IN 2004, Wayne Rooney was the most-valuable Under-21s player in the world – ahead of the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta.
Now player-coach at Derby, Rooney is still very much involved in football 16 years later.
Ronaldo and Rooney both made the top ten most-valuable Under-21s stars list in 2004
But what about the other 24 stars from Transfermarkt’s top 25 most-valuable players aged 21 or under in 2004?
Some have retired, some are still going strong – and one, tragically, has died.
But who makes the list, where are they now and what was their career high point? Find out below…
25. JAMES MILNER
James Milner took the 25th and final spot on the list in 2004
Club in 2004: Newcastle
Value in 2004: £6.6m
Club now: Liverpool
Value now: £5.9m
Career-high value: £18.6m
EVER the consummate professional, Milner has gone from wonderkid 16 years ago to the absolute pro’s pro in 2020.
After successful spells at Newcastle, Leeds and Aston Villa, Milner won two Premier League titles with Manchester City – and looks set to make it three now at Liverpool.
Milner, a 61-cap former England international has also won the Champions League with the Reds.
24. RICARDO QUARESMA
Ricardo Quaresma was a talented youngster at Porto in 2004
Club in 2004: Porto
Value in 2004: £6.6m
Club now: Kasimpasa
Value now: £360,000
Career-high value: £22.1m
BY the time Transfermarkt put together their list, Quaresma had already moved on from Sporting Lisbon AND Barcelona to join Porto, weeks after their famous Champions League triumph.
Still playing on in Turkey, the 80-cap Portugal star also enjoyed spells at Inter Milan, Chelsea, Al-Ahli and Besiktas in his career.
Quaresma won seven league titles in four different countries during his trophy laden career, as well as clinching the famous Euro 2016 crown.
23. RUBEN OLIVERA
Ruben Olivera moved to Juventus in 2004 but failed to make the grade
Club in 2004: Juventus
Value in 2004: £7.1m
Club now: Osti Mare
Value now: £45,000
Career-high value: £7.1m
ACCORDING to Transfermarkt, 2004 was as good as it got for forgotten wonderkid Olivera, with his value at its peak that year.
The Uruguayan was loaned out four times by Juventus before being sold to Penarol prior to stints back in Italy with Lecce and Fiorentina.
But things never panned out for Olivera, who’s spent the past six years hopping around various clubs in Italy’s lower leagues – now at Serie D side Osti Mare.
22. JERMAINE JENAS
Jermaine Jenas carved out a successful career with Tottenham and Newcastle
Club in 2004: Newcastle
Value in 2004: £7.1m
Club now: Retired
Value now: N/A
Career-high value: £13.3m
THE 21-cap former England international carved out a solid career for himself, first at Newcastle and then, more-famously, at Tottenham.
Jenas – who ended his career with a season at QPR in 2013-14 – never won a major trophy, with Spurs’ 2007-08 League Cup triumph the highlight.
He is now a pundit for the BBC.
21. NILMAR
Nilmar was at Lyon in 2004 but enjoyed his best years at Villarreal later in his career
Club in 2004: Lyon
Value in 2004: £7.1m
Club now: Retired
Value now: N/A
Career-high value: £17.7m
THE Brazilian striker had bravely moved from local side, Internacional, to Lyon in the summer of 2004.
But after failing to excel in France, he moved back to Brazil after just one season, eventually returning to Europe with Villarreal in 2009.
Nilmar spent three semi-successful seasons at the LaLiga club, before hopping between Brazil and the Middle East at five different clubs, ending his career after a spell at Santos in 2017.
20. CARLOS ALBERTO
Carlos Alberto had loads of promise but failed to settle anywhere
Club in 2004: Porto
Value in 2004: £7.5m
Club now: Retired
Value now: N/A
Career-high value: £7.5m
IN a 17-year career, Alberto only played 264 times in league football, such was his inability to settle.
During his 17 years as a footballer, the Brazilian played for 14 clubs across 16 different stints.
His 2004 at Porto was as good as it got for Alberto.
