Football's 50 Wonderkids - Future stars to keep an eye on in 2026

Analysis

Nick Bidwell, Tim Vickery, James Nalton, John Duerden and Mark Gleeson of World Soccer identify 50 top young talents from across the globe who are ready to make a name for themselves in 2026.

Honest AHANOR

Atalanta (Ita)

Age: 17

Centre-back

If Italy head coach Gennaro Gattuso had his way, the Atalanta defender who has settled in excellently following a €20 million summer move from Genoa ,would already be in the Azzurri squad. Gattuso, swift to anoint the teenager as “national team material”, is an admirer of Ahanor’s muscular presence, solid technique and temperament for the big occasion, a coolness he has displayed often in the UEFA Champions League. But despite the fact Ahanor was born in Aversa, north of Naples, and has always lived in the country, the fact that his parents are Nigerian means he cannot be considered for Italian citizenship until he is 18.

The Italian federation will be hoping to break the bureaucratic logjam as quickly as possible. If the naturalisation process should fail, Nigeria are ready to pounce. It seems problematic that it’s easier for an “Oriundi” (a South American player with Italian ancestry) like Mateo Retegui to qualify for Italy than the likes of Ahanor, a 100 per cent product of the football system in the peninsula.

Ahanor, who earned a place in the Genoa academy at the age of five, went on to successfully rise through the club’s ranks, playing a key role as the club clinched the national Under-18 title in 2023–24 and making his first-team breakthrough the following season (in a top-flight encounter against Juventus in September 2024). At just 16 years, seven months and five days, he was the first 2008-born player to appear in Serie A.

Also capable of shining as a left-sided full-back or wing-back, Ahanor has been hot property for quite some time, reportedly on the radar of the likes of Chelsea, Milan, Juventus, Roma and Ligue 1 outfit Monaco. That he ultimately chose to put pen to paper for Atalanta speaks volumes about the Bergamo club’s well-earned reputation for unlocking potential and placing their faith in young talent.

In an Atalanta side which often has struggled to come to terms with the shock departure to Roma of Gian Pieri Gasperini, the youngster has more than lived up to his price-tag catching the eye with his athleticism, explosive power and sense of anticipation. Not surprising for one so young, the odd flaw has come to light and he was definitely off the pace when Atalanta recently fell to a 3–1 defeat against reigning champions Napoli, much less disciplined than usual and caught napping on more than one occasion. A harsh lesson indeed, but one the talented tyro undoubtedly will bounce back from.

Hamza ABDELKARIM

Al Ahly (Egy)

Age: 18

Forward

The quick-footed teenager, who turned 18 on New Year’s Day, is the latest sensation of the production line at Al Ahly. In 2025 he became the club's youngest player of the century and scored goals for Egypt at both the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations and Under-17 World Cup. Could be set for a move to Europe in 2026, with Barcelona said to be watching him.

Musab AL JUWAYR

Al Qadsiya (KSA)

Age: 22

Midfielder

The cultured midfielder, who has an eye for a goal, left Al Hilal in August to sign for the ambitious Al Qadsiah. It was quite a coup given that he has already established himself as a Saudi Arabia international, scoring six goals in 30 appearances for the national team.

ALLAN

Palmeiras (Bra)

Age: 21

Attacking midfielder

Little, quick, left-footed attacking midfielder, who is usually employed on the right. He was overshadowed by the sheer quantity of youth products, including Estevao Willian, at his club but finished 2025 strongly after forcing his way into the first team during the Club World Cup in the US.

Ramiro ARCIGA

Tijuana (Mex)

Age: 21

Winger

Arciga is one of many young Mexicans pushing for national team recognition ahead of the World Cup. He has only one cap to his name so far, which came in a friendly against Bolivia in the summer of 2024 while he was with first club Mazatlan, but since joining Tijuana at the start of 2025 he has been one of the most creative players on the continent on the wing.

Kenny ARROYO

Cruzeiro (Bra)

Age: 19

Winger

Quick, aggressive left-footed winger who was Independients del Valle's star revelation of 2024. Spent a few months with Besiktas in Turkey and has hit the ground running since a mid-year move to Brazil. With Ecuador desperate for goals, he has an excellent chance of going to the World Cup.

