we can be back to our best and play the way that we used to."
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City are still in with a chance of winning silverware as they are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup against Nottingham Forest.
They are also in a tight battle to qualify for next season’s Champions League through their league finishing position.
Looking ahead to how City can bounce back next season, Foden added: "Not much needs to change. Just believe in the manager, try to keep players fit which is important because we have had a lot of injuries, team spirit, be motivated to try and go and do it again and create a great surrounding – I feel that is all we need to do and we should be back."
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