The Guardian on Wednesday, October 5 unveiled a series identifying some of the best young players born in 1999. Aming them is Armenian footballer, attacking midfielder currently playing for FC Shirak Vahan Bichakhchyan who is considered by some to be as talented as his countryman Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Mkhitaryan captains the Armenian national team and was recently transferred from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United.

“Bichakhchyan was handed his senior debut at the age of 16 for Shirak. He came on as a substitute in the Europa League first qualifying round second leg against Georgia's Dila Gori and scored a screamer to help the team progress to the next stage. The goal made him the youngest Armenian to score in Europe,” The Guardian says.

“Used mainly as right winger, his style is similar to Kevin De Bruyne's: he has a good eye for goal and is always ready to take on opponents one-on-one, also reminding observers of a young Wayne Rooney.”

Bichakhchyan had, by mid-September, scored two goals and provided one assist in eight matches in this debut season for Shirak and had precisely the same stats for Armenia Under-19s after being considered too good for the Under-17s.