Football
Best Young Players in the World 2025
As much as there are a lot of complaints around the scheduling of football games, the high volume of games does mean that young players are afforded the opportunity to break onto the scene. There is an increasing reliance on young players at a professional level and some of the best teams in the world now boast players as young as 16-years-old. To think about Gavi at Barcelona and Rico Lewis at Manchester City – we suggest our top ten best young football players in the world in 2025.
Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona//Getty Images
Carlos Baleba
He has burst onto the scene in the Premier League and has already attracted the attention of world football. He looks to enjoy playing rather deep but progresses the game up the field and adds to the attacking nature of his team. That isn’t to say that he doesn’t contribute defensively though – he is close to the complete player!
Endrick
Another wonderkid from Brazil – who would have thought, said nobody ever. Endrick has what it takes to become a leading light in the football world, there is no doubt about it. He is an explosive player with an eye for goal and a complete belief in his own ability. He will be one to watch for the future.
Kobbie Mainoo
If there is anything positive around Manchester United, it is Kobbie Mainoo. He has been likened to Paul Scholes and Roy Keane, two players who were incredible midfielders for Manchester United. At just 19-years-old, his composure and sort of balanced play is out of this world!
Conor Bradley
He is a no-nonsense defender from Northern Ireland who was always highly rated throughout his formative years. Bradley would later break into Liverpool’s starting lineup and continue to impress. Arguably, it was against Real Madrid where the youngster announced himself on the world’s stage. A massive hit on Kylian Mbappe sent social media into a craze but won the admiration of the Anfield faithful in the process.
Leny Yoro
Another bright light for Manchester United, Leny Yoro joined the club for a hefty fee – but very few around the club have questioned his ability or his promise. Settling into his role as a defender at Lille, he has quickly become a standout player and shown a mature ability to read and impose himself onto a game.
Jamal Musiala
A German player who seemingly fell out of favour in recent times, Musiala is still for us an exceptional talent. A dangerous attacking player who at a relatively modest age is close to seeing over 200 appearances for German giants, Bayern Munich.
Pedri
It is mind blowing that he earned a Golden Boy award all the way back in 2021, but he is an intelligent player who is one of the cheapest assets at Barcelona. His fitness suggests that he can play all day, and this doesn’t compromise his technical ability. Does it really come as a surprise that he is compared to some of the greats at the Catalonian club?
Florian Wirtz
Wirtz earned his proverbial stripes at Bayer Leverkusen during their unbeaten season. He is a player with immense confidence and is happy to play with the ball at his feet, taking on opponents.
Jude Bellingham
England’s crown jewel without question. He is an incredible player with the perfect blend of creative attacking threats and defensive resolve. His movement through the lines is amongst the best we have seen in a long time, but his greatest attribute is his work ethic.
You will see this lad play a crucial role for England at the next few major international tournaments.
Lamine Yamal
A player who has already made his mark on world football, could Yamal be the greatest thing to walk out of La Masia since Lionel Messi? How do you defend against someone like this? He has electrifying pace, incredible balance and footwork as well as an eye for goal. He could already be considered one of the greatest in the world and nobody would fall off their chair.
Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose articles have featured in some of the biggest sports publications in South Africa. With a strong understanding of all major sports and an in-depth understanding of betting, Ryan consistently delivers insightful content. He's also known for his ability to break down complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly pieces.