Every year, dozens of new football stars stand out. With the sport forcing younger players to feature on the pitch due to injury crises, it comes as no surprise that there have never been more talents breaking through.
Here comes 22Bet’s list of top trending young football players.
5. Endrick
At the young age of 17, Endrick left Brazil for Real Madrid. It’s a big step. For many, an impossible one. From his first appearances, he showed an uncharacteristic confidence, rarely found in rookies at a high level.
His ball-striking excellence promises him a bright future even though he’s now only 18 years old. He managed to impress a crowd accustomed to seeing the likes of Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Vinicius Jr.
Endrick, vini and rodrygo <3 🤍 pic.twitter.com/h0RY3wzSXH
— Endrick 🇧🇷 (@Endricki9i) March 18, 2025
Although he may not be a starter, there’s no doubt that Endrick will end like a Vinicius project. It can be argued that the presence of two other Brazilians by his side in the front three is likely to have helped his adaptation in Spain.
Endrick was not supposed to be joining the Seleção for the March international break, but he was selected after Neymar Jr’s injury. Evaluated at 40M, he’s undoubtedly one of the brightest up-and-coming talents.
4. Warren Zaïre-Emery
Paris Saint-Germain never used to rely on their academy – this is what makes the rise of Warren Zaïre-Emery so exceptional. He first featured for PSG in 2022 after showcasing his talent in the Youth League and France’s youth ranks.
He was a skilled midfielder, capable of all types of tasks. He stood out at a time when the team needed him the most – a tactically adept player able to progress through the pitch while being pressured by opponents.
🇫🇷⭐️ Warren Zaïre-Emery captained PSG on his 19th birthday. ©️
They won the game 4-1. Big honour for the young midfielder. 👏✨ pic.twitter.com/XN6zbx36Cu
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) March 9, 2025
Increasingly trusted by his coaches, he made his breakthrough seasons under Luis Enrique. The Asturian coach made him a unique piece of his puzzle.
Warren was a key player in the last seasons as an offensive midfielder, leading him to impressive numbers in goals and assists. He became the club’s youngest UCL goalscorer, leading the club to extend his contract until 2029.
He was also voted Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year in 2024, establishing himself as a starter at Paris Saint-Germain. Even when PSG struggled, he found ways to score – finding the net against Atlético de Madrid in a 1-2 defeat.
Zaïre-Emery has been just as successful with the French, called up by Didier Deschamps for EURO2024, where he remained a starter until France’s elimination in the semifinals.
3. Pau Cubarsí
There are so many breakout players in the offensive and the attack – this is actually our only defensive pick. Young defenders rarely feature in lists like these because they typically don’t score even if they’re key players.
Cubarsí immediately distinguished himself as a confident centre-back when Barcelona needed a leader in Ronald Araújo’s absence. He went from a regular talent to a starter in a matter of weeks, learning from his mistakes but becoming impossible not to praise.
Pau Cubarsí on life at La Masía 🛏️🛁 pic.twitter.com/4rA8eMvyru
— 433 (@433) March 20, 2025
Not only does he play with the wall, but he’s a smart defender – which explains why Hansi Flick has found it difficult to rest the Spaniard.
Young Cubarsí would likely fare well in most playstyles, but Flick’s offside trap has worked wonders for him. He’s proven he can concentrate for the full ninety minutes and has prevented the best goalscorers from finding the net, even in 1v1 situations. He may not seem physical, but the firm defender is enough to stop most strikers from scoring.
Despite already making his debut under coach Luis de La Fuente, he’s not yet managed to break out with the national team.
2. Desiré Doué
Translated, Desiré Doué’s name would be “Wanted Talented.” A true description of this new footballer. The young star broke through the ranks of Rennes in Ligue 1 in the 2023-24 season at the age of 18.
Dribbling his way out of any situation, Doué distinguished himself as a player with flair. Although his attacking statistics were not particularly impressive at Rennes – four goals and four assists, they indicated his flair for the attacking game.
🗣️ Désiré Doué: “Of course there are players who inspired me here. Today there’s Kylian Mbappé. Being able to be around a player of such quality… it’s beautiful.” pic.twitter.com/tW4fbbsrw6
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) March 18, 2025
Doué was behind PSG’s rise this term under Luis Enrique, combining well with his teammates in counter-attacks. In the Champions League, he scored two goals and assisted three in eleven matches, establishing himself as a starter.
Doué has often been described as a ‘fun’ player, taking risks for the team. He’s totalled more than ten goals across all competitions this season, playing in a variety of roles. This led Didier Deschamps to select him for the French National Team for the first time.
At Paris Saint-Germain, his technical level and creativity led him to combine well with his teammate Ousmane Dembél. A similar dynamic is anticipated for Les Bleus.
1. Lamine Yamal
If there’s one player who went from a newbie to a world star in the last 365 days, it’s for sure Lamine Yamal.
Raised in La Masia, he was rumoured to be Barcelona’s greatest talent of his generation. It even led to Jorge Mendes representing him before he turned 16, leading him to become one of the best-paid players in the youth ranks.
Due to the dire situation after the exit of Dembélé, Yamal quickly gained the trust of Xavi, de La Fuente, and Flick. It was only a matter of time til his dazzling dribbling was noticed by de la Fuente, becoming a key component of Spain’s EURO2024 win. He finished the tournament as the player with the most goal contributions at the young age of just 17.
— Lamine Yamal 🇪🇸 (@Lamineeyamal__) March 14, 2025
Just like Cubarsí, he doesn’t have a replacement in the squad, leading him to be overworked by his coaches. In the few weeks he was sidelined with injuries, his absence took an immense toll on the team’s morale and tactics. His creativity and constant improvement make him one of the most feared dribblers in the world, even scoring no-look goals from far.
Yamal’s effortless goal-scoring, relentless dribbling, and creative solutions make him a formidable player for opposition defenders to mark.
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