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 2024 who appear to possess all the tools to become truly great footballers. We’re unlikely to see another Messi 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:
Only players aged 21 or under at the time of writing qualify for the list. This means there’s no longer a place on the list for the likes of Erling Haaland, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Vinicius Jr, Bukayo Saka and so on.
25 Best Young Players in the World
Rank
Player
Club
Age
1
Jude Bellingham
Real Madrid
21
2
Jamal Musiala
Bayern Munich
21
3
Lamine Yamal
Barcelona
17
4
Eduardo Camavinga
Real Madrid
21
5
Pedri
Barcelona
21
6
Florian Wirtz
Bayer Leverkusen
21
7
Arda Guler
Real Madrid
19
8
Endrick
Real Madrid
17
9
Kobbie Mainoo
Manchester United
19
10
Xavi Simons
Paris Saint-Germain
21
11
Warren Zaire-Emery
Paris Saint-Germain
18
12
Gavi
Barcelona
19
13
Alejandro Garnacho
Manchester United
20
14
Joao Neves
Benfica
19
15
Harvey Elliott
Liverpool
21
16
Leny Yoro
LOSC Lille (Man Utd TBC)
18
17
Kendry Paez
Independiente del Valle
17
18
Rasmus Hojlund
Manchester United
21
19
Vitor Roque
Barcelona
19
20
Pau Cubarsi
Barcelona
17
21
Mathys Tel
Bayern Munich
19
22
Rico Lewis
Manchester City
19
23
Levi Colwill
Chelsea
21
24
Evan Ferguson
Brighton
19
25
Conor Bradley
Liverpool
21
25Conor Bradley | Northern Ireland, Age 21
Position: Defender. Club: Liverpool. DOB: 09/07/2003.
Liverpool haven’t been shy when it comes to introducing young players to first-team football during the 2023/24 campaign. Conor Bradley was one of the youngsters to benefit from the multiple injury issues the Reds had in the previous campaign.
Stepping in to fill the massive void left by Trent Alexander-Arnold at various points in the season, the Northern Ireland international brought energy and passion to the Reds’ title charge. A loan spell at Bolton Wanderers in League One just one year ago was brilliant for the development of the right-back, who now looks extremely comfortable at Premier League level. Not only has he netted his first goal for his club, but Bradley also found the target for his country in the same year.
Conor Bradley – Senior career so far
2021-
Liverpool
2022 – 2023
Bolton Wanderers (loan)
24Evan Ferguson | Ireland, Age 19
Position: Striker. Club: Brighton. DOB: 19/10/2004.
Evan Ferguson looks primed to be the next big-money sale at Brighton with the Republic of Ireland international already being linked with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal. Roberto De Zerbi got the best out of the striker during his two seasons with the club. Ferguson appears to have everything in his locker, including a dominant presence in the penalty area and an ability to comfortably play with the ball at his feet.
There has been a concerted effort to manage the minutes the 19-year-old has played, with his manager keen not to overplay Ferguson at such a young age. A hat-trick in the opening weeks of the 2023/24 season against Newcastle was probably the highlight for the Irishman to date. More strong performances for the Seagulls could see another bidding war similar to the Moises Caicedo saga from last summer.
Evan Ferguson – Senior career so far
2019-2021
Bohemians
2021-
Brighton
23Levi Colwill | England, Age 21
Position: Defender. Club: Chelsea. DOB: 26/02/2003.
One player who may have felt slightly hard done by to miss out on Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad is Chelsea’s Levi Colwill. Speaking in September 2023, after Colwill earned his first senior international call-up, Southgate told reporters: “He showed a really good temperament in the league last year, and in the summer with the Under-21s he was outstanding.”
The England boss added: “Levi has a real maturity about his calmness with the ball. He’s got good physical attributes. He’s got speed and the ability to defend the box well.” Former Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino was equally impressed by the 21-year-old, who has the potential to blossom into one of the Premier League’s best defenders.
Levi Colwill – Senior career so far
2021-
Chelsea
2021-2022
Huddersfield Town (loan)
2022-2023
Brighton (loan)
22Rico 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 in the 2023-24 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
21Mathys 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 teamsheet 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 a huge star in years to come.
He’s still a teenager and has played just shy of 70 times for the biggest club in Germany at the time of writing, proving he is highly rated. Initially joining from Rennes in France, Tel has 22 goal contributions to his name during his two years in Bavaria.
