Top 20 Best Young Football Players in the World 2025 | Ranked

Football is a game of energy, agility, and strength, and the best use of these traits is displayed when young football players get the ball at their feet. Over the years, a plethora of young talents have reached the pinnacle of their careers, justifying the buzz created around them. From Sporting Lisbon’s Cristiano Ronaldo to Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, they all started to showcase their potential at a very young age and went on to be the greatest ballers ever.

Hundreds of talented young football players under the age of 21 are on their way to being in the same league as the strongest players in the history of this game. On that note, we have compiled a list of the best twenty young football players who have a burning fire inside them to hit the top deck in upcoming years. A pack of dedicated and hardworking players between the ages of 18 and 21 are already putting on memorable performances across all competitions.

Ranking Factors

While making the list of the top 20 best young players in the world 2025 across the world under the age 21, we focused on some important criteria such as game-changing displays, important goals, and potential. The ranking factors are as follows:

• Future Potential: How likely is the player to develop into a superstar, despite being one of the top 10 best young players in the world?
• Game-changing performances: Among the trending football players 2025, have these young players in the world already produced game-changing performances in their career?
• Achievements in club and international football: The achievements that make these players one of the top 10 best young players in the world 2025.

Top 10 Best Young Players in the World 2025

10. Arda Guler

Arda Guler is one of the best NXGN wonder kids in 2024 with the “potential to reach the level of Lionel Messi”, according to his former coach. The Turkish midfielder-winger, who plays for Real Madrid in La Liga, is a treat to watch when he is on the move with the ball at his feet. Destined to be one of the greatest players in history, Guler became a nightmare for opponents after scoring 21 goals in 53 games for Fenerbache.

Arda has been in tremendous form for Real Madrid this season making him one of the best young players in the world. The player is at the best club in the world, and is taking the slower way to the top.

Stats	Season 2024/25
Appearances	24
Goals	7
Assists	4

9. Kobbie Mainoo

Another popular name on the list of the best U-21 footballers is Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo. The forward burst onto the scenes in the last season for the Premier League outfit, displaying sensible and mature performances. The talented midfielder, who has recently turned 19, is already living a life that other young footballers only dream of. International call-up from England and starting spot for Man United, Mainoo has achieved something great and is on his way to prove himself as one of the very best.

Mainoo’s calmness on the ball, as well as his vision and scoring ability makes him a wonderkid. The player is not having the best of seasons, with his team struggling from a range of issues.

Stats	Season 2024/25
Appearances	38
Goals	5
Assists	3

8. Endrick

Football world was divided into two groups when Real Madrid made a big money move for the Brazilian wonderkid Endrick, who was dazzling in the jersey of Palmeiras. Born in 2006, Endrick is just 18 years old and has everything in his disposal to become one of the greatest strikers of all-time in near future. The Brazilian starlet has already lit up the international stage by netting two goals against Spain and England. With Real Madrid nurturing his talent, Endrick will surely justify the hype circling around him.

Endrick is currently looking forward to the second leg of the UCL tie against Arsenal. He will be hoping to play a major role in his team’s potential comeback.

Stats	Season 2023/24
Appearances	34
Goals	14
Assists	8

7. Gavi

Another Barcelona wonderkid Gavi has made it to the list of the best 20 young kids in 2024. Even with smaller stature, the midfielder delivers on big occasions for the Catalan outfit and the Spanish national football team on big occasions week in and week out. Making his La Liga debut in 2021 at the age of 17, Gavi has already established himself as one of the biggest potentials in world football.

Gavi is easily one of the most impressive deep-lying midfielders in the world. His potential and workrate makes him a potential superstar, alongside the likes of Pedri and Lamine Yamal.

Stats	Season 2024/25
Appearances	21
Goals	3
Assists	4

Also Read: Ranking Top 10 Best Defenders in the World 2024

6. Alejandro Garnacho

Alejandro Garnacho is another emerging big attacking gun in Europe. Hailing from Argentina, the 20-year-old fanboy of Cristiano Ronaldo is already making waves across all competitions with Manchester United. His natural dribbling ability, pace and fearless mentality have aided in his journey towards greatness. If everything goes according to plan for Garnacho, he will become one of the most lethal attackers in football history.

Garnacho is not having the best of seasons. He has come under severe scrutiny due to his inconsistency and finishing. However, the player has all the time to correct his flaws.

