25 Best Young Players in World Football (Ranked)

Sometimes it’s obvious in football which young players are destined for greatness. Lionel Messi is the one example that immediately springs to mind, although there are many others. It was patently clear that the Argentine had the potential to become a world-class footballer just a few years after he joined Barcelona aged 13.

Similarly, there are a handful of youngsters aged 21 or under in 2025 who appear to possess all the tools to become truly great footballers. We’re unlikely to see another Messi-esque talent emerge any time soon, but that doesn’t mean they won’t become outstanding players in their own right.

Ranking factors

We’ve ranked the world’s current best young footballers based on the following criteria:

• Achievements so far at club / international level
• Expected potential

25

Rico Lewis | England, Age 21

Position: Defender. Club: Manchester City. DOB: 21/11/2004.

At such a tender age, Manchester City’s versatile defender 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, something he has perfected over the years.

The youngster made his England senior debut in November 2023, a day before his 19th birthday and Lewis has since featured for the Three Lions on an additional four occasions. At the time of writing, his career – for club and country – has hit something of a roadblock, but it’s not unfair 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.

24

Yan Diomande | Ivory Coast, Age 19

Position: Winger. Club: RB Leipzig. DOB: 14/11/2006.

Signed from Spanish side CD Leganes in the summer of 2025, Yan Diomande has quickly gone about becoming one of the Bundesliga’s brightest prospects. Still only 19-years-old, the left-winger has offered dynamism on the flank for RB Leipzig, scoring six goals and registering five assists in the German top flight at the time of writing.

Along with a further two assists in the DFB-Pokal, Diomande was called up by Ivory Coast for their Africa Cup of Nations campaign and registered a memorable goal against Burkina Faso in the Round of 16. Having earned nine caps already, he is likely to be the future of Les Elephants, and he could be Premier League bound if Liverpool decide to act on their reported interest.

23

Dro Fernandez | Spain, Age 18

Position: Midfielder. Club: Barcelona. DOB: 12/01/2008.

Barcelona’s academy – and for good reason, too – is widely recognised as one of the best in world football. It has produced all manner of world-beating stars over the years and next up could be Dro Fernandez. With him being just 18, it may be too early to predict what the future holds for the attacking midfielder, but he’s already adorned himself to the Camp Nou faithful, despite his very small number of appearances.

Primarily used in the Catalan side’s reverse team, Flick has not hesitated to call him up on several occasions. But his future appears to lie elsewhere, with PSG reportedly reaching an agreement with Barcelona to sign Dro this January.

22

Max Dowman | England, Age 15

Position: Winger. Club: Arsenal. DOB: 31/12/2009.

Where to start with one of the most exciting talents of the last decade? Come rain or shine, you can bet your bottom dollar that Max Dowman, a 15-year-old prodigy fresh out of Arsenal’s academy ranks, will make defenders look foolish in a 90-minute match. His close control is one thing, but the intangible willingness to drive at a defender is second to none. He’s destined to achieve great things in the beautiful game; and we all have front row seats to watch it unfold.

Given that he is still so young, 2025/26 will not be the season where he becomes indispensable under Mikel Arteta – but that’s not to say he won’t become utterly undroppable in years to come. In fact, should he stay on the red half of north London, there is every chance that he becomes one of the best players in the Premier League. Watch this space!

21

Ethan Nwaneri | England, Age 18

Position: Striker/winger. Club: Arsenal (On loan at Marseille). DOB: 21/03/2007.

Ethan Nwaneri had no problems when stepping into the void that Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli’s long-term injuries had left like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Not in his wildest dreams would the 18-year-old have believed anyone if they had told him he would play a crucial part in Arsenal’s 2024/25 season, but he did – and that’s a testament to his innate ability to dazzle and dance in the final third.

Equally capable on his right foot as he is on his left, the teenage sensation makes things happen, and while rivals for his position often lack something in their skillset – whether that be decision-making or the ability to consistently furnish his solo runs with goal contributions – Nwaneri proves he might just have it all. In 26 Premier League games last term, he hit the back of the net four times. Arsenal have since loaned him to Marseille, no doubt hoping that he can improve at the Ligue 1 giants.

