As the world welcomes the Year of the Horse (2026), the footballing landscape finds itself dominated by a generation entering its absolute prime.
In Asian culture, the Horse represents energy, speed, freedom, and an unbridled spirit. There is no better way to celebrate this Lunar New Year than by assembling the ultimate team of players born during the previous Year of the Water Horse (February 12, 2002 to January 31, 2003).
This is not just a list of 22-year-olds; it is a curated selection based on the strict Lunar calendar. Many superstars born in January 2002, such as Joško Gvardiol or Piero Hincapié, miss the cut as they belong to the Year of the Snake. Similarly, talents like Jude Bellingham (June 2003) are Goats.
What remains is a squad of “Thoroughbreds” – a team defined by explosive pace, tireless stamina, and technical elegance.
From the gates of Old Trafford to the lights of the Bernabéu, here is the Ultimate Horse XI.
Goalkeeper: Senne Lammens (Manchester United)
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Date of Birth: July 7, 2002
With Manchester United’s goalmouth becoming a source of anxiety due to the struggles of Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir, the signing of Senne Lammens was met with raised eyebrows. How could a relatively unknown Belgian succeed where established names had failed?
Yet, Lammens wasted no time in proving his worth, bringing a rare sense of calm and security to the defense. His impact has been so profound that fans have begun comparing him to a club legend, singing: ‘Are you Peter Schmeichel in disguise?’
And he’s not just about saving goals – fun fact: Lammens once scored a dramatic header against Real Madrid in the UEFA Youth League!”
- Substitutes: Bart Verbruggen (Netherlands – 18 August 2002, Brighton & Hove Albion), James Trafford (England – 10 October 2002, Manchester City)
Right Back: Tino Livramento (Newcastle United)
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Date of Birth: November 12, 2002
The Newcastle United full-back is the personification of the Horse’s endurance. Having overcome serious injuries early in his career, Livramento has returned faster and stronger, cementing himself as one of the finest right-backs in Europe.
In this XI, Livramento provides the width. With Cole Palmer cutting inside from the right wing, Livramento has the entire flank to himself. His ability to recover defensively after a 60-yard sprint is unmatched, ensuring the team is never exposed to counter-attacks.
He is a relentless machine who gallops up and down the touchline for 90 minutes without breaking a sweat.
- Substitutes: Trai Hume (Northern Ireland – 18 March 2002, Sunderland)
Center Back: Murillo (Nottingham Forest)
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Date of Birth: July 4, 2002
Every artistic team needs a bodyguard, and Murillo is exactly that.
Since joining Nottingham Forest, the Brazilian has developed a reputation as a defender you simply do not want to mess with. He combines the brute force of a warhorse with the technical flair typical of his nationality.
Murillo is aggressive. He steps out of the defensive line to crush attacks before they begin, using his low center of gravity and immense upper-body strength to dispossess strikers.
However, his “superpower” is his left foot. His diagonal long balls are a weapon, allowing him to switch play instantly to the speedy wingers on the opposite side.
- Substitutes: Jarrad Branthwaite (England – 27 June 2002, Everton),
Center Back: Illya Zabarnyi (Paris Saint-Germain)
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Date of Birth: September 1, 2002
Partnering the aggressive Murillo is the calm, composed presence of Illya Zabarnyi.
His transfer to PSG was a statement of intent, and he has flourished under the bright lights of the Champions League. While Murillo engages the enemy, Zabarnyi sweeps up the danger.
Born in the autumn of the Year of the Horse, Zabarnyi plays with a maturity far beyond his years. He rarely goes to ground, preferring to shepherd attackers away from goal using positioning and intelligence. His pass completion rate is often in the high 90s, making him the perfect platform for building attacks from the back.
- Substitutes: Castello Lukeba (France – 17 December 2002, RB Leipzig)
Left Back: Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain)
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Date of Birth: June 19, 2002
Completing the PSG connection on the left side is Nuno Mendes. There are fast players, and then there is Nuno Mendes.
His acceleration is terrifying, capable of turning a defensive clearance into a goalscoring opportunity in seconds. In this system, Mendes operates almost as a second winger. His chemistry with Bradley Barcola (also at PSG) is telepathic.
Defensively, his recovery speed means he can afford to play high up the pitch. He represents the free-spirited nature of the Horse – uncontainable and always looking forward.
