December 23 – The stars of tomorrow are already making waves today. A scouting report by the CIES Football Observatory and Wyscout has identified the best-performing footballers born in 2004 or later across 65 leagues worldwide.
Using a performance index calculated across six key areas- ground defence, aerial play, distribution, chance creation, take-ons, and finishing – the rankings offer a detailed look at young players lighting up the global stage. The index, scored on a 100-point basis, serves as the backbone for the report, which we dug into to find the top stars of tomorrow.
At just 17 years old, FC Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsí stands out as the dominant defender with an impressive score of 90.2. Calm under pressure and with maturity beyond his years, Cubarsí is already being touted as the next great product from Barça’s famed academy.
In the assisting midfielder category, PSG’s Joao Neves takes the crown with a score of 91.9. Having recently made the jump from Benfica, Neves was closely linked with Manchester United, a club that could desperately use the 20-year-old’s creative spark.
Neves’ club teammate Warren Zaire-Emery, meanwhile, dominated the holding midfielder rankings. Already a pivotal presence in Paris’ midfield, the 18-year-old has solidified his reputation as one of the most complete young midfielders in the game.
Juventus and Türkiye star Kenan Yildiz emerged as the standout left winger, edging out Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho. Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Bynoe-Gittens also impressed, rounding out a trio of young wide players poised to take Europe by storm.
No surprises as to who topped the ranking – 17-year-old Spain and Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal (pictured) was the highest-ranked player across all positions, amassing an extraordinary score of 93. Already a regular in Barça’s senior squad and Spain’s national team, Yamal’s potential seems limitless, earning frequent comparisons to another gifted right winger for Barcelona – the highest of praise.
In the race for the top centre-forward, FC Porto’s Samu Aghehowa ranked top. Formerly known as Omorodion, the Spain striker has quickly become one of Europe’s most exciting young attacking prospects. An out-and-out nine in every sense, Aghehowa has tallied 16 goals across 18 games spanning the Liga Portugal and the Europa League.
Ranking leaders:
Goalkeepers: Guillaume Restes (Toulouse) and Rome Jayden Owusu-Oduro (AZ Alkmaar).
Centre backs: Abdukodir Khusanov (Lens), Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona) and Taras Mykhavko (Dynamo Kyiv).
Full/wing backs: Jorrel Hato (Ajax), Malick Diouf (Slavia Prague), Oliver Braude (Heerenveen), Martim Fernandes (Porto) and Geovany Quenda (Sporting CP).
Midfielders: Warren Zäire-Emery (Paris St-Germain), Aleksandar Pavlović (Bayern Munich), João Neves (Paris St-Germain), Kendry Paez (Independente del Valle) and Aleksey Batrakov (Lokomotiv Moskow).
Wingers: Kenan Yildiz (Juventus), Thiago Fernández (Vélez Sarsfield), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) and Arda Güler (Real Madrid).
Centre forwards: Samu Aghehowa (Porto) and Kauã Elias (Fluminense).
To see the full report click here.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1734975838labto1734975838ofdlr1734975838owedi1734975838sni@g1734975838niwe.1734975838yrrah1734975838