19. GLEN JOHNSON
Glen Johnson enjoyed great success during his time at Chelsea
Club in 2004: Chelsea
Value in 2004: £7.5m
Club now: Retired
Value now: N/A
Career-high value: £15m
JUST finding his feet as a star in England in 2004, Johnson enjoyed great success at Chelsea, winning the Premier League later that season.
Johnson – a 51-cap Three Lions international – also played for Portsmouth and Liverpool during his career, before calling time following a three-year stint at Stoke in 2018.
18. DMITRI SYCHEV
Dmitri Sychev carved out a solid career in his home nation, Russia
Club in 2004: Lokomotiv Moscow
Value in 2004: £8.8m
Club now: Retired
Value now: N/A
Career-high value: £8.8m
AFTER spells at Spartak Moscow and Marseille, Russian legend Sychev moved to Lokomotiv Moscow in 2004.
He would go on to spend 12 years at the club, winning the top-flight just once that year.
The 47-cap former Russia international moved on in 2016, joining Kazanka Moscow and later Pyunik before retiring in 2019.
17. FERNANDO CAVENAGHI
Fernando Cavenaghi, right, never quite lived up to his undoubted potential
Club in 2004: Spartak Moscow
Value in 2004: £8.8m
Club now: Retired
Value now: N/A
Career-high value: £12.4m
A FOUR-CAP ex-Argentina international, Cavenaghi bounced around a lot during his career.
He enjoyed spells in Russia, Argentina, Spain, Brazil, Mexico and Cyprus before retiring in 2016.
Incredibly, in his final season at Cypriot Champions League side APOEL, Cavenaghi banged in 19 goals in just 18 league games… talk about ending on a high.
16. OBAFEMI MARTINS
Obafemi Martins hasn’t played since 2018, but is yet to officially retire
Club in 2004: Inter Milan
Value in 2004: £8.8m
Club now: Unattached
Value now: £360,000
Career-high value: £14.1m
ENJOYING his best years between 2001 and 2009, then-wonderkid Martins scored 28 goals in 88 league games for both Inter and Newcastle.
After that, the Nigerian failed to settle, moving on to Wolfsburg, Rubin Kazan, Birmingham (loan), Levante, Seattle Sounders in the MLS and Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua, where he last played.
He is now married to Mario Balotelli’s big sister, Abigail Barwuah, who gave birth to the footballer’s third child.
15. DIEGO
Diego enjoyed a successful career in Europe and is now back at Brazilian giants Flamengo
Club in 2004: Santos
Value in 2004: £8.8m
Club now: Flamengo
Value now: £2.5m
Career-high value: £25.6m
AFTER working his way through the youth ranks at Santos, Diego eventually quit the club in 2004 to join Porto.
The Brazilian would go on to carve out an impressive career at Werder Bremen, Juventus, Wolfsburg and Atletico Madrid.
Later in his career, he moved to Fenerbahce before heading back to Brazil to join Flamengo, where he has been ever since – even coming off the bench in the Club World Cup final defeat to Liverpool in December.
14. VINCENT KOMPANY
Vincent Kompany is now back at Anderlecht after a glittering 11-year Man City career
Club in 2004: Anderlecht
Value in 2004: £8.8m
Club now: Anderlecht
Value now: £3.6m
Career-high value: £30.9m
WHAT can you say that hasn’t already been said?
The Belgian legend is back at his childhood club as player-manager following a trophy-laden 11 years with Manchester City in which he helped the club win their first four Premier League titles.
In Kompany’s final season at the club, the 89-cap Belgium international’s rare wonderstrike against Leicester helped his side seal the title, keeping Liverpool one point away from them.
13. WESLEY SNEIJDER
Wesley Sneijder enjoyed huge success at Ajax, Real Madrid and Inter Milan
Club in 2004: Ajax
Value in 2004: £8.8m
Club now: Retired
Value now: N/A
Career-high value: £39.8m
A 134-CAP Holland international, Sneijder enjoyed a career of the highest quality.
Eventually leaving boyhood club Ajax in 2007, the midfielder joined Real Madrid and Inter Milan, before later moving on to Galatasaray, Nice and Al-Gharafa.
