Gone are the days of players making their name in their early 20s. There were several breakthrough youngsters that impressed last season and are just at the start of their journey at some of the biggest clubs in the world.
With the ever increasing list of games on a footballing calendar, there has never been a better time for youngsters to make a mark for themselves. As managers increasingly turn to young players to cope with demanding schedules – the best in the business naturally find their way into starting XIs at the biggest clubs on the planet.
In this article, we take a look the world’s best players aged 20 or under and narrow them down to a top 10 list. We have taken into account what they have achieved in their short careers so far, the potential they have, and the opportunities they have at their current clubs to develop.
#10 Savinho | Brazil | Manchester City
Savinho’s transfer from Ligue 2 club Troyes to Manchester City was one of the most talked about moves from the summer, mainly because of the controversy behind him moving from one City Football Group club to another City Football Group club in Manchester City.
However, what makes Savinho so special is not just his affiliation or his physical skills but the level of maturity and awareness exhibited by him at such a young age. He has a natural talent for understanding the game. He can expect passes and find open spaces with great skill. His choices when near the goal, whether making a perfect cross or cutting into a shot, shows he is a player full of confidence and creativity.
At just 20 years of age, the Brazilian has a lot to offer and will in time stand out as one of the leading protagonists for City out wide.
#9 Pau Cubarsí | Spain | Barcelona
Pau Cubarsí has seen a meteoric rise to prominence. He joined La Masia in 2018, at the age of 11, and quickly excelled, becoming the third youngest player to make his UEFA Youth League debut for Barça.
Thrust into the Barcelona first team at the young age of 16, even before he could legally drive himself to training; the centre-back has shown ridiculous composure to battle with some of the world’s best forwards.
Despite his young age, the Spaniard possesses great leadership, decisiveness in defence and strong reactions off the ball, which allows him to contribute both in the defensive phase and in building play from the back.
In addition, his training at La Masia has endowed him with a technique and comfort on the ball that is expected of any player trained at this prestigious training centre.
#8 Estêvão | Brazil | Palmeiras
Just over a year after Endrick agreed a big-money move to Real Madrid in 2024 Estêvão Willian is set to become the next prodigious talent to depart the club for a European giant when he turns 18 in 2025.
The 17-year-old Brazilian winger grabbed headlines in a breakout six months that saw him shine throughout the age grades at Palmeiras and on the international stage with Brazil at the Under-17 World Cup.
Although he has long been dubbed ‘the Brazilian Messi’, a more appropriate comparison might be to the Argentine icon’s long-time international team-mate, Angel Di Maria. Both share exceptional ball-carrying ability and wand-like left feet, as well as an extensive repertoire of tricks, and both thrive by coming inside from the flank and wreaking havoc in the central areas.
Estêvão has already shown an aptitude for dribbling with the ball at pace and maintaining his balance to unleash a powerful shot on goal – something Di Maria became renowned for in his heyday.
#7 Endrick | Brazil | Real Madrid
With every passing week, a new Brazilian wonderkid is unearthed. However, Endrick looks the real deal.
Even at such a young age age, Endrick is a manager’s dream player. The Brazilian is interchangeable across a front line, capable of playing across either wing, as a central striker or even behind the striker. His versatility is a key selling point and will have played a heavy part in Madrid’s hot pursuit of him.
Some of the key attributes that allow him to play across several positions are an impressive level of creating space with close ball control, dropping to receive the ball and drifting wide to expand the play. At such a raw age, there will always be drawbacks in his game but with years ahead of him, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to fine-tune these aspects of his game.
#6 Arda Güler | Türkiye | Real Madrid
When you receive a call from Real Madrid, it’s impossible to ignore. That proved the case for young Turkish sensation Arda Güler in 2023, who shone at Euro 2024 with Türkiye and is already a Champions League winner.
In possession, his creativity and technical ability stands out. The Türkiye international likes to dart forward with the ball, and possesses the finishing composure to find the back of the net from time to time.
His desire to always drive forward is a strength, but as his game develops he will need to add more variety and nuance. An ability to pause and hold the ball, antagonising opponents, is also an asset tied to his bow.