Youri BAAS

Ajax (Ned)

Age: 22

Centre-back

The left-sided defender has been improving at a remarkable lick of late, one of the rare positive notes in a season of crisis at the Amsterdam club. Baas has been one of the first names on the team-sheet – which is particularly impressive given that Ajax were ready to offload him a couple of years ago.

Said EL MALA

Cologne (Ger)

Age: 19

Winger

The word “ubiquitous” immediately springs to mind when it comes to El Mala who, barely into his Bundesliga career, has almost instantaneously become a nationwide centre of attention. German sportswriters, enthralled by his wondrous ability on the ball, faculty for the spectacular and incisiveness when cutting inside from the left flank, simply cannot get enough of him.

Whether it’s his brilliant goals against Hoffenheim and Augsburg, rumours of big-name suitors such as Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City, or coverage of his first call-up to the Germany squad in November, El Mala’s name is everywhere. Julian Nagelsmann very much liked what he saw from the youngster during a number of training sessions prior to World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Slovakia, but ultimately opted to keep the boy wonder under wraps. El Mala stayed on the bench for the Luxembourg fixture and then went back to the Under-21 fold for an important European Championship qualifier in Georgia.

“It was Said’s first time with us and he did well, " said Germany boss Nagelsmann, anxious not to frame his decision as a brush-off.

“He made a good impression. He’s a great young man. He proved he has the soft-skills. He’s humble enough and has enough cheek in him too. He has to nail down an automatic spot for Cologne and has to work on the parts of his game which [Cologne coach Lukas Kwasniok] has pointed out to him. If he does that, he can make an impact with the Nationalmannschaft.”

Nagelsmann was probably correct to add a shot of reality to the hype around El Mala who still has plenty to learn. Just a few months ago he was playing in the third tier for Viktoria Cologne, and most of his Bundesliga minutes have come as a second-half substitute.

In a recent 3–1 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach, Kwasniok was so unhappy with his lack of application in off-the-ball duties that he hooked him at half-time. “He was not good,” explained the coach. “That’s why I took him off. It’s as simple as that. Out of possession, he didn’t do as instructed on more than one occasion.”

His Germany U21 coach Antonio Di Salvo also sees him as a work in progress, advising the young winger to vary his game, to beat full-backs on the outside from time to time rather than always heading straight for goal. “His finishing needs to be more precise as well,” added Di Salvo. Tough love in search of perfection.

Alex BADOLATO

Newcastle Jets (Aus)

Age: 20

Attacking midfielder

The first Australian to be named the AFC’s Young Player of the Year, winning ahead of Hamed Yousef of Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan’s Sardriddin Khasanov. That was recognition for an excellent 2025 for the midfielder who was named MVP in leading Australia to victory at the Under-20 Asian Cup, though he will miss a big chunk of 2026 after rupturing his ACL.

Maher CARRIZO

Vélez Sarsfield (Arg)

Age: 19

Forward

Jerky left-footed forward, normally used cutting in from the right wing. With Vélez losing players to sales and injuries, responsibility was thrust upon him early, but he has consistently risen to the challenge. On target three times at the 2025 Under-20 World Cup in Chile.

Nathan DE CAT

Anderlecht (Bel)

Age: 17

Midfielder

A guarantee of elegance and productivity in all areas of midfield. Equally effective striking long accurate balls as pulling inventive moves out of the hat in and around the opposition box. Bayern Munich are one of many leading European clubs on his case.

Milton DELGADO

Boca Juniors (Arg)

Age: 20

Midfielder

Central midfielder who started to gain first-team experience in 2024 and has more recently been operating well alongside the experienced World Cup winner Leandro Paredes. A little man with a big presence, winning the ball and linking play. Simply outstanding during Argentina’s run to the U20 World Cup final.

Emmanuel EMEGHA

Strasbourg (Fra)

Age: 22

Forward

A hard-working goalscorer who started the season in scintillating form and made his Netherlands debut in November. However, he’s fallen out with Strasbourg’s fans since agreeing to join Chelsea this summer and was recently given a one-match ban by his club for disciplinary reasons.

Max DOWMAN

Arsenal (Eng)

Age: 16

Attacking midfielder

Poetry in motion attacking ball-carrier, who this season became the youngest-ever player to appear in the UEFA Champions League, coming on as a substitute in the Gunners’ 3–0 away victory at Slavia Prague. He has risen meteorically, playing for Arsenal’s Under-18s when he was only 13 years old, but will miss the first two months of 2026 after picking up an ankle injury.