Sneijder won five league titles in four different countries – including the LaLiga and Serie A crowns.
In 2009-10, he helped a Jose Mourinho-led Inter to the Treble, winning the league title, Champions League trophy and Coppa Italia.
12. EMMANUEL ADEYBAYOR
Controversy often prevented Adeybayor from realising his talent
Club in 2004: Monaco
Value in 2004: £10.6m
Club now: Olimpia Asuncion
Value now: £225,000
Career-high value: £22.1m
PERHAPS most well-known for his controversial, wholly unnecessary celebration for Manchester City against former club Arsenal, Adebayor has never fully settled at a club.
After spells at Monaco, Arsenal and City, he moved on to join Real Madrid, Tottenham and Crystal Palace.
Adebayor then played for Turkish sides Istanbul Basaksehir and Kayserispor, before heading to Paraguay to turn out for Olimpia Asuncion – where he still plays to this day.
11. RAFAEL VAN DER VAART
Van der Vaart seemed to become a club icon wherever he went
Club in 2004: Ajax
Value in 2004: £10.6m
Club now: Retired
Value now: N/A
Career-high value: £23m
AJAX legend. Hamburg legend. Real Madrid legend. Tottenham legend. Van der Vaart was adored wherever he went.
Towards the end of his career, an ageing Van der Vaart turned out for Real Betis, Midtjylland and Esbjerg.
But it was his prime years fans will forever remember, with the 109-cap Dutch international winning two league titles.
After retiring, he attempted to carve out a professional career in darts, joining the BDO tour.
10. MICHAEL ESSIEN
Michael Essien would go on to enjoy great success at Chelsea
Club in 2004: Lyon
Value in 2004: £10.6m
Club now: Sabail
Value now: £220,000
Career-high value: £33.6m
THE 58-cap Ghana international certainly enjoyed his best years at Chelsea, spending nine seasons at the club, winning two Premier League titles.
He also won two Ligue 1 crowns with Lyon, before later playing for Real Madrid (loan), AC Milan, Panathinaikos and Persib Bandung (Indonesia).
Essien, 37, can now be found in Azerbaijan, playing for Sabail where he’s played 14 times since his 2018 move.
9. ANDRES INIESTA
Andres Iniesta has gone down in history as a Barcelona and Spain legend
Club in 2004: Barcelona
Value in 2004: £10.6m
Club now: Vissel Kobe
Value now: £2.6m
Career-high value: £61.9m
THE Spaniard spent 22 years at Barcelona from the youth ranks to the first-team, winning nine LaLiga crowns and four Champions League titles.
The 131-cap Spain international moved to Vissel Kobe in Japan in 2018, where he is now into his third season at the age of 36.
Iniesta was also a key part of the Spain side which dominated football between 2008 and 2012 – winning two European Championship titles and the 2010 World Cup.
8. DANIELE DE ROSSI
Daniele De Rossi spent 18 years of his career at Roma
Club in 2004: Roma
Value in 2004: £12.4m
Club now: Retired
Value now: N/A
Career-high value: £33.6m
JUST like Iniesta, De Rossi is almost a one club-legend – having spent all but ONE season of his 19-year senior career at Roma.
The Italian played 616 times for Roma in all competitions, making 117 appearances for Italy too.
He brought down the curtain on his career with half a season at Boca Juniors, retiring in January 2020 for “family reasons”.
7. CARLOS TEVEZ
Carlos Tevez left Boca Juniors and enjoyed huge success in England
Club in 2004: Boca Juniors
Value in 2004: £13.3m
Club now: Boca Juniors
Value now: £720,000
Career-high value: £35.3m
ANOTHER player on the list to go full circle, Argentine legend is back at Boca Juniors 16 years on.
Tevez won Premier League titles at both Manchester United and Manchester City, as well as turning out for West Ham, Juventus and Shanghai Shenhua during his career.
The Argentine enjoyed arguably his best years at City, though – scoring 58 times in 113 Premier League games and has been back at Boca since 2018.
