FIFA Names Its Players To Watch In 2009

By: chris | January 9th, 2009

FIFA, ever one to throw the middle finger to convention (See: World Cup 2010), has named their players to watch in 2009 and done so by listing 13 players, clearly damning them all to a year of unfortunate suckitude.

It is, as one would expect, mostly a bunch of young prodigies and players on the cusp of superstar status. However, they do throw a couple curve balls and add in some players you might want to….watch in 2009.

Did FIFA just get something right? Surely not.

The lucky thirteen:

Jozy Altidore, 19, forward, Villarreal (Spain)
Michel Bastos Fernandes, 25, midfielder, Lille (France)
Scott Brown, 23, midfielder, Celtic (Scotland)
Jaime Cordoba, 20, midfielder, America de Cali (Colombia)
Douglas Costa de Souza, 18, midfielder, Gremio (Brazil)
Pedro Tonon Geromel, 23, defender, Cologne (Germany)
Guillaume Hoarau, 24, forward, Paris St-Germain (France)
Keirrison, 20, forward, Coritiba (Brazil)
Marko Marin, 19, midfielder, Borussia Monchengladbach (Germany)
Martin Morel, 28, midfielder, Club Atletico Tigre (Argentina)
Carlos Darwin Quintero, 21, forward, Club Santos Laguna (Mexico)
Rafael Pereira Da Silva, 18, defender, Manchester United (England)
Aaron Ramsey, 17, midfielder, Arsenal (England)

The most intriguing selection by far is Martin Morel. It’s not too often a player just starts clanging the chains and making some noise at the ripe old age of 28, but that’s surely the case as just three years ago he was playing in Argentina’s fifth division. In European terms that’s like…Liechtenstein. And they don’t even have a league.

Perhaps the most glittering name on the list is the German Lionel Messi, Marko Marin, a Mighty Mouse clone destined to wow fans with his intricate dribbling skills, pace and football IQ for years to come. Gladbach may not be very good, but he is going to be sensational.

A “players to watch list” wouldn’t be complete, of course, without a host of acne-laden Brazilians ready to ship across seas for some time under the European lights. Douglas Costa and Keirrison are two of the biggest names, wanted by the biggest names as well, and Rafael, though already in the Isles, has recently broken his way into the first team to show some real quality.

And the resident youngster on the list is….one of Arsene’s kids. How very fitting.

For the full descriptions, go here.

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Darren Ferguson

One to watch is Philippe Coutinho, very young brazillian striker/attacking midfield... its a shame we were to too late to sign him, as Inter Milan already beat us to his signature. Nevertheless, watch out for him!
Scott

Scott Brown deserves to be on this list. Best player at celtic and in my opinion in scotland at the moment. Broony for player of the year !!!
brian

Brown worth 30 mill + that is a load of rubbish you would be lucky if any premiership team including Man U offer over 10 mill considering the credit crunch.
scott brown is a hothead and deserves to miss the old firm because of match ban
also OWEN mcgeady is most overated player i have ever seen in my life , remember the old firm game when the stricker had him in his back pocket Nacho Novo !
haha
grant

Scott Brown will never be in the top 5 midfielders in the World. Me Thinks that Morgan is looking through green tinted glasses.

Also 30 million I doubt it. The most anyone will pay for a scottish player will be <10million. You know why because they don't have to pay anymore as clubs can not afford to turn such offers down.
Morgan

Scott brown will be in the top 5 midfielders in the world in two years time, in a year he has improved drastically, control stamina and dribbling are all key elements of his play and he rarely puts a foot wrong, he is already worth over 20 million, and rumour has it Manchester city scouts will be watching browns next few games after his recent performances, and with there money the fee could go above 30 million
Mickey

Wheres Bojan Krkic, Barcelona's youngster?
conor sweeney

i heard a commentator talking about broony being on this list during the old firm game. great choice but mcgeady should be here too.
Dougie

Brown is indeed a great choice, and not many players in the SPL get the recognition they deserve. Aiden McGeady, unlike Brown, however, has been in the limelight (read: playing for an Old Firm club) for a lot longer now. For what it's worth Broony deserved his man of the match award this afternoon (League Cup final).
Owen

Scott Brown Is Amazing Great Choice But Where's Aiden Mcgeady?
elle

Jozy making the list warms my heart
Juliet

I'm certainly keeping an eye on Marin, the way he plays is thrilling, like a little sparkplug. And I'm pleased to see Altidore make the list.
Julien G.

Keirrison is a fantastic striker, 8 out of 10 shots he takes, he'll score. He's a very simple player, he never does what he doesn't have to do but like every Brazilian he has good technique on the ball. I don't think K9 will get much of a shot at the WC but if he does, he'll be a good player to look out for.

Ben Arfa is another, If he can make that one step in progression and give us some end product (maybe some maturity, but some people never grow out of it) I'm sure he'll be another player to look out for.

Gremio's Mattioni is another kid who seems to be another fan favourite...