Karl ETTA EYONG

Levante (Spa)

Age: 22

Forward

Talk about a meteoric rise. As recently as 2024, the Cameroon international was to be found in the relative anonymity of Spanish fourth-tier team for Cádiz B. Fast forward 18 months – via a prolific stint with Villarreal B – and his life has been totally transformed, now regarded as one of the best front-men in La Liga and attracting interest from a host of top clubs, including Barcelona and Real Madrid, plus several elite Premier League outfits.

They will likely have to meet his release clause: €30m for Spanish buyers, €40m for overseas.

A few months ago, Levante reportedly turned down €30m from top Russian club CSKA Moscow and in an interview with GiveMeSport in November, the 22-year-old Cameroonian outlined the broad strokes of his future plans: “I can pick between La Liga and the Premier League because I love both leagues. I have already achieved my dream playing in La Liga and my other dream is to one day play in the Premier League.”

Etta Eyong, who left his native Cameroon for Cádiz in southern Spain at the age of 19 in 2022, certainly has the attributes to prosper in the English top-flight: beast-like physicality, speed and directness, the ability to hold the ball up with his back to goal, and strong in the air. But by no means is he an uncomplicated spearhead of old. A midfielder in the early part of his career, he is stealthy and sharp in the box, extremely mobile, clever in his movement between the lines – especially strong when working in tight spaces – and boasts much more tactical maturity than he was often given credit for. Any club in need of a frontman who can stretch defences will find Etta Eyong just what the doctor ordered.

Olger ESCOBAR

Montreal (Can)

Age: 19

Forward

A versatile attacker who hit his first MLS goal in July and scored his fourth goal for Guatemala in an impressive World Cup qualifying win v Suriname. Born near Boston and came through the ranks at New England Revolution.

Alex FREEMAN

Orlando City (USA)

Age: 21

Right-back

The dynamic two-way right-back was named MLS Young Player of the Year and in the league’s Best XI after scoring six goals in 2025. He has made an impact at national team level too, scoring twice in the 5–0 rout of Uruguay in November. Young and ambitious, Parma had a €2m bid turned down in May, but a move across the Atlantic seems to be on the horizon.

Pio ESPOSITO

Internazionale (Ita)

Age: 20

Striker

At a time when the Italy national team is desperately short of top-class strikers, the youngster may be the answer to Gennaro Gattuso’s prayers. Esposito has scored three goals in five caps since his Azzurri debut in September and is sure to be involved in March's World Cup playoffs.

Netted 17 Serie B goals on loan at Spezia last season and now serves as an understudy to Inter's line-leader and skipper, Lautaro Martinez.

Victor FROHOLDT

Porto (Por)

Age: 19

Midfielder

In his first campaign at the Estádio do Dragão following a summer move from Copenhagen, the Danish box-to-box midfielder has made a huge impact in Portugal, and has also established himself in the Denmark midfield thanks to his non-stop industry, great distribution and tactical awareness.

Jean Claude GIRUMUGISHA

Al Hilal (Sud)

Age: 21

Forward

Burundi do not usually have much of an international profile but the 21-year-old centre-forward could give real impetus to the small East African country. Showing good form in the African Champions League for Sudan’s Al Hilal, who this season are playing in the Rwandan top flight.

Konstantinos KARETSAS

Genk (Bel)

Age: 18

Attacking midfielder

Born in Belgium to Greek parents, the diminutive attacking midfielder makes for compulsive viewing when dribbling past flat-footed defenders at speed. Even at this early stage of his career, he is already the main attacking outlet for both club and country. Well balanced and co-ordinated, deft and elusive on the ball and with an amazing predilection for coming out on top in one-on-one duels, he backs up that dribbling ability with left-footed guile, 20/20 vision, a great range of passing and marked willingness to take responsibility. He demands the ball and dictates terms and tempo.

As one might expect given his tender years, he is not yet the finished article. He remains rather lightweight, a little too easy for corpulent opponents to bully, he can give the ball away unnecessarily and can certainly add consistency to his game.

