Scouting Players Research
The Best Wonderkids in Europe's Top Five Leagues, by the Numbers
Published 2026-10-09 · updated 2026-10-17 · data: Sportmonks, season 2026/2027
Every club wants the next one before the market prices him. These are the 15 best players aged 21 and under in Europe's top five leagues this season, each rated only against players of his own position, with 450 minutes or more.
Top 15, aged 21 and under
| # | Player | Age | Position | Score | Strongest at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamine Yamal FC Barcelona · ESP | 19 | RWF | 92 | Successful dribbles (top 0%) |
| 2 | Franco Mastantuono Fiorentina · ITA | 19 | RWF | 72 | Shots (top 4%) |
| 3 | Xavi Espart FC Barcelona · ESP | 19 | FB | 72 | Interceptions (top 4%) |
| 4 | Yassir Zabiri Racing Santander · ESP | 21 | CF | 70 | Goals (top 0%) |
| 5 | Jon Martín Vicente Real Sociedad · ESP | 20 | CB | 67 | Aerial duels won (top 13%) |
| 6 | Luka Vuskovic Brighton & Hove Albion · ENG | 19 | CB | 66 | Aerial duels won (top 0%) |
| 7 | Raphaël Le Guen Brest · FRA | 20 | CB | 65 | Aerial duels won (top 13%) |
| 8 | Jaydee Bruce Hamady Canvot Crystal Palace · ENG | 20 | CB | 63 | Tackles (top 3%) |
| 9 | Jahmai Simpson-Pusey FC Köln · GER | 20 | CB | 62 | Dribbled past (top 1%) |
| 10 | Keita Kosugi Eintracht Frankfurt · GER | 20 | LB | 62 | Interceptions (top 15%) |
| 11 | Hennes Behrens FC Augsburg · GER | 21 | LWB | 61 | Duels won (top 6%) |
| 12 | Anis Ouzenadji Troyes · FRA | 19 | LB | 61 | Interceptions (top 21%) |
| 13 | Gessime Yassine Strasbourg · FRA | 20 | RWF | 61 | Big chances created (top 4%) |
| 14 | Jérémy Jacquet Liverpool · ENG | 21 | CB | 60 | Dribbled past (top 12%) |
| 15 | Xavier Mandza Nice · FRA | 17 | DMF | 60 | Fouls committed (top 9%) |
Find the next one first
Scouting Players Research ranks 2,000+ players. Choose your club and Club Mode lists the wonderkids worth buying for it, within its budget.
How the figures are made: Sportmonks' season statistics for every player in Europe's top five leagues, per 90 minutes and adjusted for league strength, regressed toward the average of the position while minutes are few, and ranked against players in the same position. The Moneyball Score weighs what each position asks for. Early in a season every figure moves; it is an estimate, not a verdict.
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