The transition from talented young prospect to bonafide star is an extremely challenging one. Plenty of brilliant youth players have flamed out when they reach the senior game, failing to establish a foothold of playing time at their respective team, eventually reaching their mid-20s without ever having been a regular starter, everyone waiting on them to figure it out.
As a teenager breaking into the first-team set-up, the entire perspective is different. The pressure is off. There is little expectation to perform. Appearances come in lesser competitions, not the amped-up league and European matches that veterans play.