Based on their accomplishments and potential, we have selected the top 25 football players in the world who are 21 years of age or younger.
Joao Neves, Ethan Nwaneri, and Pau Cubarsi are some of the newcomers for the 2024–2025 season.
The list does not include players who are older than 21 (as of February 2025).
In football, it can occasionally be clear which young players are destined for greatness. There are other examples, but Lionel Messi is the one that comes to mind right away. Only a few years after joining Barcelona at the age of 13, it was evident that the Argentine had the potential to become a world-class football player.
In a similar vein, a small number of children in 2025 who are 21 years of age or younger seem to have everything they need to excel as football players. Even if it’s unlikely that another Messi will emerge very soon, they still have the potential to be exceptional players in their own right.
Factors that rank
Based on the following standards, we have ranked the top young football players in the world right now:
Results thus far at the club and international levels
Anticipated potential
Notable players like Erling Haaland, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Vinicius Jr., and Bukayo Saka are excluded from the list since players must be 21 years of age or younger at the time of publication.
25 of the World’s Greatest Young Players
Rank
The player
Club
Age
1.
Yamal Lamine
Barcelona
17
2.
Bellingham, Jude
Real Madrid
21
3.
Musiala Jamal
The Bayern Munich
21
4.
Wirtz, Florian
Leverkusen Bayer
21
5.
Simons, Xavi
RB Leipzig
21
6.
Cubarsi Pau
Barcelona
18
7.
Endrick
Real Madrid
18
8.
Guler Arda
Real Madrid
19.
9.
Zaire-Emery Warren
Saint-Germain, Paris
18
10.
Sesko, Benjamin
RB Leipzig
21
11.
Mainoo Kobbie
United Manchester
19.
12.
Gavi
Barcelona
20
13.
Neves, Joao
Saint-Germain, Paris
20
14.
Garnacho Alejandro
United Manchester
20
15.
Casado Marc
Barcelona
21
16.
Nwaneri Ethan
The Arsenal
17
17.
Lewis-Skelly, Myles
The Arsenal
18
18.
Rico Lewis
City of Manchester
20
19.
Yoro Leny
United Manchester
19.
20
Bradley Conor
Liverpool
21
21.
Harvey Elliott
Liverpool
21
22.
Bobb, Oscar
City of Manchester
21
23.
Paez Kendry
Valle’s independence
17
24.
Roque Vitor
Real Betis (from Barcelona on loan)
19.
25.
Tel Mathys
Tottenham (from Bayern Munich on loan)
19.
Images of the world’s top young football players
25Mathys Tel | France, Age 19
Position: Midfielder. Club: Tottenham (On loan from Bayern Munich). DOB: 27/04/2005
Given his recent loan move to Tottenham, Mathys Tel might not be among the first names on the Allianz Arena team sheet, but the young player frequently leaves a lasting impact when he steps onto the pitch. The Frenchman is anticipated to be one of the many enormous stars from Bayern Munich’s legendary talent conveyor belt in the years to come. The team is in possession of several treasures.
As of this writing, he is still a teenager and has played for the biggest club in Germany just over 70 times, and just under 80 times, demonstrating his high regard in Bavaria. Tel, who originally joined from Rennes, France, has contributed 22 goals (16 goals; 6 assists) in his two years with the Bundesliga powerhouses. He will be hoping to help Tottenham regain some of their former success under Ange Postecoglu in the final stretch of the current season.
So far in his senior career, Mathys Tel
2021–2022
The Rennes
2022:
The Bayern Munich
2025:
Loan for Tottenham
24
Vitor Roque, a 19-year-old striker from Brazil. Club: Real Betis (from Barcelona on loan). Date of birth: February 28, 2005.
Even though Barcelona feigned deceit during the 2023–24 season, it is noteworthy to make your debut for the Catalan squad at the age of 19. With a few outings in La Liga and domestic cup tournaments, Vitor Roque has established himself as a member of Camp Nou’s senior squad. In order to earn senior minutes on his resume, he is spending this campaign at Real Betis, albeit on loan.
The Brazilian might be one to quietly go about his business in the background and become a star in his own right, but there is another young player at the Spanish club who is making all the headlines—we shall talk about him soon. Brazil has produced a number of incredible athletes, such as Neymar and Vinicius Junior, two relatively recent instances of world-class superstars from the South American nation. Roque may be viewed similarly in the years to come.
Vitor Roque’s current senior career
2021–2022
Cruzeiro
2022–2023
Paranaense Athletico
2023:
Barcelona
2024:
Real Betis (loan)
23
17-year-old Kendry Paez from Ecuador
The midfielder position. Independiente del Valle is the club. Date of birth: April 5, 2007.
After Chelsea agreed to bring the wonderkid from Independiente del Valle to Stamford Bridge, Kendry Paez will join the Premier League in 2025. When that transaction was reached for slightly under £20 million, he was only 15 years old.
Even while it might seem like an outrageous price for a young player, Paez is anticipated to develop into a world-class player in the future, and supporters may remember that as some of the greatest business in recent history. Among the Ecuadorian midfielder’s strongest qualities are his amazing touch and ball control. The highlight of Paez’s early career was winning the Copa Milo Mitad del Mundo 2022 final with his squad.
