25 Best Young Players in World Football (Ranked)
Thewolf
18 – 23 minutes
25 Best Young Players in the World
Rank Player Club Age
1. Lamine Yamal Barcelona 17
2. Jude Bellingham Real Madrid 21
3. Jamal Musiala Bayern Munich 21
4. Florian Wirtz Bayer Leverkusen 21
5. Kobbie Mainoo Manchester United 19
6. Anthony Gordon Newcastle 23
7. Xavi Simons RB Leipzig (On loan from Paris Saint-Germain) 21
8. Arda Guler Real Madrid 19
9. Warren Zaire-Emery Paris Saint-Germain 18
10. Gavi Barcelona 20
11. Alejandro Garnacho Manchester United 20
12. Pau Cubarsi Barcelona 17
13. Joao Neves Paris Saint-Germain 20
14. Benjamin Sesko RB Leipzig 21
15. Harvey Elliott Liverpool 21
16. Marc Casado Barcelona 21
17. Rico Lewis Manchester City 20
18. Leny Yoro Manchester United 19
19. Oscar Bobb Manchester City 21
20 Conor Bradley Liverpool 21
21. Kendry Paez Independiente del Valle 17
22. Rasmus Hojlund Manchester United 21
23. Vitor Roque Real Betis (On Loan From Barcelona) 19
24. Mathys Tel Bayern Munich 19
25. Myles Lewis-Skelly Arsenal 18
Best young players in world football in pictures
25 Myles Lewis-Skelly | England, Age 18
Position: Defender. Club: Arsenal. DOB: 26/09/2006
A number of impressive young talents have come through the doors at Arsenal recently, including Myles Lewis-Skelly. The Englishman, who can play as either a left-back or defensive midfielder, has been predominantly featuring on the left side of defence and has enjoyed a very promising start to his senior career so far.
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Having made his debut for the Gunners in September 2024, coming off the bench during the side’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City in the Premier League, the 18-year-old has made a further six appearances under Mikel Arteta. His most notable performance came in the Champions League, with a stellar showing against Monaco as Arsenal ran riot over their French opponents. Despite his age, Lewis-Skelly showed no signs of feeling the pressure of the occasion in football’s greatest club competition and that bodes well for his future.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – Senior career so far
2024- Arsenal
24 Mathys Tel | France, Age 19
Position: Midfielder. Club: Bayern Munich. DOB: 27/04/2005
Mathys Tel may not be one of the first names on the team sheet at the Allianz Arena, but the youngster often makes a huge impression when he takes to the field. Bayern Munich have a number of gems on their hands and the Frenchman is expected to be one of the many huge stars from their storied conveyor belt of talent in years to come.
He’s still a teenager and has played just over 70 times, and just shy of 80, for the biggest club in Germany at the time of writing, proving he is highly rated in Bavaria circles. Initially joining from Rennes in France, Tel has 22 goal contributions (16 goals; six assists) to his name during his two years for the Bundesliga behemoths.
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Mathys Tel – Senior career so far
2021-2022 Rennes
2022- Bayern Munich
23 Vitor Roque | Brazil, Age 19
Position: Striker. Club: Real Betis (on loan from Barcelona). DOB: 28/02/2005.
Vitor Roque celebrates
To break into the Barcelona team by the age of 19 is impressive, even with the Catalan club flattering to deceive during the 2023/24 season. Vitor Roque has made an impression on the senior squad at Camp Nou with a handful of appearances in La Liga and domestic cup competitions. This campaign around, he’s spending it – albeit on loan – at Real Betis as a means of getting senior minutes on his CV.
There is another youngster at the Spanish club who is grabbing all the headlines – and we will get to him soon – but the Brazilian could be one to quietly go about his business in the background and become a star in his own right. So many unbelievable players have come from Brazil – including the likes of Neymar and Vinicius Junior – two fairly recent examples of world-class superstars to hail from the South American country, and Roque could be seen in a similar light in years to come.
Vitor Roque – Senior career so far
2021-2022 Cruzeiro
2022-2023 Athletico Paranaense
2023- Barcelona
2024- Real Betis (loan)
22 Rasmus Hojlund | Denmark, Age 21
Position: Striker. Club: Manchester United. DOB: 04/02/2003.
It’s been a strange start to life at Manchester United for Rasmus Hojlund, who joined the Red Devils in the summer of 2023 for an eye-watering £72 million from Italian outfit Atalanta. No player scored more goals than the young Dane during the 2023-24 Champions League group stages, despite the fact that his side finished rock bottom of Group A.