6. CRISTIANO RONALDO
Cristiano Ronaldo went from skinny youngster to ripped superstar as he became an all-time great
Club in 2004: Man Utd
Value in 2004: £14.1m
Club now: Juventus
Value now: £106m
Career-high value: £54m
FIVE Ballons d’Or, six league titles across Europe’s Big Five leagues, the European Championship and Nations League with Portugal… and in contention for the mantle of greatest player of all-time.
Ronaldo’s CV speaks for itself, but now aged 35, he is still going strong with Juventus thanks to his incredible work ethic in the gym.
Somehow only sixth on Transfermarkt’s list in 2004, Ronaldo has proven them wrong by being mentioned in the same breath as Lionel Messi, Pele and Diego Maradona.
5. ARJEN ROBBEN
Arjen Robben won trophies at Chelsea, but the best was yet to come at Bayern Munich
Club in 2004: Chelsea
Value in 2004: £17.7m
Club now: Retired
Value now: N/A
Career-high value: £35.3m
HAVING just joined Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven in 2004, Robben would go to enjoy a stellar career with Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Having won four league titles during his years in Holland, England and Spain, the best was yet to come for the Dutch legend.
Robben won eight Bundesliga titles in the final ten years of his career, before hanging up his boots last summer.
4. ROBINHO
Robinho never quite lived up to the hype after leaving Brazil
Club in 2004: Santos
Value in 2004: £19.4m
Club now: Istanbul Basaksehir
Value now: £540,000
Career-high value: £32.3m
A SHOCK deadline day buy for Manchester City the summer of their mega-money takeover, Robinho never quite lived up to the wonderkid billing.
Quitting Santos for Real Madrid in 2005, Robinho showed plenty of promise, but ultimately left the Etihad for AC Milan leaving fans thoroughly underwhelmed two years later.
The 100-cap Brazil international has played in China, Brazil and Turkey since then and is still going to this day with Istanbul Basaksehir.
3. FERNANDO TORRES
Fernando Torres was a huge hit with Atleti, Liverpool and Spain
Club in 2004: Atletico Madrid
Value in 2004: £22.1m
Club now: Retired
Value now: N/A
Career-high value: £44.2m
A SUPERSTAR at Atleti, an unstoppable force at Liverpool, frustratingly sub-par at Chelsea… injuries took their toll on the once-explosive Spaniard.
Forever remembered for his £50m move to the Blues when already a fading force at Anfield, Torres did help seal Champions League glory for the Blues in 2012.
Winning 110-caps for his country will remain the high point for Torres – who retired after stints at AC Milan, a return to Atletico Madrid and Japanese side Sagan Tosu – as Spain won three major tournaments in a row.
2. JOSE ANTONIO REYES
Former Arsenal player Reyes died in 2019 following a car crash
Club in 2004: Arsenal
Value in 2004: £30.9m
Club now: N/A
Value now: N/A
Career-high value: £30.9m
THE Spaniard was once-deemed the second-most-valuable youngster on the planet, but never quite reached top gear.
Reyes joined Arsenal from Sevilla in 2004, where he would score just 16 goals in 69 league games before joining Atletico Madrid, via a loan spell at Real.
After failing to shine, he returned to Sevilla before spells at Espanyol, Cordoba, Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard (China) and Extremadura (Spain).
Reyes died last summer aged just 35 following a car crash involving two of his cousins – one of whom also passed away.
1. WAYNE ROONEY
Wayne Rooney went on to become England and Man Utd’s all-time leading scorer
Club in 2004: Man Utd
Value in 2004: £32.7m
Club now: Derby
Value now: £2.2m
Career-high value: £57.4m
BOTH England’s and Manchester United’s all-time record goalscorer, it’s fair to say Rooney more than justified his spot at the top of the most-valuable youngsters list in 2004.
After leaving Everton, Roo would go on to shine at Old Trafford, before rejoining Everton, enjoying a spell at MLS side DC United and then returning to England to take on the role of player-coach at Championship side Derby.
Rooney won five Premier League titles during his time at United, scoring 253 times in all competitions.
Danny Murphy responds to Harry Maguire’s praise of Marcus Rashford, calling the striker a ‘potential future captain’ of Man United
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
