⚽ The top men's U21 soccer players in the world

03.04.2026, 18:56 espn.com

The English Premier League has the best of the best talent around the world, right? Well, as ESPN's list of the top 39 players aged 21 or under shows, that's not the case, as only one of our top 13 comes from the league. So, despite Chelsea's focus on trying to sign the best young talent for millions of dollars, has there been a shift in where they want to play?

For the eighth straight year (read 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 here), our resident scout Tor-Kristian Karlsen has ranked the hottest prospects around. Now 22, last year's No. 2 Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) is too old to be included, while Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Xavi Simons (Tottenham Hotspur) and Benjamin Sesko (Manchester United) are also now over the age limit.

With multiple teams and leagues around the world, you have to cast a wide net to find the best, so we examined the game's youngest players with input from ESPN's reporters in the Netherlands, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Africa, Asia and Australia. The Premier League is still well represented, as you'd expect, but who has done enough to land a place on this year's list, what are their particular qualities, and how can they get even better?

Why 39?

Tor-Kristian Karlsen is a Norwegian football scout and executive and is the former chief executive and sporting director at AS Monaco. He will write regularly for ESPN on the business of soccer and the process of scouting.

For the past three years, 39 has worked well, and from an initial long list of 100 players, those remaining best satisfied the main criteria: appearances at the highest level, consistent performance over a sustained period and the potential to develop into a top-level footballer.

What types of research were conducted?

I used a sounding board consisting of professional scouts and sporting directors from several top European clubs before deciding on the final ranking, as well as some online scouting platforms. Personal preference also played a role.

Is there a reason attacking players dominate the list?

In general, forwards get more playing time at a younger age than, say, central defenders or goalkeepers, who tend to need more time to develop tactical awareness, positioning and understanding of the game. Beyond those who made it, other defenders considered included new Liverpool signing JérémyJacquet and Chelsea's Jorrel Hato

It speaks volumes about the array of attacking talent that players like Endrick, Ethan Nwaneri, Konstantinos Karetsas, Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens and Yankuba Minteh didn't make the final cut, some due to minutes. Last year's No. 8, Gavi, was too injured during the year, while Malick Fofana was also out for too long.

Notes:

Players included must be age 21 or under on April 1, 2026.

Transfer values are taken from Transfermarkt.

Positions are: GK (goalkeeper), LB (left back), RB (right back), CB (center back), DM (defensive midfield), CM (central midfield), AM (attacking midfield), FW (forward), ST (striker).

Stats correct as of March 31 via Opta/ESPN's Global Research team.

Jump to: No. 30 | No. 25. | No. 20. | No. 15. | No. 10. | No. 5. | No. 1.

Club/country: RB Leipzig/GermanyAge: 19Estimated transfer value: €28 million2025 position: Unranked

Ouédraogo has been followed by scouts from Europe's biggest clubs from an early age. But since joining RB Leipzig from Schalke 04 in the summer of 2024, he has demonstrated that the technical and creative elements of his game have reached another level.

He boasts a rare physical and stylistic makeup, as a tall (6-foot-3) central midfielder with outstanding balance and body control, strong technical ability, excellent dribbling skills, the ability to carry the ball forward at pace, and shoot with both feet. Used primarily as a box-to-box No. 8 -- though his role often resembles more of a No. 10 behind the striker -- in addition to his tremendous, line-breaking dribbles, he is also blessed with the ability to make smart touches, flicks and one-twos to create chances for his teammates.

On pure potential, Ouédraogo would be a lot higher on this list, but recurring injuries have hindered his progress.

Key stat: His tendency to drive into advanced areas is reflected in 5.41 touches in the opposition box per 90 minutes -- by far the highest among central midfielders in the German Bundesliga).

How he can improve: He needs to up his defensive involvement when compared to his peers. His first touch can also be unreliable occasionally.

Club/country: Bournemouth/BrazilAge: 19Estimated transfer value: €40M2025 position: Unranked

Bournemouth moved quickly to secure the Brazil international from Vasco da Gama for €28.5 million in January, beating several European heavyweights to the punch. And though still a player in development, he has looked comfortable with the intensity of the Premier League and even scored a goal on his home debut against Aston Villa.