Mathys Tel – Senior career so far
2021-2022
Rennes
2022-
Bayern Munich
20Pau 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
19Vitor Roque | Brazil, Age 19
Position: Striker. Club: Barcelona. DOB: 28/02/2005.
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.
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
18Rasmus 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 Man Utd 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 rough diamond, with 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
17Kendry Paez | Ecuador, Age 17
Position: Midfielder. Club: Independiente del Valle. DOB: 04/05/2007.
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.
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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
16Leny Yoro | France, Age 18
Position: Defender. Club: LOSC Lille. DOB: 13/11/2005.
Leny Yoro has been linked with some of the biggest clubs in world football, including Real Madrid and Liverpool, but Manchester United appear to have 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 2023/24 campaign, Yoro played 44 games in all competitions 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 looks set to partner Lisandro Martinez at the heart of the Red Devils’ back-line, replacing compatriot Raphael Varane.
Leny Yoro – Senior career so far
2022-
LOSC Lille
15Harvey 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. Jurgen 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)
14Joao Neves | Portugal, Age 19
Position: Midfielder. Club: Benfica. DOB: 27/09/2004.
Joao Neves has been touted as a future star for over a year now, as the midfield lynchpin has reportedly attracted interest from elite clubs around Europe. Manchester United are said to be among the potential destinations should he decide to leave Benfica soon.
He has broken into contention 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 19-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
13Alejandro Garnacho | Argentina, Age 20
Position: Winger. Club: Manchester United. DOB: 01/07/2004.
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 three 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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12Gavi | Spain, Age 19
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 19-year-old more than holding his own in midfield against much bigger players than him.
In August 2021, the midfielder 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
11Warren 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
10Xavi Simons | Netherlands, Age 21
Position: Midfielder. Club: Paris Saint-Germain. DOB: 21/04/2003.
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)
9Kobbie Mainoo | England, Age 19
Position: Midfielder. Club: Manchester United. DOB: 19/04/2005.
Kobbie Mainoo has burst onto the scene with Manchester United in the past 12 months 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 Mainoo has seen this as his opportunity to shine and has taken it with both hands.
The defensive midfielder – who turned 19 earlier in the year – has forced his way into the England first-team, starting a knockout game for the Three Lions at Euro 2024 and looking comfortable. Mainoo produced the goods in the Premier League week in and week out in his attempts to make that dream a reality.
Kobbie Mainoo – Senior career so far
2022-
Manchester United
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8Endrick | Brazil, Age 17
Position: Striker. Club: Palmeiras. DOB: 21/07/2006.
Endrick may only be 17 years old, but he’s been making waves for a couple of years now thanks to his eye-catching performances in Brazil with Palmeiras. It came as no surprise when Real Madrid announced that they’d secured the teenager’s services back in December 2022. Los Blancos are expected to pay up to £50 million in total for the wonderkid.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Endrick became the youngest-ever player to score a senior goal at Wembley Stadium as he netted the winner for Brazil against England in March 2024.
From scoring potential Puskas Award contenders aged 15 to becoming the fourth-youngest player to represent Brazil’s senior team, there’s no doubt that Endrick has star quality and could become a major asset for Real Madrid when he completes his move to the Bernabeu this summer. The young superstar even scored his first two international goals against England and Spain.
Endrick – Senior career so far
2022-
Palmeiras
7Arda 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 12 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
6Florian Wirtz | Germany, Age 21
Position: Midfielder Club: Bayer Leverkusen. DOB: 03/05/2003.
A long-term injury in a young footballer’s career can go in one of two ways. Either the player in question can use that setback to spur them on to return to the level they’d initially shown, or the body of the player can break down and become injury-prone due to the strain put upon them. Fortunately for Florian Wirtz, it appears that the latter is true as the German came back from a long spell on the sidelines and slotted seamlessly back into Xabi Alonso’s plans.
Wirtz has been phenomenal as Bayer Leverkusen incredibly dethroned Bayern Munich as Bundesliga champions. Wirtz will no doubt come up in conversations when clubs such as Manchester City and Real Madrid draw up their potential transfer targets for the summer of 2024 should he continue to perform.
Florian Wirtz – Senior career so far
2020-
Bayer Leverkusen
5Pedri | Spain, Age 21
Position: Midfielder. Club: Barcelona. DOB: 25/11/2002.
