Who is Francesco Camarda - AC Milan’s new wonderkid?

The youngster has recently played for the club's U-19s

The Azzurri have not made it to the FIFA World Cup for two times in a row now. Despite having some serious talent in their ranks, they have lacked a proper centre-forward up front who can go on and deliver the goals in the recent years. Apart from Frederico Chiesa and Wilfried Gnonto who are looking promising for the Italians as they attempt to make a surge in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we have this 14-year-old youngster named Francesco Camarda playing for AC Milan whose stats are something that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi themselves will be envious of. Here’s what you need to know about him:

The Italian has been averaging 5.5 goals per game in the youth ranks for AC Milan, scoring 485 goals in just 89 games to make football fans across the globe sit up and remain in awe.

Growing through the Rossoneri’s academy, he seems to be way too matured to be playing within his own age group. He has already been given an opportunity to play for the AC Milan Under-19 side in a friendly against Solbiatese who are in Eccellenza (5th division of the Italian football pyramid) and according to the reports of the Italian media circulating around, he scored a brace in that game against players who are five years older than him.

247 goals in 40 games (2017-18 season)

Sciabolata Morbida‘s revelation on Twitter last year went viral as he highlighted that the then-13-year-old striker scored 247 goals in 40 games in 2017-18 campaign, 172 goals in 31 games in 2018-19 campaign and 64 goals in 16 games in 2019-20 campaign for a total of 483 goals in 87 games, at 5.5 average goals per game.

From heading in goals, to dribbling past defences for fun this bright talent seems to have it all. He looks to be way more mature than others in terms of finishing and calm and composed as ever. Weighing at 62 kgs at the moment and standing at a height of 6 ft, he plays primarily as a striker but has the ability to drift down the flanks and provide assist too. He is already compared to the likes of Erling Haaland and Karim Benzema due to his style of play and that is some feat in itself at such a relatively early age.

The 14-year-old also featured for AC Milan’s U17 team in a Campionato Nationale B clash against Cittadella in September, where he started the game alongside strike partner Luca Martinazzi, 16. Since then, a limited amount of stats have emerged surrounding the young Italian centre-forward, who has already made his debut for Italy's U15 squad.

"He is the most exciting talent in Milan's youth sector": AC Milan fan

AC Milan fan Fer recently gave a fascinating insight into Camarda's promising career with the Rossoneri. In the Twitter thread, he wrote: "For me, [he is] the most exciting talent in Milan's youth sector. He's obviously pretty young, but this boy is a rocket. Went viral because of his great numbers but it's not just smoke.

"He has everything. He was champion with the U15s last season and he won the award for best player with U14s (underage) at a tournament.

"This year he is supposed to play with the U16s but according to Transfermarkt, he has already played a match with the U17s.

"From what I've seen and read, he's something brutal. A complete striker with good mentality. He's done several interviews and has indicated that he models his game on [Karim] Benzema."

A prospect to monitor for the future, it has been a while since we have witnessed some Italian brilliance in the world of football. The renowned clubs around Europe have already set his eyes on him but it will be very difficult to lure him away from his boyhood club, AC Milan.