Kendry Paez’s current senior career
2023–2025
Valle’s independence
22
Oscar Bobb, a 21-year-old Winger from Norway. Manchester City is the club. Date of birth: July 12, 2003.
To break into Manchester City’s attacking lineup at age 21, you have to be a very exceptional talent, and Oscar Bobb is just that. During a historic 2023–24 season, the Norway international, who joined City in 2019, played 26 games for the Premier League winners and scored two goals.
In the absence of several City players who participated in the Copa America and Euro 2024, Bobb took advantage of his preseason opportunities to win Pep Guardiola over and went on to win the Community Shield against Manchester United. Bobb was unable to make an impact on the Citizens’ starting lineup due to a chronic injury sustained during the preseason.
Oscar Bobb’s current senior career
2023:
City of Manchester
21
Harvey Elliott, a 21-year-old midfielder from England. Liverpool is the club. Date of birth: April 4, 2003.
In the transfer window that followed Liverpool’s sixth Champions League victory in 2019, Harvey Elliott was acquired by the team. The young kid was converted by former Reds manager Klopp, who turned him from an explosive winger to a very talented and diligent midfield player.
The choice to give the Englishman a deeper role has been a wise one for his growth, even though he lacks the lightning-fast speed of other players to play on the wings. Elliott’s ability with the ball at his feet is demonstrated by his consistent playing time in a recently redesigned Liverpool midfield. He is a key asset off the bench when facing a low-sitting defence since he covers a lot of ground in the Reds’ high-pressing approach and is nearly unmatched by Arne Slot in his ability to pick out a pass to manufacture space for his team.
Harvey Elliott’s current senior career
2018–2019
Fulham
2019:
Liverpool
2020–2021
Rovers Blackburn (loan)
20 Conor Bradley, age 21 from Northern Ireland
Defender is the position. Liverpool is the club. Date of birth: July 9, 2003.
Just picture having to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold and looking flawless. Welcome to the world of Conor Bradley, age 21. After seeing senior football for the first time under Jurgen Klopp last season, the Northern Irishman has been pushed into the deep end by new manager Arne Slot.
Regardless of what the future holds for the aforementioned Englishman, the 2003-born right-back has a bright career ahead of him because he is dynamic and can play farther afield while still fulfilling his defensive responsibilities. Bradley has demonstrated in his few minutes that he is technically and physically capable of playing at the highest level. Ask Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid.
Conor Bradley’s current senior career
2021:
Liverpool
2022–2023
Bolton (loan)
19.
Leny Yoro, 19 years old, France
Defender is the position. Manchester United is the club. Date of birth: November 13, 2005.
Despite being connected to some of the best football teams in the world, such as Real Madrid and Liverpool, Manchester United emerged victorious in the competition to sign the young French defender. The 19-year-old attracted the attention of Europe’s top players during his first two seasons in Ligue 1.
During the 2023–24 season, Yoro participated in 44 games across all competitions and shown his flexibility by playing both defensive midfield and centre back. The Frenchman’s 6′ 2″ size helps him dominate in the air, but he also has exceptional skill with the ball at his feet for a player his height. After suffering a foot injury during preseason, Yoro missed three months of action. Yoro was supposed to replace compatriot Raphael Varane in the Red Devils’ three-man back-line alongside Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt.
So far in his senior career, Leny Yoro
2022–2024
Lille LOSC
2024:
United Manchester
18
Rico Lewis, 20 years old, England
Defender is the position. Manchester City is the club. Date of birth: November 21, 2004.
Rico Lewis of Manchester City had a breakthrough season in 2022–2023 and has already been given multiple chances to make an impression. There must be something unique about you if you want to be a regular in Pep Guardiola’s talented squad. Despite being a defender by trade, Lewis frequently moves infield to fill the inverted full-back position according to the Spaniard’s plan.
A day before turning 19, the young player made his England senior debut in November 2023. Lewis made more than 15 appearances in the league last season, and in a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace in December, he even scored his first goal as a senior. Since the defender is already considered to be among the top English kids in the sport, it’s safe to say that the possibilities are endless.
So far in his senior year, Rico Lewis
2022:
City of Manchester
17
18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly from England
Defender is the position. Arsenal is the club. Date of birth: September 26, 2006
Myles Lewis-Skelly is one of several outstanding young players who have just joined Arsenal. The Englishman, who can play defensive midfield or left-back, has been playing mostly on the left side of defence and has had a very successful senior career debut thus far.
The 18-year-old has made six more appearances for the Gunners under Mikel Arteta after making his debut in September 2024, coming off the bench during the team’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Manchester City. His best performance occurred in the Champions League, where he led Arsenal to victory over their French rivals, Monaco. Despite his advanced age, Lewis-Skelly appeared unfazed by the strain of playing in the biggest club competition in football, which is encouraging for his future.
So far, Myles Lewis-Skelly’s senior career
2024:
The Arsenal