But enough of the hair-splitting. Young playmakers of his calibre are extremely rare and a string of top European clubs – Manchester United, Arsenal and Bayern Munich reportedly among them – are jostling to be at the front of the queue for his services.

Under contract with Genk until 2029, he is likely to be sold in the not-too-distant future then immediately returned to sender on loan.

Early last year, he had a difficult decision to make: which international team to represent. At Genk native, brought up just a stone’s throw away from the club’s Cegeka Arena, many assumed that he would opt for Diables Rouges having represented them at various youth levels. In October 2024, while still only 16 years old, he made his debut for Belgium’s Under-21 side and seemed that the decision was made.

But instead he plumped for family ties and heritage. Within months, he was making his full debut for Greece in a UEFA Nations League play-off against Scotland in March 2025. And what an outstanding baptism it was, a mesmerizing performance of poise, enterprise, energy and a well-taken goal, the second in Greece’s 3–0 win. With Greece subsequently failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and Belgium due to be part of the festivities, Karetsas’ choice of flag could have left him with a pile of doubts or second guesses. But he insists he has no regrets: “If I had chosen Belgium, Greece always would have been in my heart.”

Senny MAYULU

Paris Saint-Germain (Fra)

Age: 19

Midfielder

It’s far too simplistic to solely frame the Paris Saint-Germain academy graduate as a marksman for the big occasion, the kid who came off the bench to thump home his team’s last goal in the 5–0 thrashing of Internazionale in the 2025 UEFA Champions League final and was again on the scoresheet in the Parisians’ 2–1 win in Barcelona earlier this season. Mayulu offers much, much more than goals. He has an impressive football IQ, an intuitive feel for the collective good, is technically without blemish and mature way beyond his years.

The cherry on top of the cake is his versatility. He has excelled this season as an attacking midfielder, on the right wing, at right-back and as an emergency striker, the platform from which he calmly netted against Barcelona. Never fazed, a quick thinker and selfless by nature, he will deliver wherever he is deployed. While some insist that players can only truly kick on once they’ve settled on one position, PSG boss Luis Enrique does not agree. “He has played a lot for us this season and he has profited from the absence through injury to others,” said the Spanish coach who first promoted Mayulu to the first-team squad in November 2023.

“Senny is one of those flexible players. He can play in so many positions that he doesn’t really need other players to be injured to get the call. It’s a real plus for us when the opponents aren’t certain where some of our players will line up.”

Senny is an exemplary player for the new wave of team-building at PSG. Out with the expensive superstars of old, in with the young, hungry and less egocentric. The change in emphasis is already working wonders and that’s why PSG are so keen to hand Mayulu a contract extension, to take him through until 2029.

Too many homegrown youngsters have left PSG in recent times, frustrated by a lack of playing time, but strategic advisor Luis Campos has vowed not to let that happen to Mayulu.

Born and raised by Congolese parents in the north-eastern suburbs of Paris, alongside his brothers Ally (a striker for Championship club Bristol City) and Emery (a midfielder in Lyon’s academy), he has a number of France youth caps to his name, featuring for the side that reached the final of the Under-19 European Championship in 2024 and since winning caps at U20 and U21 level. However, with a spot at next summer’s World Cup potentially up for grabs, overtures from DR Congo could come his way over the coming months.

Darwin GUAGUA

Independiente del Valle (Ecu)

Age: 18

Midfielder

Made headlines in March when he started a World Cup qualifier before he had made his first-team debut, and has since become the revelation of he year from a club that always has a future star in or around the first-team. Whippy figure who can operate wide on the right but perhaps better when attacking the space a few metres infield

Javi GUERRA

Valencia (Spa)

Age: 22

Midfielder

While the Spain U21 midfielder has found consistency elusive at a club struggling in all manner of ways this season, he remains a fine prospect. An outstanding box-to-box performer with drive, goalscoring ability and combativeness, he has been linked with Manchester United.

Ali JASIM

Al Najma (KSA)

Age: 22

Forward

Left Iraq for Como in 2024 but struggled for regular game time and has since been loaned out twice, first to Dutch outfit Almere City and now to Saudi Pro League. A massive talent, he will be thrust further into the spotlight if he can help take Iraq to the World Cup.

