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Pele, Diego Maradona and Freddy Adu: Seven wonderkids who made their debuts before turning 16… just like Galatasaray’s 14-year-old star Mustafa Kapi

SunSport takes a look back at some of various well-known players who made their first-team debuts before the age of 16

GALATASARAY provided one of the stories of the weekend.

The Turkish giants gave a first-team debut to player born in 2002 during their friendly against Levski Sofia.

 Galatasaray's 14-year-old, Mustafa Kapi, makes his debut for the Turkish club
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Galatasaray's 14-year-old, Mustafa Kapi, makes his debut for the Turkish clubCredit: Galatasaray Twitter

Mustafa Kapi, 14, made his Galatasaray debut just a week after 13-year-old Karamoko Dembele featured for Celtic’s Under-20s.

So, what does the future hold for the two latest wonderkids?

SunSport takes a look at seven other superstars who made their first-team debuts before the age of 16.

Pele

 Pele made his Santos debut just two years before World Cup breakthrough
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Pele made his Santos debut just two years before World Cup breakthroughCredit: Getty Images

THE king of Brazil made his name at the 1958 World Cup at the 17.

But Pele was already making waves back home two years earlier.

The three-time world champion made the first of his 1,115 Santos appearances at the age of 15.

Diego Maradona

 Diego Maradona was already darling of Argentinian football at age of 17
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Diego Maradona was already darling of Argentinian football at age of 17Credit: Getty Images

HIS omission from Argentina’s home World Cup squad in 1978 was a cause for huge controversy — despite the fact he was just 17.

Maradona made his debut for Boca Juniors ten days shy of his 16th birthday.

By the age of 22, he was the world’s most-expensive player — before Napoli broke the record once again to sign him two years later.


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Radamel Falcao

 Radamel Falcao was a first-team player in Colombian second tier at age of 13
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Radamel Falcao was a first-team player in Colombian second tier at age of 13Credit: Getty Images

HE MADE his debut for Lanceros Boyaca in Colombia’s second tier at the age of 13 years and 199 days — becoming the country’s youngest-ever player.

Falcao scored his first senior goal a year earlier.

Remarkably, he was still young enough to join the River Plate academy.

Sergio Aguero

 Sergio Aguero was 15 when he first broke into first-team at Independiente
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Sergio Aguero was 15 when he first broke into first-team at IndependienteCredit: AP

IT WAS 35 days after his 15th birthday, when the Argentine made his debut for Independiente in 2003.

His second appearance came in the 2004 Copa Libertadores and he became the youngest player to play in the competition.

Augero moved to Atletico Madrid for £16million just two days before his 18th birthday.

Freddy Adu

 Freddy Adu became youngest-ever player to professional MLS contract
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Freddy Adu became youngest-ever player to professional MLS contractCredit: Getty Images

AT THE age of 14, he was named the Best Player of a tournament including the likes of Lazio and Juventus — and became the joined DC United later that year.

Adu was the youngest player to sign for a club in MLS history and became the youngest to score when netted just a month and half before his 15th birthday.

However, he was sold to Real Salt Lake in exchange for goalkeeper, Jay Nolly, in 2006 and his career soon took a massive dip.

Neymar

 Neymar first appeared in the Santos ranks at the age of 15 after trial at Real Madrid
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Neymar first appeared in the Santos ranks at the age of 15 after trial at Real MadridCredit: Getty Images

WITH the No.18 on his back, Neymar first played for the Santos first-team in 2006.

He was touted as the next Pele but soon ended the similarities by moving the Barcelona at the age of 21.

Neymar had previously been on trial at Real Madrid, aged 14.

Martin Odegaard

 Martin Odegaard did enough to earn a move to Real Madrid at age of 16
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Martin Odegaard did enough to earn a move to Real Madrid at age of 16Credit: Getty Images

THE latest real built-up wonderkid started training with the Stromsgodet first-team at the age of 13 — and featured in a mid-season friendly.

Norwegian league rules prevented players from signing a contract to be eligible, but could only write his name on the dotted line at 16, but a loophole meant he could play a maximum of three games.

Odegaard made his debut at the age of 15 and joined Real Madrid a month after his 16th birthday.

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