However, the 21-year-old found scoring goals much tougher in the Premier League. It took him 15 appearances in England’s top division before he finally got himself on the scoresheet. Nevertheless, it’s clear that Hojlund is a diamond in the rough, far from the finished article, but he does possess all the attributes you’d want to see in a promising young centre-forward: pace, power, intelligence, sharp movement, and so on. Don’t be surprised if Man Utd’s current No. 11 eventually blossoms into one of Europe’s best strikers.
Rasmus Hojlund – Senior career so far
2020-2022 Copenhagen
2022 Sturm Graz
2022-2023 Atalanta
2023- Manchester United
21 Kendry Paez | Ecuador, Age 17
Position: Midfielder. Club: Independiente del Valle. DOB: 04/05/2007.
Kendry Paez of Ecuador celebrates vs Fiji
Kendry Paez will be coming to the Premier League in 2025 after Chelsea struck an agreement to bring the wonderkid to Stamford Bridge from Independiente del Valle. He was just 15 years old when that deal was agreed for just shy of £20 million.
Chelsea wonderkid Kendry Paez
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While that may seem like an extortionate fee for such a young player, Paez is expected to reach a world-class level in the future and fans could look back on that as some of the best business in recent memory. The Ecuadorian midfielder’s incredible touch and ball control are among his best features. The biggest moment of his young career came when Paez led his team to victory in the final of the Copa Milo Mitad del Mundo 2022.
Kendry Paez – Senior career so far
2023 – 2025 Independiente del Valle
20 Conor Bradley | Northern Ireland, Age 21
Position: Defender. Club: Liverpool. DOB: 09/07/2003.
Imagine having to step in for Trent Alexander-Arnold and making it look seamless. Welcome to 21-year-old Conor Bradley’s world. The Northern Irishman has been thrown in the deep end by new boss Arne Slot after getting his first taste of senior football under Jurgen Klopp last term.
Dynamic, able to play further afield while ensuring his defensive duties are fulfilled, the 2003-born right-back certainly has a bright future ahead of him, irrespective of what the aforementioned Englishman’s future holds. What Bradley has shown in his limited minutes is that he’s capable, both physically and technically, of playing at the highest level. Just ask Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe.
Conor Bradley – Senior career so far
2021- Liverpool
2022-23 Bolton (loan)
19 Marc Casado | Spain, Age 21
Position: Midfielder. Club: Barcelona. DOB: 14/09/2003.
Marc Casado
The latest of a long line of technically gifted Spanish midfielders to be produced at Camp Nou, Marc Casado is starting to catch the eye with his impressive performances under Hansi Flick. There’s fierce competition for a place in the Barcelona midield, but don’t be surprised to see the 21-year-old claim a regular spot in the years to come.
In the same mold as Xavi and Sergio Busquets, Casado is one of the most composed players around in possession of the ball, while possessing the intelligence to pick up space anywhere on the pitch. La Masia have struck gold once again with this midfield gem.
Marc Casado – Senior career so far
2022 – 2024 Barcelona B
2022 – Present Barcelona
18 Oscar Bobb | Norway, Age 21
Position: Winger. Club: Manchester City. DOB: 12/07/2003.
Oscar Bobb
You have to be an extraordinary talent to force your way into Manchester City’s attacking line-up at the age of 21 – and that’s precisely what Oscar Bobb is. The Norway international, who joined City in 2019, played 26 times for the Premier League champions during a breakthrough 2023-24 campaign, scoring two goals in the process.
In the absence of various City players who competed at Euro 2024 and the Copa America, Bobb made the most of his opportunities in pre-season to impress Pep Guardiola and went on to produce a Man of the Match performance against Manchester United in the Community Shield. A long-term injury suffered in pre-season denied Bobb the chance to put his stamp on the Citizens’ starting team.
Oscar Bobb – Senior career so far
2023- Manchester City
17 Leny Yoro | France, Age 19
Position: Defender. Club: Manchester United. DOB: 13/11/2005.
Leny Yoro was linked with some of the biggest clubs in world football, including Real Madrid and Liverpool, but it was Manchester United who won the race to sign the young French defender. The 18-year-old impressed during his first two seasons in Ligue 1 for Lille, catching the eye of Europe’s elite in the process.
