The NFL Draft is viewed as one of the most exciting events on the American football calendar.
For those unfamiliar with it, it's an event that takes place every year where the 32 teams involved take turns to pick out the best young talent to bring to the league.
The order of selection is determined by the reverse order of finish in the previous season. Barring any trades between clubs, each round starts with the team that finished with the worst record and ends with the Super Bowl champions.
Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow became the first pick of this season's NFL Draft, with the Cincinnati Bengals plumping for the quarterback - you can read more about the full draft here.
But what if football (or soccer, to avoid some confusion) decided to run a similar draft process? Taking the world's best young players and placing them up for selection.
Of course, it's a completely hypothetical situation. The process of selecting which clubs would be involved, alongside the order the select in, would cause a few headaches. That said, with the idea of a European Super League constantly mentioned, it could be a format introduced in the future.
Here, Tom Carnduff makes his top ten picks for what we're naming the World Football Draft. You can get in touch with your selections by Tweeting us @SportingLifeFC.
10. Phil Foden
Position: Attacking midfield
A name that would divide opinion given his struggles for regular first team minutes at Manchester City but there's no denying that Phil Foden is an extraordinary talent.
He's seen as the natural successor to David Silva, with the Spanish midfield wizard set to end his ten-year association with the Premier League giants.
Despite limited game time, Pep Guardiola has repeatedly praised the youngster. The City boss even made the bold claim that Foden is the most talented player he has worked with. Of course, that group would include Lionel Messi.
"He has everything to become one of the best players," Guardiola said in July 2019.
"I have said many times in press conferences, but maybe not said it in front of him, Phil is the most, most, most talented player I have ever seen in my career as a manager."
Foden continues to shine and has been trusted to represent Manchester City in all competitions. His dominant display in the Carabao Cup final at the beginning of March highlights that potential.
9. Gianluigi Donnarumma
Position: Goalkeeper
Gianluigi Donnarumma is widely regarded as the best young goalkeeper in world football and would be a certain consideration for a top-ten spot in a world football draft.
Despite being just 21, Donnarumma has already made 190 appearances for AC Milan. He also holds the record for the youngest goalkeeper to play for Italy at 17 years and 189 days.
His first team debut came back in October 2015, breaking another record by becoming the second-youngest goalkeeper to start an Italian league game (16 years and 242 days).
Donnarumma's already experienced CV would make him a tempting pick for most clubs; those looking to replicate a Gianluigi Buffon type spell, and Donnarumma has been considered his successor in Italy.
He's an agile goalkeeper who possesses good reactions, with legendary goalkeeper Dino Zoff saying back in 2016 that "he seems to be pre-destined to become a great goalkeeper, and it all depends completely on him."
8. Kai Havertz
Position: Attacking midfield
One of the most exciting prospects in world football, Kai Havertz is a part of what Germany hopes will be a very successful future.
The attacking midfielder has already featured in 139 games for Bayer Leverkusen - which includes both the Champions League and Europa League.
At the age of just 20, Havertz has all the potential to go to the very top and world football's elite clubs are already circling the BayArena in the hope that they can lure him away.
Havertz would make the cut as a top-ten pick in this draft. His record speaks for itself, but his technical ability alongside being able to use both feet make him stand-out.
The lists of strengths significantly outweigh the weaknesses and the near even split of goals and assists demonstrates the threat he possesses in front of goal.
7. Joao Felix
Position: Forward
It's clear that Atletico Madrid saw the potential in Joao Felix when they paid an astonishing £113million fee for the youngster in the summer of 2019.
That fee came despite being just 20 years of age and having made 43 senior appearances for Benfica. Atletico were happy to pay a huge amount to bring him to the club though.
He's still finding his feet in Spain with six goals in 28 appearances across all competitions but it's clear that he is a player with one eye on the future.
Felix is viewed as the successor to Cristiano Ronaldo for Portuguese football and some comparisons have been made between the two players.
His ability on the ball is a strength but what he does with it makes him a dangerous player. Felix can read the game and pick out key passes to create attacks that ultimately lead to goals.
Manchester United have been linked with a move but it'd take a serious amount of money to bring him to Old Trafford.
6. Alphonso Davies
Position: Left-back
Alphonso Davies really introduced himself to English football with a dominant display at Stamford Bridge as Bayern Munich comfortably dispatched Chelsea in the Champions League.
Davies joined up with Bayern in January 2019 and has become a real presence down their left side - whether that be at left-back or further up the pitch in attack.
The eye-catching traits are the ability to dribble and the sheer speed he possesses. That has been a significant factor in the seven assists posted across all competitions.
What makes Davies such an exciting prospect is the balance between attacking and defensive duties. He can drive forward and join the attack but there's also the tackling and his contribution at the back to go alongside it.
He would have been top of many transfer wishlists but he recently committed his future to Bayern by signing a new contract until 2025.