20

Kobbie Mainoo | England, 20

Position: Midfielder. Club: Manchester United. DOB: 19/04/2005.

Kobbie Mainoo burst onto the scene with Manchester United during the 2023/24 season and impressed fans and pundits alike with his remarkably mature performances. Many young players struggle when they’re thrust into a team that isn’t firing on all cylinders, but Manchester-born Mainoo saw this as his opportunity to shine and took it with both hands. Under the stewardship of Ruben Amorim, things weren’t as fruitful, but he’s now back in the team under Michael Carrick.

The central midfielder – who turned 20 in April – had forced his way into the England first-team, starting several knockout games for the Three Lions at Euro 2024 and looking comfortable. He may not be in contention for a spot under Thomas Tuchel right now, but that’s not to say he isn’t talented enough. If Mainoo continues to play well under United’s now interim boss, he might yet throw his hat into the ring for the 2026 World Cup.

19

Franco Mastantuono | Argentina, Age 18

Position: Winger. Club: Real Madrid. DOB: 14/08/2007.

It takes something special for Real Madrid to shell out £38.5m on a player who had not even turned 18 yet, but Los Blancos were completely convinced by Franco Mastantuono. Shining in River Plate’s first team as a young prodigy, the winger is widely regarded as the future of Argentinian football, becoming their youngest ever debutant in June 2025.

It’s been a fairly modest start to life at the Santiago Bernabeu, but the 18-year-old did manage to notch his first goal in the Champions League during a 6-1 rout against Monaco. That should be a sign of things to come from Mastantuono, as he continues to develop while learning from the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.

18

Nico Paz | Argentina, Age 21

Position: Forward. Club: Como 1907. DOB: 08/09/2004

Real Madrid are typically brilliant at keeping world football’s brightest talent in their grasp – but that cannot be said for Nico Paz, who is now lighting up Serie A with Cesc Fabregas’ Como 1907. He operates just behind the striker and, so far in 2025/26, has done a terrific job of linking the midfield and forward line of the Italian outfit. Nimble on his feet, the youngster is a joy to watch.

Exclusively chosen by Lionel Messi to be one of ten footballer superstars to wear his newest boots, Paz will be hoping to replicate the brilliance of his compatriot in years to come and the Tottenham Hotspur-linked 21-year-old, who was born in Spain, is on his way to doing so. A six-cap Argentina international already, it is only a matter of time until one of the biggest clubs in Europe swoops in for his signature.

17

Leny Yoro | France, Age 20

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 20-year-old impressed during his first two seasons in Ligue 1 for Lille, catching the eye of Europe’s elite in the process.

Related

Ranking the 15 Most Expensive Centre-Backs in Football History

With the inflation of the transfer market, the price of the centre-backs has exploded in the last few years.

Advertisement

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 gifted Frenchman dominate in the air, but his ability with the ball at his feet is also brilliant for such a tall player. While 2024/25 was a disastrous campaign for the Red Devils, one of the few shining lights was Yoro’s performances and while Rio Ferdinand may not like the comparisons to him, it is easy to see where they come from.

16

Aleksandar Pavlovic | Germany, Age 21

Position: Midfielder. Club: Bayern Munich. DOB: 03/05/2004.

The goalscoring threat of Harry Kane and the dazzling of Michael Olise on the right means that the likes of engine room patroller Aleksandar Pavlovic go under the radar. The young German, who was born in 2004, is the new breed of defensive midfielders – and there are very few young midfielders that possess the same maturity as the Bayern Munich phenom.

Not only is he defensively sound, but he is a brilliant ball-carrier, too, and often breaks the lines to make a difference further afield; an aspect of his game that is of benefit to Vincent Kompany’s spotlight-stealing forwards. He endured his fair share of injury troubles in the 2024/25 campaign but, when fully fit and raring to go, he’s often stationed as the fulcrum of Kompany’s midfield.