Scouting Players Research
The Best Wonderkids in Europe's Top Five Leagues, by the Numbers
Published 2026-10-09 · updated 2026-10-09 · data: Sportmonks, season 2026/2027
Every club wants the next one before the market prices him. These are the 14 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 14, aged 21 and under
| # | Player | Age | Position | Score | Strongest at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamine Yamal FC Barcelona · ESP | 19 | RWF | 91 | Successful dribbles (top 0%) |
| 2 | R. Le Guen Brest · FRA | 20 | CB | 65 | Aerial duels won (top 12%) |
| 3 | Jon Martín Vicente Real Sociedad · ESP | 20 | CB | 64 | Aerial duels won (top 12%) |
| 4 | Anis Ouzenadji Troyes · FRA | 19 | LB | 61 | Interceptions (top 20%) |
| 5 | Jacobo Ramón Como · ITA | 21 | CB | 59 | Aerial duels won (top 7%) |
| 6 | Dean Huijsen Real Madrid · ESP | 21 | CB | 58 | Long balls (top 3%) |
| 7 | Lucas Noubi Deportivo A Coruña · ESP | 21 | CB | 56 | Long balls (top 6%) |
| 8 | Jorge Salinas Racing Santander · ESP | 19 | LB | 54 | Tackles (top 3%) |
| 9 | Zachary Christopher Athekame Olympique Lyonnais · FRA | 21 | RWB | 51 | Expected goals (top 9%) |
| 10 | Rafita Garrido Málaga · ESP | 21 | RB | 44 | Successful dribbles (top 5%) |
| 11 | Buba Sangaré Elche · ESP | 19 | RB | 42 | Dribbled past (top 7%) |
| 12 | Robin François Philippe Risser Lens · FRA | 21 | GK | 37 | Pass accuracy (top 12%) |
| 13 | Roger Hinojo Espanyol · ESP | 21 | LB | 36 | Tackles (top 23%) |
| 14 | Iñigo Arguibide Osasuna · ESP | 21 | RB | 33 | Successful dribbles (top 21%) |
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.
More analysis
- Arsenal vs Leeds United: Why Dominic Calvert-Lewin Is the Player to Watch
- If Inter Sell Federico Dimarco: The Wing-Backs Who Play Most Like Him
- Breakout Season or One-Season Wonder? The Players Who Jumped Most This Season
- The Best XI in Europe's Top Five Leagues This Season, by Moneyball Score
- Hidden Gems: Top-Rated Players Valued Under €10 Million