Tottenham youngster, Dele Alli, has emerged top of the list of the most experienced footballers per age in the top five leagues in the world.
A CIES Football Observatory revealed the players with the most domestic league appearances since the start of their career at adult level per year of birth.
And according to the report released on Monday, Spurs rising star, Alli, top the list of players born on or after 1996.
Meaning the former MK Dons midfielder with 98 matches played – is the most experienced teenager in the world – beating the likes of Anthony Martial, Kelechi Iheanacho and Hector Bellerin.
Everton striker, Romelu Lukaku, is the most experienced player to be born in 1993 – while Chelsea’s Eden Hazard leads the players born two years earlier.
Veteran goalkeepers, Juventus Gianluigi Buffon and Mark Schwarzer of Leicester City – with 612 and 626 matches respectively – are the most experienced players still playing the game.
Conspicuously missing from the list is five-time FIFA Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi, alongside arch rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The pair born in 1987 and 1985 respectively were beaten in terms of matches played by Sunderland’s Billy Jones and Simon Francis of Bournemouth.
Jones with 395 appearances has made 59 more than the Barcelona superstar, while Ronaldo with 447, is second behind Francis who is just 13 games ahead.
Full list of most experienced players per age
Born on 1996 or after
Dele Alli, Tottenham, 98 matches
Born on 1995
Samu Castillejo, Villarreal, 129 matches
Born on 1994
Nathan Redmond, Norwich, 163 matches
Born on 1993
Romelu Lukaku, Everton, 210 matches
Born on 1992
Koke Resurrección, Atlético Madrid, 236 matches
Born on 1991
Eden Hazard, Chelsea, 277 matches
Born on 1990
James McCarthy, Everton, 295 matches
Born on 1989
Charlie Austin, Southampton, 320 matches
Born on 1988
Sergio Agüero, Manchester City, 368 matches
Born on 1987
Billy Jones, Sunderland, 395 matches
Born on 1986
James Milner, Liverpool, 410 matches
Born on 1985
Simon Francis, Bournemouth, 460 matches
Born on 1984
Wes Morgan, Leicester, 527 matches
Born on 1983
Jon Walters, Stoke City, 456 matches
Born on 1982
Rickie Lambert, West Bromwich, 597 matches
Born on 1981
Gareth Barry, Everton, 588 matches
Born on 1980
Sylvain Armand, Stade Rennais, 522 matches
Born on 1979
Massimo Maccarone, Empoli FC, 539 matches
Born on 1978
Gianluigi Buffon, Juventus, 612 matches
Born on 1977 or before
Mark Schwarzer, Leicester City FC, 626 matches