Although Brazil regularly produces technically gifted attackers, Rayan stands out for his physicality and explosive change of pace when driving forward with the ball, particularly when he finds space in wide areas. From those positions he can turn a transition into an attacking threat and use his potent left foot to test the goalkeeper.

However, while he is still developing the instincts of a penalty-area poacher, Rayan's overall skill set does raise some tactical questions. Indeed, right now he looks more naturally suited to a wide-forward role -- as a long-term successor to Antoine Semenyo at Bournemouth -- where his acceleration and directness can be used to its full force, rather than operating exclusively as a central No. 9 striker.

Key stat: It's a small sample size, but Rayan has won 1.87 of his aerial duels for Bournemouth, which ranks him highly against other strikers. He has 0.4 goal contributions per game played, the fifth-most among Brazilian-born players in the Premier League this season.

How he can improve: Rayan needs to reduce the reliance on his left foot to make him less predictable, particularly in one-vs.-one situations where shifting the ball in either direction could open up more options. And if he wants to become a complete center forward then he will also need to refine his link-up play, balancing his instinct to run in behind the defense with the ability to hold up the ball and connect with his teammates.

Club/country: FC Cologne/GermanyAge: 19Estimated transfer value: €40M2025 position: Unranked

El Mala was a standout performer after scoring four goals in four matches at the U19 European Championship for Germany in 2025. After spending the previous two seasons in Germany's third tier, the forward has had a breakout campaign in the Bundesliga, registering 10 goals and three assists for Cologne while battling to help the club stay clear of relegation.

Though his technical and physical attributes are eye-catching, his results are most notable. Operating predominantly from the left flank, he can accelerate quickly into space, fend off challenges with his strength, and run at the defense. When cutting inside onto his stronger right foot, he frequently creates angles for shots or crosses around the edge of the box, helped by subtle feints and quick body shifts.

At 6-foot-2, he is unusually tall for a wide player, a physical trait that can also help his defensive duties, but he can beat opponents in tight spaces and often uses his quick footwork rather than relying purely on pace.

Key stat: El Mala averages 3.44 shots per 90 in the Bundesliga this season, and only Lamine Yamal has more (14) than his 10 goals in the 2025-26 Bundesliga season among players 21 or younger from Europe's top five leagues.

How he can improve: El Mala's clearest area to work on is decision-making. Occasionally, he can be a bit selfish, hanging on to the ball too long or opting for optimistic long-range shots instead of picking out teammates in better positions. Improving his awareness in structured attacks -- particularly against deep defensive blocks -- would mean he can impact games more.

Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens predict which young players from the 39 best men's U21 players in the world list could be set for a move in the summer transfer window.

Club/country: Inter Milan/ItalyAge: 20Estimated transfer value: €35M2025 position: Unranked

The emergence of a classic No. 9 striker is always welcomed in Italy, and the 20-year-old has passed his initial examination, scoring nine goals for his club during his debut Serie A campaign and adding three more for his country.

At 6-foot-3, Esposito has the traditional center/forward profile, but with several modern flourishes. He likes to engage physically with opposition center backs, but is also understanding how to move inside the penalty area and link up more effectively with his teammates. The timing of his layoffs and combinations has become a more visible part of his game this season, and his ability to create space and keep the ball helps his team push higher up the pitch.

Furthermore, he often occupies defenders enough to allow others to move into more advanced areas, making him valuable even in matches when he doesn't score.

Key stat: Esposito has won 50% of his aerial duels and 49.7% of his ground duels this season, highlighting a level of physical competitiveness that is unusual for a 20-year-old striker in his first Serie A campaign.

How he can improve: Much of the next step lies in refining the technical side of his game. Greater composure when finishing under pressure, improved short passing accuracy and a more reliable touch when playing layoffs and flicks would help him reach the next level.

Club/country: Tottenham Hotspur/EnglandAge: 20Estimated transfer value: €35M2025 position: 36

It is difficult to pass judgment on Gray during what has been a chaotic season for Tottenham. Opinions among the club's supporters have been divided: Some have grown frustrated with his occasionally erratic passing, while others view him as one of the few players who can loo