In football, it is becoming far more common to see players representing their countries having never done so at youth level. What still tends to be the case, however, is that representing a nation at any set-up below the senior one puts players in better stead to receive a call up.
A nation’s under-21s side, or under-20s depending on their region, offer a brilliant glimpse into the potential heroes to be in years to come. Especially now, there are a number of exceptional young talents in the world that are included in an under-21s international team, with some possessing enough talent to represent the senior side and simply being unable to due to other great players.
With countries having called their top stars away for the final international break of the 2024/25 season, which 10 current under-21 players are the best in the world?
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Ranking Factors
To be included in this list, a player needed to have been called up to their country's latest under-21s or under-20s side (as of March 2025), regardless of whether they have been capped by their senior team or not. Players such as Lamine Yamal, for example, do not qualify, as while he is under 21 years of age, he is currenlty a fixture in the Spanish national side. Adam Wharton, though capped at senior level, is eligible as he is in the current England U21 team.
10 Sverre Nypan
Norway
Having only turned 18 at the end of 2024, Sverre Nypan is perhaps the most talked-about Norwegian prospect since Martin Odegaard, who himself rose to prominence as just a teenager. Nypan made his senior debut in football just before he turned 16 for Rosenborg, with whom he still plays at the time of writing.
Comfortable playing anywhere in the middle of the pitch, Nypan is a central midfielder by trade. The teenager truly broke into the Rosenborg first team in the 2023 season and since then, the form he has shown has seen a number of teams register interest in Nypan.
A Norway youth international since 2021, Nypan was first called up to the under-21s side in 2024 before turning 18, a testament to not only the midfielder’s potential, but the quality that he already possesses, despite his age.
9 Franco Mastantuono
Argentina
Franco Mastantuono in action for River Plate
River Plate have garnered a reputation over the decades for being a source of brilliant footballing talents, which hasn’t changed in recent years, as is evident by the emergence of Franco Mastantuono. He joined the club in 2019 as a youngster, progressing through the ranks and making his debut five years later, becoming one of River’s youngest-ever players.
Within days of his debut, Mastantuono became the youngest goalscorer in his club’s history with a strike against Excursionistas in the Copa Argentina, an inclination as to the player he can perhaps become with time. Mastantuono currently plays for the Argentina under-20s, despite not yet being 18 years old.
Mastantuono has become a target for many European clubs, with the assumption being that the Argentine will soon find his way to one of the biggest leagues in Europe to continue his development.
8 Ayyoub Bouaddi
France
Bouaddi
Lille moved to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi while he was still a youth player, with the midfielder joining their ranks in 2021 after nine years of playing with AFC Creil. Two years after becoming part of Lille’s youth set-up, he made his senior debut for the side, becoming the youngest Ligue 1 debutant in over 40 years.
Since his first appearance, Bouaddi has gone from strength to strength, steadily developing as a midfielder and only finding his importance in the Lille first team grow. On his 17th birthday, Bouaddi started a Champions League match against Real Madrid, which Lille ran out as 1-0 victors from.
Bouaddi was first called up to the French under-21s side in 2024, a team in which he has since kept his place. Should the midfielder continue on his current path, then it will not be long before he makes a senior debut for his country.
7 Claudio Echeverri
Argentina
Claudio Echeverri in action for River Plate
The second of two River Plate starlets to feature on this list, there is an argument that Claudio Echeverri is a brighter prospect than even Mastantuono. Echeverri is considered one of the best young footballers in the world at the moment and within the opening weeks of 2025, he moved to Manchester City, having agreed to a transfer in 2024 and spending the time between then and his move on loan at River Plate.
Chances are, it will take Echeverri time to break into the Man City first team. Pep Guardiola has a history of gradually introducing youngsters into his system, but with modern examples including Phil Foden and Rico Lewis, it is hard to argue that the Spaniard’s methods are not effective.
Echeverri is already a well-established member of the Argentina youth team, under the management of former Bayer Leverkusen left-back Diego Placente. Given the hype around Echeverri and his recent move to England, it would be more surprising than not should he not feature for the senior Argentina side in the years to come.
6 Rayan Cherki
France
Rayan Cherki in action for Lyon
It can be easy to forget that Rayan Cherki is still just 21 years of age, given he has been a fixture in the Lyon first team for years now. The playmaker made his senior debut as a teenager in 2019 and since then has racked up over 100 appearances in all competitions for his hometown club.
