Gone are the days of players making their name in their early twenties at the earliest. There were several breakthrough youngsters that impressed last season and are just at the start of their journey, many already at some of the biggest clubs in the world.
With the ever-increasing list of games on the 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 the demanding schedules, the best in the business naturally find their way into starting XIs of the biggest teams on the planet.
In this article, we present to you our pick of ten of the world’s best players aged 20 or under. We have taken into account what they have already achieved in their respective short careers, the potential they have, and the opportunities they have at their current clubs to develop.
#10 Savinho | Brazil | Manchester City FC
Savinho’s transfer from Ligue 2 side Troyes to Manchester City was one of the most talked-about moves in the summer, mainly because of the controversy behind him moving from one City Football Group (CFG) club to another (both ES Troyes AC and Girona FC, where he spent the 2023/24 season on loan, are CFG-owned).
However, what makes Savinho so special is not just his club affiliations or his physical skills but the level of maturity and awareness he exhibits at such a young age. He has a natural talent for understanding the game to expect passes and find open spaces with great skill. His decision-making near the goal—whether for a cross or a shot—shows he is a player full of confidence and creativity.
At just 20 years of age, Savinho 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 | FC 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.
Ever since he was 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 age, Cubarsí possesses great leadership skills, decisiveness in defence, and strong reactions off the ball, which allow him to contribute both in defence and in building up play from the back.
In addition, his training at La Masia has endowed Cubarsí with a technique and sense of comfort on the ball that is expected of any player trained at this prestigious training centre.
#8 Estêvão Willian | Brazil | SE Palmeiras
Just over a year after Endrick’s big-money move to Real Madrid, Estêvão Willian is set to become the next prodigious talent to depart the Brazilian club for the European shores when he turns 18 in 2025.
The 17-year-old Brazilian winger grabbed headlines in a breakout six-month spell that saw him shine for Palmeiras’s youth sides and on the international stage with Brazil at the U17 World Cup. Although he has long been dubbed the “Brazilian Messi”, a more appropriate comparison might be to Messi’s long-time international teammate Angel Di Maria, with whom Estêvão shares an exceptional ball-carrying ability, a wand-like left foot, and an extensive repertoire of tricks. Much like Di Maria, Estêvão thrives 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 CF
With every passing week, a new Brazilian wonderkid is unearthed. However, Endrick looks like the real deal.
Even at such a young age, Endrick is every manager’s dream player. He is interchangeable across the front line and capable of playing across either wing as well as centrally as the sole or support forward. His versatility is a key selling point and must have played a heavy part in Real Madrid’s hot pursuit of him.
Some of the key attributes that allow Endrick to play across several positions are creating space with close ball control, dropping deep 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 given the years ahead of him one can safely say there’ll be plenty of opportunities to fine-tune these aspects of Endrick’s game.
#6 Arda Güler | Türkiye | Real Madrid CF
When you receive a call from Real Madrid, it’s impossible to ignore. That proved to be the case once again with the young sensation Arda Güler, who shone at Euro 2024 with Türkiye and is already a Champions League winner.
In possession, Güler’s creativity and technical ability stand out. The 19-year-old 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’ll need to add more variety and nuance. His ability to pause and hold the ball and antagonise opponents is also a key asset.
Güler can go past opponents on his left foot using trickery without necessarily changing pace. This is something that he will have to polish in LaLiga, where defenders are accomplished at holding up play without committing to tackles.
Also read: Top 10 Premier League wonderkids in 2024
#5 Kobbie Mainoo | England | Manchester United FC
Nicknamed the “Stockport Seedorf“, England rarely produce midfielders as complete as Mainoo promises to be. Brilliant in challenges, exceptional with the ball at his feet, and capable of a “worldie” every now and then, there is simply nothing this young man can’t do on a football pitch.
Mainoo possesses excellent ball-carrying abilities, which allow him to control the game from the middle of the park. He is a technical player that can navigate through tight spaces and create scoring opportunities for his team. Despite his young age, Mainoo’s vision on the field and his decision-making to dictate the flow of the game is something Man United are already quite reliant on.
Despite having already scored the winner in an FA Cup final for United, it feels like this is just the beginning for Mainoo, as he is someone who looks destined to achieve greater things in his career.
#4 Warren Zaïre-Emery | France | Paris Saint-Germain FC
Here’s another modern midfielder who, much like Jude Bellingham, is redefining what you can expect from a central midfielder. It’s easy to forget just how young Warren Zaïre-Emery still is, with the exceptional midfielder having broken into PSG’s first team at the age of 16.
Zaïre-Emery’s ability to quickly move the ball from midfield areas into dangerous attacking areas separates him 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 the young Frenchman will continue to make a difference for PSG with the ball at his feet.
The 18-year-old’s dynamism and ability through the different phases of PSG’s play make him vital to Luis Enrique and could see him soon become a certified global star if he remains consistent.
#3 Gavi | Spain | FC Barcelona
Barça’s ability to produce graceful but tenacious midfielders is second to none, and Gavi is another example of the stellar work done by their academy, La Masia. The fiery starlet swiftly rose through the Blaugrana ranks and has now become an integral figure in the Barça engine room.
Gavi’s tactical understanding is already at a very high level, 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 the 20-year-old out for the bulk of the 2023/24 campaign, even forcing him to miss out on Euro 2024 glory with Spain, but if he can pick up anywhere close to where he left off as he recovers, there is no limit to what Gavi can achieve.
#2 João Neves | Portugal | Paris Saint-Germain FC
Benfica also have no issues when it comes to forging wonderkids. Every year there is a new dynamo from their ranks tempting Europe’s giants, with the likes of Bernardo Silva, Rúben Dias, and Joao Felix having all come through their talent factory.
A right-footed defensive midfielder who does a lot of the traditional stuff expected of a holding midfielder, Neves likes to drop deep and get the ball off the defenders to help progress it up the field. On the ball, the 20-year-old possesses a surprising burst of speed over short distances, which allows him to create space from his markers. Also, 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, 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 the end product one would want from their midfielders.
#1 Lamine Yamal | Spain | FC Barcelona
Lamine Yamal was outstanding for Barça last season, though 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 Spain’s semi-final win over France, making the tournament quite the coming-of-age event for the 17-year-old.
Yamal is a generational talent and already considered among the world’s most devastating attackers. His skills are the base of his amazing performances. His dribbling is a joy to watch as he uses his quick feet, fakes and changes direction to confuse defenders, and has great ball control that lets him handle the most difficult of passes effortlessly.
The Spaniard is also skilled at passing, which helps 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.
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