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Yoro played 44 games in all competitions during the 2023/24 season and showed his versatility by playing as a centre-back and even as a defensive midfielder. His 6ft 2in frame helps the Frenchman dominate in the air, but his ability with the ball at his feet is also brilliant for such a tall player. Yoro looked set to partner Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt in the Red Devils’ three-man back-line, replacing compatriot Raphael Varane, but was sidelined for three months after sustaining a foot injury in pre-season.
Leny Yoro – Senior career so far
2022-2024 LOSC Lille
2024- Manchester United
16 Rico Lewis | England, Age 19
Position: Defender. Club: Manchester City. DOB: 21/11/2004.
Manchester City’s Rico Lewis enjoyed a breakthrough season during the 2022-23 campaign and has already been handed several opportunities to impress. To be a regular in Pep Guardiola’s talent-laden side, you must have something special about you. A defender by trade, the Spaniard’s blueprint often leads Lewis to move infield to perform the inverted full-back role.
The youngster made his England senior debut in November 2023, a day before his 19th birthday. Lewis featured over 15 times in the league last season and even scored his first senior goal in a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace back in December. It’s fair to say that the sky’s the limit for the defender, who is already regarded as one of the best English teenagers in the sport.
Rico Lewis – Senior career so far
2022- Manchester City
15 Harvey Elliott | England, Age 21
Position: Midfielder. Club: Liverpool. DOB: 04/04/2003.
Harvey Elliott was signed by Liverpool in the transfer window immediately following the club’s sixth Champions League success in 2019. Former Reds helsman Klopp transformed the youngster and changed his role from an exciting winger to an extremely gifted and hard-working midfield player.
The Englishman doesn’t have the blistering pace of other players to occupy the wing positions, but the decision to have him move into a deeper role has been an inspired one for his development. Getting regular minutes in a newly revamped Liverpool midfield is a testament to the talent Elliott has with the ball at his feet. He covers a lot of ground in the Reds’ high-pressing system.
Harvey Elliott – Senior career so far
2018-2019 Fulham
2019- Liverpool
2020-2021 Blackburn Rovers (loan)
14 Benjamin Sesko | Slovenia, Age 21
Position: Striker. Club: RB Leipzig. DOB: 31/05/2023.
RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko in action
Benjamin Sesko idolises Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and it’s easy to see why. Like the Swede, he is an all-round striker: he’s quick, he boasts a powerful frame and is adept in front of goal with both his feet and his head. To put it simply, Sesko has all the traits to become one of the very best strikers in the world.
The Slovenian, who is closing in on 100 goals in professional football, has already established himself as a key player for both club and country. In recent times, he has drawn interest from clubs including Arsenal and, even though he decided to stay at RB Leizpig and extend his contract until 2029, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him make the step up to one of Europe’s best clubs soon.
Benjamin Sesko – Senior career so far
2019-2023 Red Bull Salzburg
2019-2021 FC Liefering (loan)
2023-present Red Bull Leipzig
13 Joao Neves | Portugal, Age 20
Position: Midfielder. Club: PSG. DOB: 27/09/2004.
Joao Neves for PSG
Joao Neves has been touted as a future star for over a year now, as the midfield lynchpin reportedly attracted interest from elite clubs around Europe. Paris Saint-Germain won the race to sign the cultured midfielder in the summer, beating the likes of Manchester United to his signature.
He was involved for Portugal at Euro 2024, which is an impressive feat when considering the vast array of talent at Roberto Martinez’s disposal in the engine room. The 20-year-old has impressed for his club in both domestic and continental competitions, catching the eye with his ability to get stuck in and win the ball back as well as his keen eye for a pass.
Joao Neves – Senior career so far
2022- Benfica
12 Pau Cubarsi | Spain, Age 17
Position: Defender. Club: Barcelona. DOB: 22/01/2007
Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy has produced some extraordinary talent over the years. After one youngster breaks through, it’s only a matter of time before another is handed an opportunity to impress. Very few would’ve heard the name Pau Cubarsi at the start of the 2023-24 campaign, but he’s now the latest player to follow in the footsteps of Pedri, Gavi, and Lionel Messi and break into the first team.
The 17-year-old intelligent defender has already been handed his senior debut with his beloved Spain, coming on against Colombia in March 2024. In doing so, he became the youngest ever player to play for the national side. The centre-back appears to have an incredibly bright future ahead of him.
Pau Cubarsi – Senior career so far
2023 – 2024 Barcelona B
2024- Barcelona
11 Alejandro Garnacho | Argentina, Age 20
Position: Winger. Club: Manchester United. DOB: 01/07/2004.
