NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
It is safe to say that the 2026 World Cup was a great platform for young players to shine under the brightest spotlights.
Many of these players laid the foundation to be dominant figures in the international game for years to come. Here are the 10 best players aged 21 or younger at the 2026 World Cup:
Age: 18
Position: Central midfielder
Club: Lille
Ayyoub Bouaddi is one of the key reasons behind Morocco’s rise in international football. Born and raised in France, Bouaddi previously represented French youth teams, but made the switch to represent Morocco shortly before the World Cup. Bouaddi has already impressed at club level with Lille since he was 16 years old.
One of the highlights of his career was starting in a victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League on his 17th birthday. At the World Cup, he impressed and helped Morocco control the midfield in a 1-1 draw against Brazil. He is likely to be transferred to a top club for a huge sum soon. For Morocco, it will ensure that the Atlas Lions are a top team for years to come.
Age: 19
Position: central defense
Club: Barcelona
Most fans knew Cubarsí heading into this tournament after the 19-year-old anchored Barcelona’s defense to the LaLiga title. But this World Cup has put Cubarsí on the brink of becoming a global superstar.
Coming into the final, Spain conceded only one goal and Cubarsi has been a big part of that. Despite being a teenager, he could be the best center back in the world.
Age: 19
Position: Extreme
Club: RB Leipzig
After a stellar club season with RB Leipzig, where he was named Bundesliga Rookie of the Season and is now reportedly close to a move to Paris Saint-Germain, expectations were very high for Diomande heading into this tournament.
He did not score and only had one assist in the victory over Curacao. But there were plenty of times where his elite dribbling was on display, and he helped open up the game for his teammates. In particular, he was explosive in Ivory Coast’s victory over Ecuador and dangerous in the narrow loss to Germany.
Age: 21
Position: Extreme
Club: Paris Saint Germain
Doué is one of many top young French players who transitioned from the 2024 Olympic team to the 2026 World Cup team. He is a two-time winner of the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award and a two-time winner of the UEFA Champions League. He has also won the award for 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 live up to what is already a notable resume for a player his age. He scored in France’s victory over Norway and then assisted on the first goal in the victory over Morocco.
Age: 21
Position: Offensive midfielder
Club: Freiburg
Apart from the first match, Switzerland was very good in this World Cup. If Johan Manzambi was healthy and able to play against Argentina, it could have been a completely different tournament. Unfortunately for Switzerland, Manzambi was injured just before the match against Colombia in the round of 16 and did not play in the last two matches.
But what Manzambi showed against Bosnia and 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 the attack and 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: Offensive midfielder
Club: Club Tijuana
Although it did not advance to the quarterfinals, Mexico enjoyed many positive aspects of this World Cup. They won their group convincingly and then easily defeated Ecuador in the round of 32, and it was not until their dramatic 3-2 defeat to England that they finally conceded a goal.
But Gilberto Mora’s arrival on the international stage was perhaps the most positive for El Tri, as Mora was outstanding in starting Mexico’s last three games. He handled the pressure of starting knockout games at home well and at times led his team’s attack.
Club Tijuana has a very valuable player on its hands. It will be interesting to see Mora’s next steps.
Age: 21
Position: Extreme
Club: RB Leipzig
Everything Norway wants to do in attack revolves around finding ways to get the ball to Erling Haaland. That usually happens through the wingers of the team and fortunately for Norway, Antonio Nusa has developed a solid chemistry with Haaland that will continue to pay dividends at Euro 2028 and the next World Cup.
Nusa was held back in the quarter-final loss to England, but was key to the team’s success early in the tournament. In the 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast in the round of 32, Nusa scored an important goal.
Age: 21
Position: Left rear
Club: City of Manchester
O’Reilly started five of England’s matches at this World Cup, which were the ones the Three Lions won. He plays the full-back position in a very modern way, which requires a lot of athleticism to defend well and attack aggressively. His absence from the starting lineup against Argentina was surprising, but he will be an important part of the team for years to come.
As a starter for Manchester City, he has played well in the World Cup, Champions League and Premier League, making him one of the best left-backs in the world.
Age: 21
Position: Right back, central defense
Club: Villarreal
Just 18 months ago, Alex Freeman was a second-team player for Orlando City in MLS with no national team experience and limited U.S. youth team history. Since then, he became one of the best defenders in the league, earned a transfer to Villarreal and became a starter for the entire national team.
In this World Cup, Freeman offered coach Mauricio Pochettino a lot of tactical flexibility with his ability to defend and advance towards the attack. His elite athleticism was demonstrated at various times, and he even scored an important goal in the victory over Australia.
Age: 19
Position: Abroad
Club: Barcelona
As runner-up for the Ballon d’Or in 2025, Yamal is the most exciting young attacking player in the world. Coming into Sunday’s final, Yamal has just one goal in this tournament, but he has been instrumental in opening up the game and making Spain’s attack more dangerous. Against France, he scored a penalty and helped set up the team’s second goal. He fits perfectly into Luis de la Fuente’s system.
Honorable mentions
Rayan (Brazil)
Joao Neves (Portugal)
Lucas Herrington (Australia)
Ibrahim Mbaye (Senegal)
Mbekezeli Mbokazi (South Africa)