Stats	Season 2024/25
Appearances	39
Goals	10
Assists	7

5. Pedri

Pedri has already become a superstar in Spanish football, and is destined to be at the highest level of the game in future. He is a perfect example of the exclusivity of midfield. The former Barcelona manager, Xavi Hernandez hailed the 21-year-old wonderkid from next generation as the perfect player to fill in the void left by Andres Iniesta in the club.

Xavi also stated that Pedri is already at the same level as Iniesta, a statement that explains why the young Spaniard is in the top five of the list of best U-21 footballers. Pedri is one to watch out for, for sure, in the future!

Stats	Season 2024/25
Appearances	34
Goals	4
Assists	6

4. Jamal Musiala

Jamal Musiala, a former English player, is now the biggest attacking weapon in the arsenal of the German football team. The 21-year-old is one of the most sought-after forwards in Europe following his dazzling displays across all competitions including the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League.

His unique dribbling skills, agility and vision of play make the fans rally behind him. With Bayern Munich, he has already scored tons of goals in recent years. Musiala has the world at his feet, and has already become a huge part of the Bayern setup.

Stats	Season 2023/24
Appearances	35
Goals	9
Assists	8

Also Read: Ranking the 10 Best Strikers in the World Right Now (2025)

3. Florian Writz

Florian Writz is another German under the age of 21, who has been sending shockwaves across the world of football for quite a few months. After returning from a long spell on the sidelines, he became a cog in the attacking wheel of Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen in the 2023-24 season. The German club’s glorious journey to win the Bundesliga title, dethroning Bayern Munich saw Writz putting on a seamless display throughout the season. He is already one of the best young the attacking midfielders and has drawn interest from Real Madrid and Manchester City.

Wirtz is one of the most highly-rated youngsters in the world today. His x-factor, and the ability to score goals out of nothing makes him a superstar not just of the future, but the present as well.

Stats	Season 2024/25
Appearances	39
Goals	12
Assists	17

2. Jude Bellingham

When Jude Bellingham left Borussia Dortmund for Real Madrid, the football pundits said “he has come where he is destined to be”. And the English superstar proved the fans and pundits alike by leading the Spanish giants to their 36th La Liga trophy and 15th UEFA Champions League title in his debut season.

The 21-year-old midfielder has the ability to play in the positions of a holding and an attacking midfielder. The “player of the 2023/24 season” for Real Madrid, Bellingham is arguably the best English young player to ever play abroad at early age. There are several reasons why Bellingham deserves his place at the top of this list.

Stats	Season 2024/25
Appearances	42
Goals	23
Assists	13

1. Lamine Yamal

Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal is arguably the best young football player under the age of 21 in 2024. The 16-year-old wonderkid is the youngest player in the history of Barcelona to play in La Liga. The Spanish winger is already at the same level of Kylian Mbappe and is expected to be one of the greatest club legends at Barcelona. His recent exploits in Spain’s victorious campaign at Euro 2024 accurately demonstrate his potential and greatness. It will be shocking if Yamal doesn’t win a Ballon d’Or title in near future, given his potential and scoring ability.

Yamal is one of the most exciting names in world football today. His ability to contribute in the present, as well as his potential makes him the best young player in the world, in 2025.

Stats	Season 2024/25
Appearances	50
Goals	8
Assists	10

List of Top 10 Young Players in the World 2025

Rank	Player	Age	Club	Nationality
1	Lamine Yamal	17	Barcelona	Spain
2	Jude Bellingham	21	Real Madrid	England
3	Florian Wirtz	21	Bayer Leverkusen	Germany
4	Jamal Musiala	21	Bayern Munich	Germany
5	Pedri	22	Barcelona	Spain
6	Alejandro Garnacho	20	Manchester United	Argentina
7	Gavi	20	Barcelona	Spain
8	Endrick	18	Real Madrid	Brazil
9	Kobbie Mainoo	19	Manchester United	England
10	Arda Güler	19	Real Madrid	Turkey

Also Read: Top 10 Best Goalkeepers in the World 2024 | Ranked

10 More Best Young Players

Rank	Player	Age	Club	Nationality
11	Xavi Simons	21	RB Leipzig (loan from PSG)	Netherlands
12	Warren Zaïre-Emery	18	PSG	France
13	Pau Cubarsí	17	Barcelona	Spain
14	João Neves	20	PSG	Portugal
15	Harvey Elliott	21	Liverpool	England
16	Leny Yoro	19	Manchester United	France
17	Rico Lewis	19	Manchester City	England
18	Benjamin Šeško	21	RB Leipzig	Slovenia
19	Marc Casadó	21	Barcelona	Spain
20	Oscar Bobb	21	Manchester City	England

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