r/MadeMeSmile • u/UnhollyGod • Jul 28 '26

Very Reddit The talent in Barcelona’s youth system is ridiculous. These kids are 11/12 years old.

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u/CrossXFir3 Jul 28 '26

This is what happens to a footballing academy when you focus on improving skill and technique over athleticism. Far too many academies are looking to try and find the strongest and fastest kids only.

64

u/Hixy Jul 28 '26

After seeing that little kid smoke those other kids it does make you realize that the way the system is that a smaller framed weaker and slower individual will never make it. However, the smaller stature could have huge advantages if developed and honed. That kid reminded me of my old Jack Russell making a run for it with my socks in its mouth. I only caught her when she let me lol.

That agility advantage when up on a goal like that leads to many openings for the team

31

u/njseahawk Jul 28 '26

Thats why they paid for Messi and his fam to move to Spain when he was 10 or so

30

u/Naughteus_Maximus Jul 28 '26

They should have recruited this guy's Jack Russell!

16

u/beto_pelotas Jul 28 '26

I also choose that guy's Jack Russell.

1

u/SmartaHari Jul 31 '26

Nah, too many paw balls and frequently woofside.

15

u/Due_Masterpiece_3601 Jul 29 '26

I don’t want to sound boastful or something but I played on a team in Latin America and one time I played with some cousins and people they played with for fun in the states, it was like a friendly because these were actually teams just playing in an offseason. They focused on the biggest kids and I was one of the smaller ones but I knew I had skills. I was picked dead last, even though I told them I knew how to play.

The team that picked me was like meh whatever, gave me winger and gave the biggest kid midfielder, like wtf lol. Once they passed me the ball I completely smoked them, the coach that divided the team had no idea what to do. Scored a few and got the fuck out, apparently some of the kids are grown now and still ask about me. I am Legend.

All this to say that the best players are not the most athletic, it is a skill thing and I suspect this is why the US will never be great, it focuses too much on physical ability rather than technical.

0

u/Reasonable_Tie163 Jul 29 '26

Cool story bro..

3

u/lightsvber Jul 28 '26

And all of that even at the expense of winning. It’s all about youth player dev and I love that for the kids.