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It is safe to say that the 2026 World Cup was an excellent platform for young players to shine under the brightest spotlights.
Many of these players laid the groundwork to be dominant figures in the international game for years to come. Here are the top 10 players aged 21 and under from the 2026 World Cup:
Age: 18
Position: Central midfielder
Club: Small
Ayyoub Bouaddi is one of the main reasons behind Morocco’s rise in international football. Bouaddi was born and raised in France and previously represented France youth teams, but switched to represent Morocco shortly before the World Cup. Bouaddi has already impressed at club level with Lille since he was 16.
One of his career highlights was starting with a win over Real Madrid in the Champions League on his 17th birthday. At the World Cup, he impressed, helping Morocco control the midfield in a 1-1 draw against Brazil. He is likely to be transferred to a top club soon for a huge sum. For Morocco, he wants to ensure that the Atlas Lions are a top team in the coming years.
Age: 19
Position: Central defense
Club: Barcelona
Most fans knew the Cubars were heading into this tournament after the 19-year-old anchored Barcelona’s back line to the LaLiga title. But this World Cup has put Cubarsí on the brink of becoming a global superstar.
Going into the final, Spain only conceded one goal and Cubarsí has been a big part of that. Despite being a teenager, he might be the best center back in the world.
Age: 19
Position: Winger
Club: RB Leipzig
After a fantastic club season with RB Leipzig, where he was named Bundesliga rookie of the season and is now reportedly closing in on a move to Paris Saint-Germain, expectations were very high for Diomande heading into this tournament.
He did not score and had just one assist in a win over Curaçao. But there were plenty of times where his elite dribbling was on display and it helped open up the game for his teammates. In particular, he was explosive in Ivory Coast’s win over Ecuador and was dangerous in the narrow loss to Germany.
Age: 21
Position: Winger
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Doué is one of the many top young French players to move from the 2024 Olympic squad to the 2026 World Cup squad. He has won Ligue 1’s Young Player of the Year twice and has won the UEFA Champions League twice. He has also won the award for the best young player in both the Champions League and the Club World Cup.
At this World Cup he played well in wins over Senegal, Norway, Paraguay and Morocco to add to what is already a remarkable CV for a player of his age. He scored in France’s win over Norway and then assisted the opening goal in the win over Morocco.
Age: 21
Position: Attacking midfielder
Club: Freiburg
Apart from the first match, Switzerland was very good in this World Cup. If Johan Manzambi was fit and able to play against Argentina, it could have been a completely different tournament. Unfortunately for Switzerland, Manzambi was injured just before the Colombia match in the Round of 16 and did not play in the last two matches.
But what Manzambi showed against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada and Algeria was enough to easily make him one of the best young players in the tournament, with three goals and two assists in those three games. Manzambi can play all positions in attack and he combines elite athleticism with a high level of skill that makes him difficult to defend. He is rumored to be joining Newcastle United in the near future.
Age: 17
Position: Attacking midfielder
Club: Club Tijuana
Although it did not progress to the quarter-finals, Mexico enjoyed many positive results from this World Cup. It won its group convincingly and then easily defeated Ecuador in the round of 16, and it was only with the dramatic 3-2 loss to England that it finally conceded a goal.
But the arrival of Gilberto Mora on the international scene was perhaps the biggest positive for El Tri, as Mora was excellent starting Mexico’s last three games. He handled the pressure well by starting knockout matches at home and led his team’s attack at times.
Club Tijuana have a very valuable player on their hands. It will be interesting to see Mora’s next move.
Age: 21
Position: Winger
Club: RB Leipzig
Everything Norway wants to do in attack revolves around finding ways to get Erling Haaland. This typically happens through the team’s wing players, and fortunately for Norway, Antonio Nusa has developed a solid chemistry with Haaland that will only continue to pay dividends for EC 2028 and the next World Cup.
Nusa was featured in the quarter-final loss to England, but he was key to the team’s success earlier in the tournament. In the 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast in the round of 16, Nusa scored an important goal.
Age: 21
Position: Left back
Club: Manchester City
O’Reilly started five of England’s games at this World Cup, which the Three Lions won. He plays the full-back position in a very modern way, which requires a lot of athleticism to both defend well and push aggressively into the attack. His absence from the starting line-up against Argentina was surprising, but he will be an important part of the team for years to come.
A starter with Manchester City, he has now played well in the World Cup, in the Champions League and in the Premier League to make him one of the top left backs in the world.
Age: 21
Position: Right back, centre-back
Club: Villarreal
Just 18 months ago, Alex Freeman was a second-teamer with Orlando City in the MLS with no national team experience and limited U.S. youth national team history. Since then, he became one of the league’s best defenders, earned a transfer to Villarreal and became a lock starter with the full national team.
At this World Cup, Freeman offered head coach Mauricio Pochettino a lot of tactical flexibility with his ability to defend and move into attack. His elite athleticism was on display in several moments and he even scored an important goal in the win over Australia.
Age: 19
Position: winger
Club: Barcelona
A runner-up for the Ballon d’Or in 2025, Yamal is the most exciting young attacking player in the world. Heading into Sunday’s final, Yamal has only one goal in this tournament, but he has helped open up the game and make Spain’s attack more dangerous. Against France, he drew a penalty and helped set up the team’s second goal. He fits Luis de la Fuente’s system beautifully.
Honorable mentions
Rayan (Brazil)
João Neves (Portugal)
Lucas Herrington (Australia)
Ibrahim Mbaye (Senegal)
Mbekezeli Mbokazi (South Africa)
