April 17 – To mark the publication of its 500th Weekly Post, the CIES Football Observatory has turned its data lens on the next generation — highlighting the young players already amassing significant match experience in senior football before even turning 24.
For this landmark edition, the spotlight falls on footballers born in 2001 or later who have played the most official senior matches in their careers to date — a measure not just of early talent, but also of trust from clubs and physical resilience.
Rodrygo, now an established figure at Real Madrid, tops the list for those born in 2001 with an astonishing 376 appearances. The Brazilian forward, long touted as one of Madrid’s most reliable wide threats, leads his cohort by some distance.
The analysis identifies a standout player for each subsequent birth year. Eduardo Camavinga (2002), Jude Bellingham (2003), Ângelo Gabriel (2004), Vitor Roque (2005), Endrick Felipe (2006), and Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal (2007 onwards) each lead their respective age groups in terms of senior appearances.
However, it’s not only total matches played that offer insight. CIES also examined the average number of games played per year since each player’s professional debut — a metric that reveals just how intensively some of football’s youngest talents are being used.
Lamine Yamal again tops the table, averaging an extraordinary 59.7 games per year since his senior debut. It’s a workload that underlines both his rapid rise and the extent to which Barcelona are building around the 16-year-old. He is followed closely by clubmate and compatriot Pau Cubarsí (59.0) and PSG’s Portuguese midfielder João Neves (55.0), both of whom are rapidly becoming central figures at club and, increasingly, international level.
When breaking down by year of birth, other top performers emerge: Bristol City’s Jason Knight (2001), Manchester City defender Joško Gvardiol (2002), Bellingham again (2003), João Neves (2004), Lyon’s Malick Fofana (2005), and Ajax’s in-demand defender Jorrel Hato (2006) all lead their respective age groups for average matches per year.
In an era where fixture congestion and player burnout are ever-present concerns, the data offers a double-edged picture: on one hand, these players are being fast-tracked to the top of the game. On the other, the sheer volume of matches at such a young age could raise questions over longevity and career management.
Still, as CIES hits its 500th publication, the message is clear — elite clubs are no longer waiting to bet on youth. In many cases, the future is already here, and it’s playing 50-plus matches a season.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1745040660labto1745040660ofdlr1745040660owedi1745040660sni@g1745040660niwe.1745040660yrrah1745040660