Credit: CIES Football Observatory
The 510th CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post has highlighted the next generation of global football stars, ranking the top 200 players worldwide under the age of 20 based on performances in 2025 so far.
The rankings combine two measures: a performance index (based on advanced data from partners Impect) and an experience index (factoring minutes played, adjusted by competition level). Together, they offer a data-driven view of the young footballers making the biggest impact this year.
Barcelona Dominance: Yamal and Cubarsí Lead the Pack
Unsurprisingly, Lamine Yamal once again takes centre stage. The 18-year-old Barcelona winger leads the global list with a remarkable CIES rating of 97.7, the highest mark in both performance and experience. His rise reflects not only his technical brilliance but also the substantial playing time entrusted to him at senior level.
Close behind is teammate Pau Cubarsí, Barcelona’s 18-year-old centre-back, underlining the Catalan club’s success in producing and trusting young talent. Completing the podium is Warren Zaïre-Emery, PSG’s dynamic 19-year-old midfielder, who continues to grow in influence for both club and country.
Emerging Stars Across Europe
Beyond the big names, several players are quickly becoming ones to watch:
- Estêvão Willian (Chelsea) – the Brazilian attacking midfielder ranks fourth, continuing the Premier League’s tradition of investing heavily in elite youth prospects.
- Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid) – another standout 18-year-old in Spain, ranked fifth, showing the enduring La Liga rivalry in nurturing young stars.
- Jorrel Hato (Chelsea) – the 19-year-old full-back adds to Chelsea’s growing pool of top-tier U20 talent.
- Roger Fernandes (SC Braga) – the highest-ranked player outside the big-five leagues, reflecting Portugal’s strength as a talent incubator.
- Geovany Quenda (Sporting CP, already secured by Chelsea) – further proof of Chelsea’s aggressive youth recruitment strategy.
Beyond Europe: Rising Talent from the Americas
While Europe dominates the upper tiers of the rankings, Latin America is strongly represented.
- Elías Montiel (CF Pachuca, Mexico) is the top non-European player, underlining the depth of talent in Liga MX.
- He is followed by Rayan Vitor (Vasco da Gama, Brazil) and Santino Andino (Godoy Cruz, Argentina), both emerging as future stars in South America’s football conveyor belt.
Notably, 48 leagues worldwide are represented across the top 200, showing the global spread of elite youth development.
The Next Wave
Among the youngest names on the list are Gilberto Mora (Tijuana, Mexico), Oskar Pietuszewski (Jagiellonia Bialystok, Poland), and Vasilije Novičić (IMT Belgrade, Serbia). Their inclusion at such an early stage highlights how the global scouting and development ecosystem is expanding its reach.
Why This Matters
The CIES report not only spotlights individual talent but also reflects wider trends in football’s youth market. Clubs like Barcelona, Chelsea, and PSG dominate the rankings because they are:
- Entrusting teenagers with meaningful minutes at senior level.
- Investing in global recruitment networks, particularly in South America and Africa.
- Prioritizing development within first-team structures, rather than relying solely on loans.
For investors, scouts, and clubs, these rankings are more than a list—they are a glimpse into the future of football’s transfer market.
Source: CIES Football Observatory (510th Weekly Post)
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