Gilberto MORA

Tijuana (Mex)

Age: 17

Midfielder

Despite only turning 17 in October, there have been high hopes in Mexico for Gilberto Mora for quite some time. He has already broken numerous records since moving north to Tijuana from his hometown of Tulua Gutierrez, including, at the age of 15, becoming the youngest player to play for the club, and just six months later becoming Mexico’s youngest-ever player shortly after turning 16.

His presence at the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup helped raise the profile of a tournament that doesn’t always attract the same attention of its equivalents in Europe, South America or Africa. Mora’s involvement in Mexico’s Gold Cup–winning team captured headlines as he became the youngest player to win a major international tournament, taking the record Lamine Yamal had held since winning Euro 2024 with Spain. After spending the group stage on the bench, his performances in training demanded inclusion by the knockout rounds, including an impressive performance against the United States in the final.

Mora is a slight but aesthetically pleasing attacking midfielder who can use his touch and bursts of speed to escape more physical challenges in tight areas. His first touch is imaginative and can often help him lose his marker quickly. The control he shows under pressure, plus his acceleration, gives him the ability to beat a man, and his evasiveness means he has also been useful playing off the wing. Though primarily right-footed, his effectiveness with either foot gives opponents plenty to think about when trying to stop him. With just a bit more physicality, he could become world class.

The combination of attributes he already possesses has drawn attention to his talents at both club and international level, and 2026 could be a huge year in his development. There has been interest from clubs in Europe, and he’s also likely to be part of the Mexico team at the World Cup. If he catches the eye as he did in the important knockout games in the Gold Cup, there will be plenty of interest from Europe’s top teams – although he can’t leave Mexico until he turns 18.

Despite already featuring for the senior national side, those in charge of the Mexico set-up decided to give him some World Cup experience by including him in the Under-20 version in Chile last autumn. He scored twice against Spain and again from the penalty spot in the group stage to defeat eventual winners Morocco as Mexico reached the quarter-finals. The stage is now set for him to shine just as brightly on home soil in 2026.

Sadriddin KHASANOV

Bunyodkor (Uzb)

Age: 17

Winger

Named Player of the Tournament after inspiring Uzbekistan to the Under-17 Asian Cup title in April 2025 and followed that up by scoring two goals at the Under-17 World Cup in November. A right-footer who can score goals as well as create them, he has already been linked with clubs in Europe, including Portuguese outfit Braga.

Kutlwano LETHLAKU

Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA)

Age: 19

Winger

The right-sided attacker had plenty of summer interest from European clubs after helping Mamelodi Sundowns to retain the South African championship and then starting one game at the Club World Cup. Sundowns, however, insisted that he will stay for another season.

Fermín LÓPEZ

Barcelona (Spa)

Age: 22

Midfielder

Has been linked with a move to a number of Premier League teams despite becoming a regular in Barcelona’s midfield and a Spanish international. Possessing impressive attacking output, his value has shot up considerably since 2024 when he led Spain to Olympic gold.

Finn JELTSCH

Stuttgart (Ger)

Age: 19

Centre-back

Commanding defender who was recently crowned the best Under-19 player in Germany. Now stepping up to the U21s having previously captained the national team's U19 side. He is polished, a clean tackler, extremely quick and intelligent in his use of the ball. Ever the smart recruiters, Stuttgart signed Jeltsch last January to replace Anthony Rouault and still had change left over.

Jonathan KALIMINA

Kafue Celtic (Zam)

Age: 17

Left-back

The Zambia defender had trials in Sweden before impressing at the Under-17 World Cup towards the end of 2025, but now he may have more prestigious suitors. His form in Qatar saw him named in Zambia’s preliminary AFCON squad, although he didn’t make the final cut.

Lennart KARL

Bayern Munich (Ger)

Age: 17

Attacking midfielder

Grabbed headlines by becoming Bayern’s youngest Champions League goalscorer and has since become a regular in one of the three attacking roles behind Harry Kane. An off-the-cuff street player blessed with insane skills, he is already a serious World Cup option for Germany.

Rio NGUMOHA

Liverpool (Eng)

Age: 17

Winger

Is it any wonder that some look at an underperforming Liverpool this season and call for more game time for the lively young winger? At a time when the Reds are dreadfully short of punch, incisiveness and unpredictability in advanced areas, the growing calls for Ngumoha to be let loose are perfectly understandable.

