In this blog, we’re not looking back; we’re looking ahead. Which young talents are set to take the world of football by storm in the years to come? To find out, I turned to the real experts: the P1 Travel Panel.
This morning, I asked everyone in the office to share their top five young players — rising stars under the age of 23 who they believe will shape the future of the game. To create a fair and balanced ranking, we used a points system: players received points based on their position in each top five list, and the final ranking was determined by the total score. The result? A carefully curated top 10 of the most exciting young footballers, reflecting the passion and insight of our team.
Let’s take a look at the list and see which wonderkids made the cut! Here are the top 10 young footballers.
Disclaimer: This ranking is based entirely on the personal opinions of the P1 Travel team and reflects our collective excitement about the future of football. It is not intended to be definitive or analytical, but rather to provide a fun and informal insight into who we believe will be the stars of tomorrow. Disagree with our choices? Great — football wouldn’t be football without debate!
It wasn’t even close. Lamine Yamal ran away with the top spot in our rankings — and who could argue with that? At just 17, he’s already making defenders look silly and breaking records left, right and centre. In 2024, he became the youngest ever to score at a European Championship, helped Spain win the trophy, and casually won both Young Player of the Tournament and Goal of the Tournament. And that was just the warm-up.
This season, he has been electric for Barça, gliding past full-backs, threading impossible passes and playing as though he has been doing this for a decade. La Liga, Copa del Rey, Supercopa? All in the bag. The scariest part? He’s still only 17.
Désiré Doué didn’t just have a breakout year; he became the star of the show. Since moving to PSG, he has become one of the most watchable players in Europe. He has fast feet, fearless runs and the kind of confidence that makes fans gasp. And then came the Champions League final. Two goals. One assist. A 5–0 demolition of Inter Milan. It was his night and his time in the spotlight, and he delivered in style.
Across all competitions, he reached double figures in both goals and assists, proving that he is more than just hype. At just 19 years old, he’s already PSG’s not-so-secret weapon.
You expected him to be here, didn’t you? Jude Bellingham might still be under 23, but he’s already one of the faces of world football. Real Madrid fans adore him, opponents fear him, and England dreams through him. He’s got the full package: goals, grit, leadership and those ice-cold finishes in the dying minutes. Whether it’s in El Clásico or the Champions League, Bellingham shows up when it matters. He’s not the future, he’s the present.
The Barcelona midfielder has been dictating games since his teenage years, and now, aged 22, he continues to elevate Spain’s midfield. Some already regard him as the world’s best midfielder, combining Xavi’s control with Iniesta’s elegance. This season, he finally managed to avoid injury — and wow, did Barça benefit! With Pedri pulling the strings, they won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa.
Pedri doesn’t rely on flashy moments; it is his intelligence, vision and rhythm that control the pace of a match almost effortlessly. With his return to full fitness, he has reminded everyone just how beautiful the game can be when played on his terms.
Defenders rarely make it into lists like these, but Cubarsí isn’t your average defender. Still only 18, he is already a key figure at FC Barcelona, displaying incredible composure, positional awareness and a passing range that far exceeds his years.
His standout performances in the 2025 La Liga and Copa del Rey finals demonstrated his ability to perform under pressure at the highest level. This isn’t hype — it’s the beginning of something very real.
Ajax has a proud history of nurturing elite talent, and Jorrel Hato is the latest player to emerge from their academy. A central defender with pace, power and intelligence, he has been a revelation in the Eredivisie. With top European clubs already showing interest, it’s only a matter of time before he moves on to the next level.
At this point, no one’s surprised by what Florian Wirtz does — they just enjoy the show. Already one of the most complete attacking midfielders in Europe, he combines vision, timing and composure with a level of maturity that’s rare even among veterans.
In 2023/24, he played a pivotal role as Bayer Leverkusen made history by winning their first-ever Bundesliga title without losing a single game. He didn’t just play a part in that unbeaten run, he defined it, controlling games with ease and excelling in the biggest moments.
Feyenoord fans have known it for a while, especially those at the P1 Travel office. At just 18 years old, Antoni Milambo has emerged as one of the brightest talents in the Eredivisie. Calm on the ball, sharp in transition and fearless under pressure, he has quickly become a regular in Feyenoord’s midfield.
While Pedri is the brain, Gavi is the heart. The fiery Barcelona midfielder approaches every match as though it were a final, playing with intensity, drive and relentless energy. His fearless tackling and smart positioning are matched by an underrated technical finesse. Although injuries sidelined him for much of the 2024–25 season, don’t underestimate Gavi. After months of recovery, he has hit the ground running at both Barcelona and the Spanish national team, bringing back the intensity, bite and non-stop energy that the teams were missing.
No more glimpses. Arda Güler is here — and he’s making it count. After a slow, injury-hit start at Real Madrid, the Turkish playmaker has found his rhythm and is now regularly delivering goals, assists and moments of pure class.
From long-range screamers to composed finishes in tight spaces, Güler adds flair with purpose. He’s not just creative for the sake of it — he creates chances, shifts momentum and plays like someone who knows he belongs at the very top. He’s still just 19, but he’s already showing why Madrid bet big on him. His confidence is growing and he is getting more playing time. If he continues in this form, Güler could be one of Europe’s standout stars next season.
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