Former Barcelona boss, Xavi, loved every minute of seeing Pedri step into the shoes he once filled. Xavi claimed Pedri is ‘at the same level’ as legendary midfielder Andres Iniesta in an interview in early 2023, per the Daily Mail. The Spaniard said: “He is a player who is on another level, I have seen very few like him. He is talented, he is at the level of Iniesta, but Andres had continuity to the point that he is still playing.”
It is extremely high praise to be given such a compliment from a man who experienced the brilliance of Iniesta first-hand. Pedri has been a prominent name in Spanish football for a few years now, despite only being 21 years old, and he is the star of his national team alongside Gavi.
Pedri – Senior career so far
2019-2020
Las Palmas
2020-
Barcelona
4Eduardo Camavinga | France, Age 21
Position: Midfielder. Club: Real Madrid. DOB: 10/11/2003.
In a world of inverted full-backs, Camavinga could have proved himself to be the best in the entire business with his world-class displays in the role last season. While the long-term plan is for the Frenchman to be playing every week as a main part of the engine room for Real Madrid, it is always a good thing to have the versatility to start in the full-back role before moving into the centre of the pitch to dictate play.
At the moment, he appears to be the higher-rated young French midfielder in Carlo Ancelotti’s side despite being three years younger than Tchouameni. The Italian manager trusts Camavinga to play in a multitude of positions, even in the biggest matches. It took a bit of time for the youngster to settle into life in Spain and get a regular starting spot, but now that everything has clicked, it is going extremely well.
Eduardo Camavinga – Senior career so far
2018-2019
Rennes II
2019-2021
Rennes
2021-
Real Madrid
3Lamine Yamal | Spain, Age 17
Position: Winger. Club: Barcelona. DOB: 13/07/2007.
Aged just 16, Yamal became one of the youngest players in La Liga history after entering the fray during a 4-0 win over Real Betis in April 2023. He became Barcelona’s youngest player to start a game in the competition after being handed his full debut earlier in the 2023/24 season. Per Fabrizio Romano, Xavi backed the youngster by claiming:
“Lamine Yamal is practically a chosen one. His decision-making is exceptional. He’s not perfect of course, he is 16… but how he makes a difference at such an age already tells you the type of player he is and can be. His growth this year has been insane.”
As well as La Liga, Yamal also featured during the Champions League, meaning he’s already gaining valuable experience on the European stage too. Yamal even made his debut for the senior Spanish squad and scored on his debut during a 7-1 win against Georgia. At 17 years old, many want to compare the Spaniard to a certain diminutive Argentine, who had an extraordinarily successful spell at Barcelona, but it’s a little too soon for that conversation.
Lamine Yamal – Senior career so far
2022-2023
Barcelona B
2023-
Barcelona
2Jamal Musiala | Germany, Age 21
Position: Midfielder. Club: Bayern Munich. DOB: 26/02/2003.
The jewel in the crown of both Bayern Munich and Germany, Musiala was the only player who could leave the 2022 World Cup with his head held high from the German camp after putting on some dazzling displays in Qatar. His unique dribbling technique that sees the 21-year-old slalom through opposing players with ease is a joy for fans to watch and a nightmare for other teams to deal with.
Even when midfielders and defenders look to resort to kicking Musiala, his strength and power shine through as he just keeps going. Being one of the first names on the teamsheet at the Allianz Arena is a remarkable feat for such a young player, as there is a vast array of talent capable of playing in the engine room for the former German champions.
Jamal Musiala – Senior career so far
2020-2021
Bayern Munich II
2020-
Bayern Munich
2:27
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1Jude Bellingham | England, Age 21
Position: Midfielder. Club: Real Madrid. DOB: 29/06/2003.
It could be argued that Bellingham is the best-performing player on the planet at the moment, as the former Borussia Dortmund man has been dominating for both club and country as of late. His move to Real Madrid in the summer came with massive expectations, and he has somehow managed to exceed them completely. Despite being surrounded by world-class players at the Bernabeu, the England international was the star of the show in the 2023-24 season as Los Blancos secured a record 36th La Liga title and 15th Champions League crown.
It is not seen as a conventional path to the top for English players to play their football abroad without ever passing through the Premier League, but the 20-year-old has done so to this point, already cementing himself as one of the greatest British players to ever play abroad.