Yes, he’s a little raw. Yes, he has limited professional experience, with just a handful of substitute appearances in the Premier League and Champions League. But what Arne Slot's side so desperately needs at the moment is spark, and Rio’s ball skills, high energy and ability to run defenders ragged could just ignite the fire.

Fearless to the ninth degree, exuberant and viscerally obsessed with making things happen, the youngster with socks around his ankles has enjoyed a number of impressive cameos for Liverpool this past few months, with one springing to mind in particular: the 100th-minute winner he slammed home in Liverpool’s incredible 3–2 victory at Newcastle United in August. What a way to mark his Premier League bow and what a night to become Liverpool’s youngest-ever scorer, aged just 16.

The all-important question is how prepared Slot is to change course, to tear off the ‘handling with care’ and increase Ngumoha’s workload. The former Feyenoord boss is a firm believer in squad hierarchies, where players have to earn respect and pay dues. When commenting on Ngumoha signing his first pro contract – his new deal will keep him at the club until 2028 – in the autumn, Slot clearly laid out the rules of the pecking order game as he sees them: “The good thing for a youngster at Liverpool is that there are players you are playing with who are better than you. That helps you to stay grounded. If you train and play with other winners like [Cody] Gakpo, [Mo] Salah, [Federico] Chiesa and all the others… he feels there is still a step to make. Firstly, to get to their level and if he is at their level, then it is about being as consistent as these players are.”

Ngumoha, from the East End of London, was once a star pupil at the Chelsea academy, featuring there for eight years prior to a controversial break-up in the summer of 2024, lured away by persuasive voices from Anfield. So upset were Chelsea that they are believed to have banned Liverpool scouts from attending academy games at their Cobham training base. All’s fair in love, war and football, it seems.

Diego LUNA

Real Salt Lake (USA)

Age: 22

Attacking midfielder

Has quickly become one of Mauricio Pochettino’s preferred players for the United States and is likely to be involved in the World Cup squad, if not the starting XI. The Argentine was key in convincing Luna to resist calls from Mexico, for whom he is also eligible. A busy playmaker with a creative profile rare in the US, and an MLS All-Star for the last two years in a row.

Nico O’REILLY

Manchester City (Eng)

Age: 20

Left-back / midfielder

In a time of transition at Manchester City, there are no certainties. While some of Pep Guardiola’s hunches are sure to spectacularly work out, other experiments may not make it off the drawing board. Very much in the first category is Pep’s recent decision to initiate a positional switch for 20-year-old local lad O’Reilly, converting him from a high-quality attacking midfielder into a left-back of huge promise.

Rarely putting a foot wrong in the final weeks of last season, the Manchester-born youngster proved a revelation and has carried on the good work this term: calm, reliable, technically polished and full of attacking intent. City’s new Algeria international defender Rayan Aït-Nouri – brought in from Wolves in a £32m deal in the summer – must be cursing his bad luck. Supposed to be the club’s first-choice left-back, the North African now finds himself as back-up, derailed by an ill-timed injury just and the rapid development of O’Reilly.

Most surprisingly for a young man who never appeared for England’s Under-21s and has fewer than 40 Premier League appearances to his name, he has already forced his way into Thomas Tuchel’s plans for the Three Lions, receiving his first call-up in October and handed his debut the following month in a 2–0 win against Serbia in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley.

“Nico had a fantastic debut today,” Tuchel afterwards. “He seems to be very shy, he doesn’t speak a lot, but he is very intelligent on the pitch and adapted so well to all the new things demanded from him. So well done.”

O’Reilly, who also started in England’s 2–0 victory in Albania a few days later, is clearly made of the right internal stuff and has every chance of going to the World Cup. Left-back has been a problem position for England in the past and here we have a youngster who seems to have all the bases covered. His midfield background offers tactical flexibility and quality in possession, but he has stepped up to the plate defensively too. Standing at well over 6ft, he certainly knows how to impose himself physically and this season has faced off against the right-wing threats of Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka, Mohamed Salah and Rodrygo. On each occasion he more than held his own, even scoring against Real Madrid, and is increasingly trusted for the biggest occasions by Guardiola.

Álvaro MONTORO

Botafogo (Bra)

Age: 18

Attacking midfielder

Scored his debut goal, a last-minute winner for Vélez Sarsfield, in the opening round of the 2025 Copa Libertadores. Skillful and clever, he was snapped up by Botafogo with the aim of selling him on to Europe, though that will have to wait until he has recovered from a fractured collarbone sustained at the Under-20 World Cup in October.