- Substitutes: Riccardo Calafiori (Italy – 19 May 2002, Arsenal)
Defensive Midfield (CDM): Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool)
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Date of Birth: May 16, 2002
The renaissance of Ryan Gravenberch at Liverpool has been one of the stories of the season. Under Arne Slot, he has been reinvented from a box-to-box midfielder into a deep-lying playmaker (a modern #6). He anchors this midfield not with tackling, but with resistance to pressing.
Gravenberch glides past opponents with a long stride that is deceptively fast – a classic “Horse” trait. When surrounded by opposition players, he uses his frame to shield the ball before spinning away and driving forward.
He is the heartbeat of the team, dictating the tempo and ensuring the transition from defense to attack is seamless.
- Substitutes: Nico Gonzalez (Spain – 3 January 2002, Manchester City)
Central Midfield (CM): Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid)
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Date of Birth: November 10, 2002
“When in doubt, call Camavinga.”
It is a testament to the Frenchman’s incredible versatility. Whenever Los Blancos face a personnel crisis, Camavinga is the first to step up, seamlessly filling voids – even operating as a makeshift left-back when duty calls.
Regardless of where he plays, his performance is always reliable – underpinned by boundless stamina, a unique blend of high football IQ and physical grit.
While he continues to polish his game to reach undisputed superstar status, there is no denying that Camavinga is already a world-class operator in the heart of the Real Madrid machine.\
- Substitutes: Elliot Anderson (England – 6 November 2002, Nottingham Forest)
Attacking Midfield (CAM): Pedri (Barcelona)
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Date of Birth: November 25, 2002
If the rest of the team relies on physical speed, Pedri relies on speed of thought. The Barcelona prodigy operates in the “hole” behind the striker. He is the creative hub, the player who sees passes that don’t exist on television screens.
Pedri’s inclusion shifts the dynamic of the team, having the license to roam free. His delicate through-balls are the perfect ammunition for the pacy forwards ahead of him.
He is the elegance amidst the power, the “Golden Boy” of the Golden Generation.
- Substitutes: Morgan Rogers (England – 26 July 2002, Aston Villa)
Right Winger (RW): Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
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Date of Birth: May 6, 2002
Does Man City regret letting Cole Palmer go?
It was not by chance that Chelsea spent up to €47 million to secure the services of Cole Palmer – who was then still too young to break into the star-studded squad of the Cityzens. Naturally, this signing later turned out to be a bargain.
In his very first season at Stamford Bridge, Palmer scored 25 goals – 22 in the Premier League, just 5 behind Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland. As of now, the attacker born in 2002 remains an indispensable name for Chelsea on their journey to conquer titles.
From the right wing, Palmer has destroyed Premier League defenses for Chelsea. As a left-footed player on the right, his natural inclination is to cut inside, acting as a second playmaker.
Palmer’s vision allows him to curl crosses to the far post or unleash curling shots into the top corner. His nickname, “Cold Palmer”, reflects his temperament; in high-pressure moments.
- Substitutes: Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast – 11 July 2002, Manchester United)
Left Winger (LW): Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain)
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Date of Birth: September 2, 2002
Bradley Barcola is a direct, terrifying runner. Since the departure of Kylian Mbappé, Barcola has stepped up as PSG’s main threat from the wide areas.
While Palmer slows the game down to create, Barcola speeds it up to destroy. He excels in 1v1 situations, using his long strides to bypass full-backs with ease. His synergy with Nuno Mendes creates an overload on the left that is virtually impossible to defend against.
He provides the pure, unadulterated speed that defines the Year of the Horse.
- Substitutes: Jeremy Doku (Belgium – 27 May 2002, Manchester City)
Striker (ST): Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool)
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Date of Birth: June 20, 2002
After rediscovering his lethal touch in the Bundesliga at Eintracht Frankfurt, Ekitike’s move to Merseyside has been nothing short of a revelation.
In fact, he is the perfect number 9 for any modern systems: tall (1.90m), deceptively fast, and technically gifted. Ekitike doesn’t just wait in the box; he drops deep to link up with other attackers before spinning to attack the space behind defenders.
Just look at his significantly sharpened scoring record during his debut campaign at Anfield – Ekitike clearly possesses the potential to ascend even further.
- Substitues: Nick Woltemade (Germany – 14 February 2002, Newcastle United)
Here is the Ultimate Horse XI by 52Hz Football:
