The 20 best teenagers in world football have been ranked – in order

You know the phrase: out with the old, in with the new. And that bodes well in the footballing world, especially when there is a boatload of talented youngsters waiting patiently in the wings for their shot at senior action or are already tearing it up. Teenagers often bring a different layer of possibility to a team: a tireless work ethic, the willingness to bust a gut, a penchant for grasping every opportunity with every fibre in their body – aspects that often go amiss in more established senior players.

But not all academy prospects get that chance because, well, football is a business at the end of the day and, despite the warm feeling of a youngster being promoted to senior action, the best players tend to get game time, irrespective of age. It’s as simple as that.

That being said, there are a host of teenage phenomenons currently stamping their authority in the Premier League and elsewhere in the world – from ever-flourishing defenders to midfielders wise beyond their years to forwards that just have that knack for goalscoring. And to celebrate their talent, GIVEMESPORT have assembled a list of the 20 best teenagers in world football – ranked in order.

1 Lamine Yamal

Barcelona and Spain

Being produced by the same academy set-up that formed the brilliance of Lionel Messi that all football fans know and adore is no easy feat. The pressure, especially at just 17 years of age, is enough to make the finest of footballers crumble, but not Yamal. He has taken to senior life in Blaugrana like a duck to water.

The teen phenomenon featured in 50 games for Barcelona last season and his 17 goal contributions were an insane return for a 16-year-old. While opponents currently consider his story awe-inspiring, that will not be the case for much longer should he continue this stratospheric trajectory.

After a stellar showing at Euro 2024, Yamal also now holds the record for youngest player to appear at a European Championship, the youngest player to score at a European Championship, and also the youngest-ever player to start a major international tournament final – which broke a 66-year record previously held by none other than Pele. Generational.

2 Pau Cubarsi

Barcelona and Spain

Emerging as Inigo Martinez’s partner in crime in the heart of the Barcelona defence has been 18-year-old Pau Cubarsi – 16 years the aforementioned defender’s junior. Not overly imposing at just 6ft tall, the youngster’s modern-looking traits set him up to be a long-term option for La Masia in the future – and, in fact, right now.

An unbelievable passer of the ball, too, there are not many that have the ability to perform at the levels that he is able to. He also possesses a layer of freshness, thanks to his age, which sees him able to keep up with some of La Liga’s speedsters – an invaluable idiosyncrasy which propels him to another level among his positional peers who are of a similar age.

3 Warren Zaire-Emery

Paris Saint-Germain and France

Out goes Marco Verratti, in goes Warren Zaire-Emery – almost a like-for-like replacement – meaning that the Italian’s departure in September 2023 has gone somewhat unnoticed. In a team bolstered by players with staggering price tags and heaps of elite-level experience, the 19-year-old waltzed into the centre of the park and hasn’t looked out of place for one minute.

Embodying the ‘old head on young shoulders’ phrase, the importance of Zaire-Emery in the Paris-based side highlights a changing of the guard as he represents a commanding figure, despite only just being old enough to buy a pint in most countries. He can dictate games better than some of Europe’s most seasoned midfielders. Scary hours for those in the French top division, and PSG will face a stern test in keeping it for much longer than this term.

4 Endrick

Real Madrid and Brazil

Endrick really announced his name on the international stage against England. A cute finish, the youngster – just 18 years of age – notched home the only goal of the game, and it’s no surprise that Real Madrid secured his signature so early into his career. Since putting pen to paper for Los Blancos, game time may have been scarce but courted as ‘one for the future’ and the glittering Brazilian has plenty of years left in the tank.

Born in 2006, the world really is Endrick’s oyster. He has already cemented his name in Palmeiras mythology – but his career is poised to reach potentially unrivalled heights since arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu last summer. No doubt one of the most exciting prospects in world football, the 14-cap, three-goal international could go on to become on the same level as Brazil greats. Watch this space.

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5 Myles Lewis-Skelly

Arsenal and England

For the longest time, Arsenal have had issues at left-back, but that now appears to be a thing of the past with Myles Lewis-Skelly’s emergence this season. The teenager has burst onto the scene at the club and is showing wisdom and composure well beyond his years so far.