Rodrigo MORA

Porto (Por)

Age: 18

Attacking midfielder

Despite registering ten league goals last season – more than any other teenage player in Europe’s top seven leagues – Mora has had to share game time this campaign with new signing Gabri Veiga. With more minutes at club level, the fresh-faced talent could end up being a World Cup wild card for Portugal.

Rome-Jayden OWUSU-ODURO

AZ (Ned)

Age: 21

Goalkeeper

The Dutch U21 keeper of Ghanaian lineage has developed into one of the most sought-after young goalkeepers on the European circuit. A high-calibre shot-stopper, comfortable with the ball at his feet and a very stable individual, he has already played over 70 games for AZ.

Mason MELIA

Tottenham Hotspur (Eng)

Age: 18

Forward

Recently arrived in Tottenham from Dublin outfit St Patrick’s Athletic a year after agreeing the move to North London. The teenager is arguably the most accomplished striker to come out of the Republic of Ireland since ex-Spurs hero Robbie Keane some 30 years ago. He signed off with 13 goals in 35 games in 2025, his final season in the League of Ireland, and has impressive finishing skills allied to a pronounced work ethic.

Nico PAZ

Como (Ita)

Age: 21

Attacking midfielder

In contrast to his father Pablo, a tough central defender with 14 Argentina caps to his name, Nico is a play-to-thrill playmaker with a crystalline touch, who has already won six national caps himself. Arguably the purest technical talent in Serie A, his club Real Madrid can re-sign him for just €9m in the summer.

RAYAN

Vasco da Gama (Bra)

Age: 19

Striker

Tall, strong and quick left-footed striker, who enjoyed a fine breakout through 2025 after switching from right-wing to centre-forward. Scored 19 goals for Vasco after helping Brazil win the South American Under-20 Championship. Joined Vasco at six, but may not stay much longer.

Lucas QUINTANA

Cerro Porteño (Par)

Age: 21

Centre-back

Classy defender with the traditional Paraguayan virtues of defensive resilience. Has already been part of the Cerro Porteno squad for three players, and played a part in the recent title win. Captained Paraguay at the South American Under-20 Championship a year ago, has outside hopes of making the senior squad for the World Cup and would add some much-needed youth to the defensive ranks if he did.

Ryunosuke SATO

FC Tokyo (Jpn)

Age: 19

Winger

The 19-year-old is wise beyond his years as he has shown in five appearances for the Japan national team, featuring in the largely second-string side that won the East Asian Football Championship last summer. Always wants the ball, technically excellent and fearless, he spent the 2025 season on loan at Fabiano Okayama from FC Tokyo.

SOUZA

Santos (Bra)

Age: 19

Left-back

Strong, talented full-back, proficient in attack and defence, who has done well in the difficult context of a relegation battle. Has been at Santos since the age of nine, but unlikely to stay for long amid growing interest from Tottenham Hotspur. Also on the radar of national team boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Petar SUCIC

Internazionale (Ita)

Age: 22

Midfielder

Although able to play anywhere in midfield, the young midfielder is at his best as an old-style wing-half, supplying dynamism, clever passing angles and refined control. Joined Inter from Dinamo Zagreb in summer. Born in Bosnia & Herzegovina but has 13 caps for Croatia.

Luciano VALENTE

Feyenoord (Ned)

Age: 22

Attacking midfielder

Ironically for a brilliant young playmaker with every chance of a future in the stratosphere, Valente admits that he does not have a head for heights. After swapping hometown club Groningen for Feyenoord in the off-season, the youngster was more than a little apprehensive on being informed that on the day of his unveiling at club open day, he would be transported to Feyenoord’s iconic home ground De Kuip by helicopter.

“Yes, I do have a fear of heights,” the 22-year-old told a reporter.

Down on terra firma, the youngster is very much flourishing in Feyenoord’s famous red-and-white halved shirts. Elegant and imaginative, quick to pick a defence-splitting pass and excellent at bursting through the lines with the ball at his feet, Valente could not have wished for a better start in Rotterdam, and it was hardly a surprise when Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman called him up for the first time recently.