He can go past opponents on his left foot, using trickery without necessarily changing pace. This is something that he will have to polish in La Liga, where defenders are accomplished at holding up play without committing to the tackle.
#5 Kobbie Mainoo | England | Manchester United
Nicknamed the ‘Stockport Seedorf’, England rarely produce such complete midfielders. Brilliant in the challenge, exceptional with the ball at his feet and capable of a worldie, there is simply nothing this young man can’t do on a football pitch.
Mainoo possesses excellent ball carrying abilities, allowing him to control the game from the middle of the park. He is a technical player which enables him to navigate through tight spaces and create scoring opportunities for his team. Despite his young age, United rely on Mainoo’s vision on the field and his decision-making ability to dictate the flow of the game.
Despite having already scored the winner in an FA Cup final for Manchester United, it feels like it’s just the beginning for Kobbie Mainoo, someone who looks destined to achieve great things in his career.
#4 Warren Zaïre-Emery | France | Paris Saint-Germain
A modern midfielder who will draw many comparisons to his young, French counterparts as well as the likes of Jude Bellingham who is redefining what you can expect from a central midfielder currently, it’s easy to forget just how young Warren Zaïre-Emery still is, with the exceptional midfielder breaking into PSG’s first team at the age of 16 during the 2022/23 campaign.
His ability to quickly move the ball from midfield areas into dangerous attacking areas separates Zaïre-Emery from other players in his position who may look to play longer passes or occupy deeper areas instead of driving forward. Carrying the ball forward reliably is a coveted skill and he will continue to make a difference for PSG with the ball at his feet.
Zaïre-Emery’s dynamism and ability through the different phases of PSG’s play make him vital to Luis Enrique’s PSG and could make him into a certified global star if he is able to maintain this level of consistency.
#3 Gavi | Spain | Barcelona
Barcelona’s ability to produce graceful but tenacious midfielders is second to none, with Gavi another example of the stellar work done by La Masia. The fiery starlet swiftly rose through the ranks and has now become an integral figure in the engine room for Barca.
His tactical understanding of the game is already at very high levels, especially in his positional sense. He always has an eye for where the space is to generate passing opportunities and overloads. Typically, he is a player who thrives in the middle of the pitch, but you will see him take up different zones throughout the pitch, adapting to his teammates and where he believes he can hurt the opposition.
An anterior cruciate ligament tear ruled him out for the bulk of the 2023/24 campaign, forcing him to miss out on Euro 2024 glory, but if he can pick up from where he left off when he recovers, there is no limit on how much he can achieve.
#2 João Neves | Portugal | Paris Saint-Germain
Benfica certainly have no issues when it comes to forging wonderkids. Every year there is a new dynamo tempting Europe’s giants, with the likes of Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Joao Felix having all come through their talent factory.
A right-footed defensive midfielder who does a lot of the traditional holding midfielder stuff, Neves likes to drop deep and get the ball off his defenders to help progress it up the field.
On the ball, the 19-year-old possesses a surprising burst of speed over short distances allowing him to create space from his markers. Moreover, for someone so young, he also has really good decision-making.
While all this sounds impressive, like every other player, Neves does have his weak points with one of them being his lack of a cutting-edge in the final third. While he can pick a pass into that area, he doesn’t have that end product you would like from your midfielders.
#1 Lamine Yamal | Spain | Barcelona
Lamine Yamal was outstanding for Barcelona during the 2023/24 season, but it was at Euro 2024 where he really earned his stripes. Some exquisite displays in the early rounds were followed by a sensational strike in a semi-final win over France. It was a coming of age event for the La Masia graduate.
The diminutive forward is a generational talent and already considered among the world’s most devastating attackers. Yamal’s skills are the base of his amazing performances. His dribbling is a joy to watch. He uses quick feet, fakes, and changes direction to confuse defenders, and has great ball control, letting him handle the most difficult of passes effortlessly.
He is also skilled at passing, helping him control the game’s pace and break through defences accurately. With his strong skills, drive, and confidence, he is a strong candidate for the Golden Boy award and hopefully will turn into a global star for Barcelona soon.
Leave a Reply