Alejandro Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho is currently in the process of taking his game to the next level with Manchester United. The Madrid-born winger, who has represented Argentina’s senior national team on eight occasions, scored one of the greatest goals in Premier League history during the 2023-24 campaign: a mind-blowing overhead kick against Everton which deservedly earned him November’s Goal of the Month award.
Garnacho’s direct dribbling style and fearless nature has made him a firm fan favourite already at Old Trafford. There are a couple of areas of his game that require fine-tuning, but the 20-year-old has the potential to become one of the world’s best wingers if everything clicks.
Alejandro Garnacho – Senior career so far
2022- Manchester United
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10 Gavi | Spain, Age 20
Position: Midfielder. Club: Barcelona. DOB: 05/08/2004.
Gavi is seen as the future of Spanish football alongside a couple of other players to make this list. The young midfielder has all the skills required to make it to the top and stay there for several years. Even with his smaller frame, his aggression is off the charts, with the 20-year-old more than holding his own in midfield against much bigger players than him.
In August 2021, the midfielder – once a winner of the prestigious Kopa Trophy – made his La Liga debut at the age of 17, which was very impressive until he was overshadowed by Lamine Yamal two years later. There is a confidence within the youngster that borders on arrogance in the way he has opposing players chasing shadows in a desperate attempt to win possession from him. The Barcelona midfield will feature Gavi for the next decade, at least, with the club managing to tie him down to a new contract.
Gavi – Senior career so far
2021 Barcelona B
2021- Barcelona
9 Warren Zaire-Emery | France, Age 18
Position: Midfielder. Club: Paris Saint-Germain. DOB: 08/03/2006.
It says a lot that 18-year-old midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery has already broken into Paris Saint-Germain’s senior team and became one of the first names on the team sheet during the 2023-24 campaign. With all the money that’s been invested into building a team capable of competing for the Champions League, to trust such a young player to be a huge part of the club’s plans is a huge show of faith from manager Luis Enrique.
Zaire-Emery looks like an experienced and cultured player in the middle of the park with the composure of a seasoned veteran and the running power of a peak athlete. His ability to bring the ball forward and dominate games from the middle of the park showcase exciting signs that are on the horizon for the years to come, in which the French midfielder could be the focal point of the PSG team for the next 15 years.
Warren Zaire-Emery – Senior career so far
2022- Paris Saint-Germain
8 Arda Guler | Turkey, Age 19
Position: Midfielder. Club: Real Madrid. DOB: 25/02/2005.
The biggest compliment that can be paid to teenage wonderkid Arda Guler came when a former youth coach claimed the Real Madrid starlet has ‘more potential than Messi’, according to Football Espana. The coach in question was Erol Tokgozler, who worked with Guler at the age of 13 before his move to Fenerbahce. Tokgozler said:
“Messi is the greatest I have ever seen and Arda has great abilities. Messi has already achieved everything and Arda still has to do it all, he is still a child. But if we talk about potential purely, Arda has more potential than Messi. Although he still has a long way to go.”
It’s almost unfathomable that a 19-year-old who has only played 26 games for Real Madrid at the time of writing – mainly due to an injury sustained upon his arrival – could come anywhere near the level of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. Guler certainly did catch the eye of many during his time playing in Turkey by contributing 21 goals in only 51 games for Fenerbahce.
Arda Guler – Senior career so far
2021-2023 Fenerbahce
2023- Real Madrid
7 Xavi Simons | Netherlands, Age 21
Position: Midfielder. Club: RB Leipzig (on loan). DOB: 21/04/2003.
RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons
By the time Xavi Simons was 13 years old, he’d already amassed 300,000 followers on Instagram. When he turned 17, in 2020, that number rocketed to 2.4 million. The son of footballer Regillio Simons, Xavi – who was named after the midfield legend – caught the eye as a gifted youngster at Barcelona and appeared destined to break through into the first team at Camp Nou.
But after failing to agree terms on a professional contract, Simons made the controversial switch to Paris Saint-Germain. He left the Parc des Princes in 2022 and spent a season with PSV Eindhoven, where he flourished and ultimately convinced PSG to activate their buy-back clause. The young midfielder made a big impact with the Netherlands at Euro 2024 as his nation reached the semi-finals.
Xavi Simons – Senior career so far
2021-2022 Paris Saint-Germain
2022-2023 PSV
2023- Paris Saint-Germain
2023- RB Leipzig (loan)