Valente, who made his Oranje debut as a substitute in a World Cup qualifier against Lithuania in November, will not find it easy to carve out a niche for himself in this country’s World Cup squad. Just as well that he is modest and pragmatic.

“We have some fantastic midfielders, players of great quality and I’m just not there yet. To play with them is something to look forward to and to learn from. In international football everything is faster: the passing, the speed of execution, the combinations.”

Born in Groningen to a Dutch mother and Italian father, his first taste of the international game was with the Azzurri, representing them at Under-19 and Under-20 levels, but as time passed Italy’s interest in him faded. The Dutch federation were only too happy to take advantage, including him in their Under-21 squad, and in an ironic twist, his debut for Jong Oranje in March 2025 came in a friendly against Italy.

His Feyenoord coach Robin van Persie, a former Dutch attacking great who knows a thing or two about elite football, is convinced Luciano has what it takes: “I’ve seen enough of him to know. The way he trains, his hunger to improve, how he moves around. He has the drive to get better every day. He’s a great guy.”

Vitor ROQUE

Palmeiras (Bra)

Age: 20

Forward

The most expensive player ever signed by a Brazilian club has already had an interesting career, playing in two Copa Libertadores finals for two different clubs (losing both) either side of an underwhelming spell with Barcelona. His time in Spain wasn’t completely without merit – he showed more promise during a loan with Real Betis – before Palmeiras took him back across the Atlantic for a reported fee of just under £25m.

Palmeiras’ logic is clear: they plan to use him for a while and then sell him back to Europe at a profit. They made a gesture of faith in the talent that shone first with Cruzeiro and then Athletico Paranaense before, at the end of 2023, Barca paid around £70m for him. At the time, Neymar was the only Brazilian to have cost more.

But Vitor Roque did not take to Camp Nou like Neymar did a decade before. It was far from clear that the coaches, first Xavi and then Hansi Flick, really wanted him. And in his limited opportunities he cut a frightened figure, nothing like the rampaging confidence that once characterised the youngster he had been in Brazil.

And the initial signs at Palmeiras were not promising either – the short-term motive for his acquisition was the Club World Cup, a title which is something of an obsession for Palmeiras. But he made little impression, and some wondered if the money had been squandered.

Coach Abel Ferreira sorted out the problem. He came to the conclusion that Vitor Roque is not a conventional number nine, squeezed up between the centre-backs. This is a striker who prefers space, who likes to charge forward, both with and without the ball, attacking areas in front of him. And so Palmeiras started playing with a front two – Vitor Roque advancing from the left channel, and left-footed Argentine Julian Manuel “Flaco” Lopez on the right. Normally operating on the diagonal to each other, the pair hit it off and Vitor Roque, “the Tiger”, was no longer caged.

Instead, in the second half of the season he enjoyed feeding time to the extent that he won a recall to the national team. More than 18 months after debuting against Morocco in March 2023, he came off the bench to score a penalty against Tunisia in November.

But what next? A big year is coming up. Can he keep himself in contention for a World Cup place? And will major European clubs trust his all-round game enough to give him a chance on the other side of the Atlantic? Going into 2026, Vitor Roque has shown that he has the predatory instincts of a tiger – but he is one who still needs to earn his stripes.

Neiser VILLARREAL

Cruzeiro (Bra)

Age: 20

Forward

Styles himself “Ney”, but is a very different player from his Brazilian idol. Strong and guardsman straight-backed, he is an unconventional centre-forward. Had a superb 2025 for Colombia’s Under-20 side, but has now left Millonarios for Brazil still in search of his maiden senior goal.

Can UZUN

Eintracht Frankfurt (Ger)

Age: 20

Attacking midfielder

Whether on duty for club or country, the young playmaker represents limitless creativity and vision. Yet another example of Eintracht’s shrewd recruitment, he came through the ranks at Nürnberg before joining Frankfurt for €11m in 2024. Born in Germany to Turkish parents.

Chemsdine TALBI

Sunderland (Eng)

Age: 20

Winger

The Wearsiders definitely picked up a bargain last summer in the shape of the £18m winger. Lightning-quick, dribbling mode, he was one of Club Brugge’s standout performers in last season’s Champions League. A Belgium youth international, he made his Morocco debut in March and was included in the Atlas Lions' AFCON squad.