The youngest-ever player to feature in a Champions League semi-final, Cherki is a brilliant decision-maker, complete with a high level of technical ability and a keen eye for a pass.
Cherki is an established member of the French under-21 side, having made over 20 appearances for them since his debut in 2021. With numerous sides having registered an interest in Cherki in recent years, it would hardly be surprising to see the attacking midfielder on the move within the next year or two.
5 Ethan Nwaneri
England
Ethan Nwaneri
Ethan Nwaneri is the youngest-ever Premier League debutant which brings with it a certain level of pressure, especially given that he debuted for Arsenal, a club well within the hunt for major honours each season. Despite that, in the years since making his debut as a 15-year-old, Nwaneri has developed incredibly.
The 2024/25 season saw a role of increased importance for Nwaneri, who deputised for the injured Bukayo Saka on the right wing in Mikel Arteta’s side. Despite his youth, Nwaneri already looks well-established with the Gunners, having risen to prominence with fellow Hale End graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly.
While Thomas Tuchel called Lewis-Skelly up to the senior England team, Nwaneri is yet to have received such an honour. With that being said, however, Nwaneri is still just a teenager and was rewarded with a maiden call-up to the England under-21s side, with eventual progression to the Three Lions almost inevitable.
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4 Fermin Lopez
Spain
Fermin Lopez for Barcelona
After spending four years in the youth academy at Real Betis, Fermin Lopez moved to Barcelona in 2016, progressing through the Catalan side’s academy for six further years before moving into Barca’s B Team in 2022. After spending a season on loan with Linares, Lopez returned to the Camp Nou and with time, found a place in the first team.
After a strong pre-season in 2023, Lopez quickly became a part of the Barca team, making over 30 appearances in Xavi’s final season as manager. Under his successor, Hansi Flick, Lopez has maintained a position of importance and made his debut for the Spanish national team in 2024.
As it stands, however, Lopez has returned to the Spanish under-21s side, who he first appeared for in 2023. Should his form continue, however, then it will not be long before Lopez’s place in the senior Spanish side becomes secure.
3 Hugo Ekitike
France
Hugo Ekitike
After breaking through at Reims in the 2021/22 season, striker Hugo Ekitike earned himself a big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain, which was finalised after the forward initially spent a season on loan in the French capital. Despite his promise, Ekitike struggled for consistency in Paris.
In 33 matches, the striker scored just four goals for the Parisians, ultimately leading to a departure just 18 months after his initial move. Ekitike took his talents to Germany, signing for Eintracht Frankfurt on a loan deal that was made permanent the following summer.
Since moving to the Bundesliga, Ekitike has reminded all who have watched him why he attracted so much attention. The forward has finally found his form once again and Ekitike is now presumed to be Eintracht’s next big-money sale.
Ekitike was rewarded for his form in Germany with a call up to the French under-21s side in 2024, a team with which he has continued to play since as he looks, one day, to be part of the senior French side.
2 Harvey Elliott
England
A natural right winger who has transitioned into a central midfield role in recent years, Harvey Elliott broke into senior football with Fulham in 2018, moving to Liverpool the following year. Upon returning to Anfield after spending the 2020/21 season on loan at Blackburn Rovers, Elliott found himself further integrated with the first team.
In the years since, Elliott’s importance in the Liverpool team has grown, first under Jurgen Klopp and since under Arne Slot. His best moment of the 2024/25 campaign, without much argument, was scoring a winning goal against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League (if, for a moment, the eventual result after two legs is forgotten).
Elliott is one of the Premier League’s best young talents and as such, has been part of the England under-21s since 2022, having racked up 20 appearances and eight goals for Lee Carsley’s side since making his debut.
1 Adam Wharton
England
Despite being just 21 years old, Adam Wharton is considered one of the world’s best young midfielders. The left-footed middle man, comfortable playing in either the centre of the park or in defensive midfield, has been praised for his composure and ability, which has only improved since he joined Crystal Palace from Blackburn Rovers.
Wharton’s form for the Eagles in his first few months there saw him chosen as part of the England squad for the 2024 Euros, though many criticised Gareth Southgate for not giving Wharton a single minute. He has since battled injury which has seen him fall out of the senior side.
With that being said, Wharton’s absence from the Three Lions will not be a long one should he remain fit and firing. The midfielder has a profile that is rare in and amongst his competition and as such, could prove to be a staple in the senior side for years to come if and when he returns to that fold.
( All stats are fromTransfermarktand are correct as of 20/03/2025 )
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