JUST IN: Way against the odds to win it? Sunderland wonderkid now in the limelight of potential Stadium of Light history of winning Golden Boy following recent comparison to Euro24 winner Lamine Yamal.
Sunderland’s coaching staff, from the academy to the first team, deserve credit for developing Chris Rigg into one of the most promising young talents in football, not just in England but globally.
The Guardian’s annual list of the “best young talents in world football” features many familiar names, including Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who led Spain to European Championship glory this summer. While Yamal is the standout from La Masia, defender Pau Cubarsi is close behind, also making the list alongside River Plate’s Franco Mastantuono, Manchester United’s Chido-Obi Martin, and Bayern Munich’s Jonah Kusi-Asare.
Then there’s Rigg, one of the few on the list playing regular first-team football and the only player from a club in England’s second tier. At just 17, Rigg has become a key player for Sunderland, with The Guardian praising him as the “heartbeat” of Regis Le Bris’s promotion-chasing team, even outshining fellow talented midfielder Jobe Bellingham.
Sunderland wisely avoids comparing their two young stars, Rigg and Bellingham, who together with Dan Neil, form an impressive midfield trio. Rigg, despite his youth, has started Sunderland’s last eight Championship games and is beginning to add goals to his game, following up his clever backheel winner against Middlesbrough with another goal in a 2-2 draw with Leeds United.
Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman is cautious about placing too much pressure on Rigg, but his former coach, Steven Richardson, is not surprised by his success, having seen Rigg’s skills develop at Hebburn Town’s Futsal team. Richardson describes Rigg as calm, confident, and always giving his all on the pitch, calling him a “diamond” for Sunderland.
Rigg is expected to be one of the first names on the team sheet when Sunderland face Hull City as the Championship season resumes this weekend.