His ability to drive forward has caused problems for his opponents this season and he rarely looks out of his depth despite his age. His masterclass against Manchester City underlined what has been an excellent campaign so far for Lewis-Skelly and if he continues to progress at the level he is right now, the Gunners will have another major star on their hands.

6 Desire Doue

Paris Saint-Germain and France

In a modern world where the tricksters and technically gifted are shoved to the side, those in the mold of Desire Doue are a dying breed. An Angers-born winger, signed by PSG in the summer just gone, what he may lack in goal contributions is made up for in regular flashes of brilliance – which often leave defenders bamboozled, in the dust and without a chance of thwarting him.

Likened to none other than Ronaldinho, inarguably one of the most entertaining footballers to ever grace the turf, the twinkle-toed 19-year-old has all the tools to become the next best thing to come out of his native France – especially given he has the knack of working diligently both in and out of possession.

7 Kobbie Mainoo

Manchester United and England

At the tender age of 19, Kobbie Mainoo has emerged as one of Manchester United’s most important players, and he can often be seen instructing the more seasoned heads in Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro. His consistency in the engine room was quickly noticed by Gareth Southgate, who duly handed him his senior England debut during the Three Lions’ 1-0 loss against Brazil, before he then took up a starting position next to Declan Rice during the knockout stages of EURO 2024.

Despite being thrown in at the deep end, particularly during a season of mass transition at Old Trafford, the Stockport-born ace has been a cut above the rest in midfield, dictating games and keeping it simple. Destined to become a club legend in years to come, the cool and collected Mainoo is deceptively strong thanks to his small frame – but what we’ve borne witness to is, surely, just the start, even if the 2024/25 campaign is yet to bear any fruits for the maestro.

8 Jorrel Hato

Ajax and Netherlands

2023/24 wasn’t necessarily a great season for Ajax – the Dutch club was nowhere near their best last year, and at points earlier in the campaign, relegation looked like a real possibility. They turned things around somewhat, though, and finished fifth in the league. It’s still not great, but one major positive is the emergence of Jorrel Hato as a regular fixture in senior proceedings at the capital outfit.

The 19-year-old played 46 times for his club last season and has taken to first-team football seamlessly. He’s already showing maturity well beyond his years and should be a key figure for Ajax for years to come. Or until one of Europe’s biggest clubs eventually comes knocking and snaps him up in a high-profile move – as tends to usually be the case.

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9 Ethan Nwaneri

Arsenal and England

The second major breakthrough at the Emirates this season is Ethan Nwaneri. Arsenal fans have been calling for the forward to be handed more opportunities in the first-team and he’s more than made the most of his chances since. Mikel Arteta has a very talented young man on his hands with Nwaneri.

The 17-year-old has already scored seven times for the Gunners across 22 appearances in all competitions this season and with the club needing a prolific goalscorer leading the front lines, he might be the perfect candidate for the job as he continues to develop into a world-class footballer.

10 Dean Huijsen

Bournemouth and Spain

Huijsen has the world at his feet. After coming through the youth ranks at Juventus, Bournemouth completed a €15.2 million move for Huijsen in the summer of 2024 and he quickly justified that price tag and more. The Spanish centre-back, just 19 years old, has quickly emerged into one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and is a major reason why the Cherries are flying high in the top half of England’s top-flight.

Huijsen, who recently made his debut for Spain, has attracted the attention of many of the world’s biggest clubs, with Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester City among the clubs linked. It wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see him on the move this summer.

11-20

Just missing out on the top ten is Tyler Dibling and Leny Yoro. The Premier League pair have impressed despite their young ages this season. Kendry Paez and Willian Estevao, who is also soon to be in the English top flight, follow suit in 13th and 14th while Kenan Yildiz – who has been a revelation for the Old Lady this season while also producing the goods for his nation, Turkey – takes 15th.

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Archie Gray just misses out on the top 15, while his teammate Mathys Tel, who is on loan at Spurs from Bayern Munich, follows him in 17th. Westham Ollie Scarles, Norway sensation Antonio Nusa and 19-year-old Claudio Echeverri round out the rest of the top 20 with all three almost certainly guaranteed for bright futures.