"I felt happy from day one. I want to win as many titles as possible with this club," Davies said.
"The mentality of always wanting to win everything is in FC Bayern's DNA."
5. Matthijs de Ligt
Position: Central defender
A player who found himself as one of Europe's most wanted targets last summer, Matthijs de Ligt eventually ended up signing for Juventus.
Manchester United were said to be serious contenders to secure his signature but the Dutch superstar preferred a move to Serie A over Old Trafford.
The 20-year-old established himself as an integral part of a youthful Ajax side that made the semi-final of last season's Champions League. There were a number of players to choose from when it came to signings, and many did move on, but de Ligt was the number one.
He was named the Golden Boy in 2018, while also finishing ninth in The Best FIFA Men's Player a year later. He would also feature in the FIFA FIFPro World11 in the same season.
The Juventus man is everything that is required for a modern day centre-back. The ability to pass the ball and play out from the back is held in equal regard to tackling and keeping out opposition attacks.
Partnering Virgil van Dijk in defence, de Ligt will be a key part in the future of Dutch football as they look to return to the summit.
4. Trent Alexander-Arnold
Position: Right-back
"Nobody wants to grow up to be a Gary Neville," Jamie Carragher once famously said and there's a strong argument to be made that the full-back positions are often the hardest to fill. That is why Trent Alexander-Arnold secures a top-five spot here.
The 21-year-old has become a key part of a Liverpool side who are currently dominating English football and he has made the right side of the pitch his own.
Alexander-Arnold is often battling the man on the opposite flank, Andy Robertson, for most assists in a season and the 30 on his tally across the past two campaigns further highlight his attacking threat.
Those assists come from a combination of open play and set-pieces with the youngster trusted with the Reds' corner and free-kicks. The most famous, of course, being that quickly taken corner which helped Liverpool overturn a huge 3-0 deficit against Barcelona.
Alexander-Arnold is crucial to the way that Jurgen Klopp wants to play and it's why he is one of the best attacking full-backs in world football. A certainty for a high spot in this draft.
3. Jadon Sancho
Position: Winger
Jadon Sancho will have to go down as one of the all-time great bargain buys given his £8million fee when he signed for Borussia Dortmund from Manchester City.
Since that switch in 2017, Sancho has gone on to establish himself as one of world football's most exciting prospects and he has helped to transform this Dortmund side.
Comfortable on either wing or through the middle, Sancho has posted 31 goals and 42 assists in 90 games across all competitions for his current club. This season sees his record stand at 17 goals and 19 assists in 35 appearances.
There was a tug of war emerging between England and Germany for the youngster given how he was eligible to represent both. However, much to the relief of Gareth Southgate and myself, Sancho elected to play for the Three Lions.
It's believed that Sancho will return to the Premier League sooner rather than later but Dortmund won't be pushovers in any negotiations given the talent they have in their hands.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been credited with interest but his next destination remains a mystery. What is clear though is that he will become an all-time star of world football.
2. Erling Haaland
Position: Striker
Another member of Dortmund's talented young cast, Erling Haaland has stunned everyone with his goal-scoring exploits this season.
The 19-year-old scored 16 goals in 14 league appearances for Red Bull Salzburg before a January switch to Dortmund, where he has nine goals in eight Bundesliga games. Haaland netted a hat-trick on his debut despite coming on as a second-half substitute.
Then of course there are the ten Champions League goals that go alongside that. Haaland has quickly established himself as one of world football's best strikers.
It's almost frightening to think of what numbers he will produce in the future given his age of 19. He has already shown little issue with playing against Europe's elite.
Haaland's form has already led to transfer speculation despite being at his current club for three months. The usual suspects, Manchester United included, have been constant names among the gossip pages.
However, like Sancho, Dortmund will be reluctant in allowing him to leave as they aim to de-throne Bayern Munich as kings of Germany once again.
1. Kylian Mbappe
Position: Striker
The obvious contender for the number one spot is PSG and France star Kylian Mbappe.
Known for his speed, the ability to dribble and to find the net, Mbappe already has a lengthy CV at the age of 21.
He won the World Cup with France in 2018, scoring in their 4-2 victory over Croatia in the final, while he has also won Ligue 1 on three separate occasions with PSG and previous club Monaco.
Mbappe's form at his current club is nothing short of exceptional. He's scored 90 goals and assisted a further 49 in 120 games across all competitions.
One the many factors that makes Mbappe a top draft pick is the ability to play across any of the forward positions. That pace allows him to operate out wide, while the finishing puts him among the very best strikers.
Will he move on from PSG? There have been rumours that the likes of Real Madrid are interested in securing his signature. However, any club would have to smash the current world transfer record of £198million if they are to lure him away from his current surroundings.
A previous Golden Boy winner, alongside having spots in multiple teams of the season, Mbappe is already an elite talent with all the potential of becoming one of football's all-time great strikers.
