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Trying to scour the globe to find the next up-and-coming talent is increasingly becoming the focus for elite clubs around the world, and Liverpool is no exception.

The Reds rarely look to players in the latter stages of their careers, primarily focusing on signing those in their teenage years or early 20s, as was evidenced by the decision to recruit Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominick Szoboszlai in 2023, who were aged 20, 22 and 24 at the time.

Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo fall into the same category over recent windows, as do Calvin Ramsey and Fabio Carvalho, even if they have proved less successful transfers.



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That the latter was 95th, less than two years before becoming a World Cup winner, and just six years prior to claiming the Ballon d’Or, suggests the order was little off target.

Other intriguing names include Andres D'Alessandro (second), whose main achievements came in South America, while third-place Leandro Bonfim didn’t earn a single international cap, and Mourad Meghni in 10th enjoyed his best years in Italy with Bologna and Lazio, but didn’t even play 100 Serie A games.

The 2001 list is particularly riveting when analyzing Liverpool, particularly given it had six representatives in the top 40 at the time: Chris Kirkland (38th), Gregory Vignal (29th), Milan Baros (21st), John Welsh (14th), Anthony Le Tallec (9th), Florent Sinama-Pongolle (7th).

None had overwhelmingly successful careers - Baros’ Euro 2004 Golden Boot-winning displays are the highlight from the group, but in contrast Welsh spent the majority of his career in League One and League Two.

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Fernando Torres wasn’t nicknamed “El Nino” for nothing - he came in fourth, one place ahead of his one-time Liverpool team-mate Jermain Pennant.

Djibril Cisse, then on the books of Auxuerre, came in first, three years before his move to Anfield

The Frenchman had a mixed career, with the highlights including earning 41 caps and playing a part in Liverpool’s historic 2005 Champions League success in Istanbul.

Cisse even scored a penalty in the shootout against AC Milan and netted a year later in the 2006 FA Cup final victory over West Ham United
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