Will there ever be a next generation of the Mighty Magyars?

© Wim van Rossem for Anefo

Much has been written about the so-called "Mighty Magyars," the great Hungarian football team of the 1950s, who were among the most successful in history. Recently that was followed by a question whether there can be a new generation of players and sportsmen as successful as these Mighty Magyars.

Who were the original Mighty Magyars?

The original Mighty Magyars were a Hungarian football team that dominated European football in the 1950s. The team was made up of players from different Hungarian clubs, and they were managed by legendary coach Gusztáv Sebes. The Mighty Magyars were renowned for their attacking style of play, and they won numerous trophies during their time together, including the Olympic gold medal in 1952 and the 1954 World Cup. The team's success came to an end in 1956 when they lost to West Germany in the World Cup final, but their legacy continues to this day.

What is the current state of Hungarian football?

The current state of Hungarian football is not as strong as it once was. The national team has not qualified for a major tournament since the 1986 World Cup, and they have only won one game in the last five years. The domestic league is also in a bit of a slump, with attendance numbers down and financial problems plaguing many of the clubs. However, there are still some bright spots in Hungarian football. The U-21 team recently won the European Championship, and there are some talented young players coming through the ranks. With a bit of time and patience, Hungarian football could be back on track. Here are some of the most promising Hungarian football players right now:

Roland Sallai

At Puskás Akadémia, Sallai played from 2014 until the summer of 2017 and helped the team to win the Hungarian League in 2015. In his first season there, he debuted against Pécs on 1 August 2014 and scored his first goal in league play on 14 September 2014 against Ferencváros. On 31 August 2018, Sallai signed a four-year deal with Bundesliga club, SC Freiburg for €4.5 million. On September 22nd, he scored on his debut against Wolfsburg and won a penalty in the first 4 minutes. This resulted in him being named player of the week and making it into the Bundesliga team of the week for week 3. In November 2018 he started complaining about injury and missed five months worth of games. He made his return to action from off the bench on May 5th against Fortuna Düsseldorf in the 39th minute. He made his full international debut on 20 May 2016 when Hungary played Ivory Coast in a friendly match at the Groupama Arena in Budapest. He was named to their preliminary Euro 2016 squad, but wasn't picked for the final team. On 11 September 2018, he scored his first goal for the Hungarian national team against Greece during UEFA Nations League C competition.

Dominik Szoboszlai

Born in Budapest, Hungary on October 25th, 2000, Dominik Szoboszlai has played for both Hungarian and German teams. He currently plays for RB Leipzig of the Bundesliga and the Hungarian national team. Szoboszlai started his professional career in 2017 with Austrian club FC Liefering, the reserve team of Red Bull Salzburg. He established himself as a regular starter at Red Bull Salzburg during the 2018–19 season and played a major role in three successive league titles, two cups and debuting with the parent club. In January 2021, Szoboszlai moved to RB Leipzig for €20 million, becoming Hungary's most expensive player ever and retaining his link to the Red Bull Salzburg system Szoboszlai represented Hungary for both the youth and senior levels, competing internationally against other countries. His debut as a senior player was at Euro 2020 qualifiers and his performance helped ensure that his country advanced to the finals by scoring in the last minute against Iceland.

Attila Szalai

A center-back for Fenerbahce and the Hungarian national team, Attila Árpád Szalai was born in Hungary on January 20, 1998. On 17 January 2021, Szalai signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Fenerbahçe. In his first game - on 25 January 2021 against Kayserispor at the Ülker Arena - he scored the opening goal. On 8 March 2021, he scored his first goal in the Süper Lig against Konyaspor at the Konya Büyükşehir Stadium on the 29th matchday of the 2020–21 Süper Lig season. Playing in his first game for Hungary, Szalai appeared in a friendly against Uruguay. He was substituted for Botond Baráth in the 72nd minute.

The interest in football and sports betting in Hungary is increasing rapidly

The interest in football and sports betting in Hungary is increasing rapidly. This is due to the fact that there are many people who are interested in both sports and gambling. The combination of these two factors has resulted in a large number of people becoming interested in football and sports betting in Hungary.

Can Hungary's national football team become successful again in the near future?

While Hungary has some interesting talent, they currently do not match the amount of talented players of the big football nations like Brazil, Spain, England, France or Germany. It's therefore very unlikely for them to catch up with the football elite and have a new generation of the famous Mighty Magyars.