Not only Yamal: Mastantuono, Lewis-Skelly, Echeverri, Doué and the other baby phenomena
The Champions League semifinal between Inter and Barcelona has confirmed Lamine Yamal , the 17-year-old child prodigy with messianic moves, as the future best player in the world. While Yamal has already established himself at the highest level, there are many other talented kids on the verge of taking the stage. If they haven't already. But who are the other little phenomena in the world? Here are 10 to keep an eye on.
10) Myles Lewis SkellyMyles Anthony Lewis-Skelly is an 18-year-old English footballer, a product of the Arsenal youth system. He started out as a midfielder, but this year he has earned a starting spot at Arsenal with his performances. Champions League semi-finalist playing as a left back on Arteta 's instructions. In both matches against PSG he impressed with his extreme maturity especially in ball management, a moment in which Lewis-Skelly always appears very lucid, undoubtedly thanks to his original role. To take the place of a veteran like Zinchenko you have to be a real player and this left back who, in March, was also called up for the first time to the senior national team, really seems to have been born to handle even the most prestigious stages with serenity.
Porto's 1.68m tall attacking midfielder, born in 2007, Rodrigo Mora does not have lightning-fast dribbling or unstoppable speed. He does not have brilliant passes or a great shot. Yet, Rodrigo Mora has something that makes him shine in a different light. Rodrigo Mora moves in absolute synchronicity with the ball and seems to be a player in a liquid state, capable of shaping himself and taking the shape of the space he has to insinuate himself into. What is impressive, however, is his awareness. Rodrigo Mora behaves like someone who is absolutely aware of being superior to the others. With that celebration, the shrug, as if to say "What did you expect, I'm really that good". This was his first season in the first team after playing for two years in Porto B, and he immediately earned a starting place and the attention of most of Europe's top clubs.
Probably the least known name on this list, but it only takes a second, a fragment of Karetsas ' football to understand that he has something different from all the others. It may seem like a hasty judgment, since this Greek playmaker from Genk has only thirty appearances in the first team and three goals. But the numbers do not always tell the whole story and his movements, his touch of the ball and above all his extremely evolved vision of the game are very reminiscent of Arda Güler and Bernardo Silva . In March he made his debut for the national team with Greece, despite having spent his entire life in Belgium. A strong choice, which denotes attachment to his origins. If these are the premises, there is a great future in store for the new star of Greek football. His market value is still very low and he could represent an unrepeatable opportunity for Italian teams.
7) Claudio EcheverriArgentina is a land of great talents and Claudio Echeverri is one of the brightest. A River Plate attacking midfielder with outstanding skills in insertion, “El Diablito” Echeverri will land in rainy Manchester, on the Citizens side, in June to join a Pep Guardiola who is already rubbing his hands together. Costing just under 20 million, Echeverri already seems ready for European football because he combines the extreme quality typical of Argentines with an innate ability to determine and prove himself concrete despite his young age. It will be interesting to see how he will be able to integrate into an organised football like the one requested and handed down by Guardiola. Who knows, maybe we will see him already in the next Club World Cup in June.
6) William EstevaoEnglish teams have their eyes on South America. This time Chelsea were the quickest to secure the services of William Estevao . A 2007-born attacking winger from Palmeiras who embodies the new hope of Brazilian football. The Blues spent 60 million to sign him. The images of this boy arriving from Brazil leave no doubt: Estevao really does look like a “craque”. Someone who, when he kicks with his left foot, places the ball in the top corner as if he had a PlayStation joystick instead of feet. Time will tell if he will be able to confirm this level in Europe too.
Real Madrid swooped on Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa last summer, when the portly kid, then playing for Palmeiras , was just 16 years old. Yet Endrick doesn't seem like a fearful youngster who has just arrived at the biggest club in the world. There is one move in particular this year that perfectly captures the type of player he is. Real Madrid-Stuttgart in the Champions League . In the 95th minute, the Brazilian leads the counterattack. Vinicius on the right. Mbappé on the left. Endrick ignores them, shoots from 25 meters and beats the goalkeeper. Pure personality.
This name was much more circulated last year, because Zaire-Emery was in all respects a regular starter for PSG , the team that raised him from the youth ranks. With the explosion of Vitinha and the discovery of Joao Neves , this nineteen-year-old French midfielder has lost his regular place, but remains one of the brightest “future stars” on the world scene. Zaire-Emery is a modern, versatile, technical, complete midfielder. The ideal player for any team. It is no coincidence that there is talk of a 60 million offer from Liverpool to take him away from Paris. It will be difficult, however, for Luis Enrique to choose to deprive himself of one of the main exponents of the PSG of the future.
When you talk about Franco Mastantuono, you can't do it without going out on a limb. Because this name has ended up on everyone's lips for his wonderful free kick in the Superclasico against Boca Juniors . A left-footed attacking midfielder born in 2007, for River Plate , Mastantuono is the fuse that lights the subconscious of every football lover. Each of his plays is dedicated to the sole purpose of creating football. For him, the pitch is a canvas on which to paint with his blessed left foot. Mastantuono is a football artist, someone who makes the ball sing, but above all he is one of those players who have a different aura. Unlike Estevao, Endrick and Echeverri, he has not yet been purchased by any of the European big teams, but the feeling is that his price could become something truly stratospheric. Will he be the card chosen by Real Madrid to counter the dominance of Lamine Yamal ?
March 12, 2024. Barcelona is about to face Napoli in the round of 16 of the Champions League and to face Osimhen, Xavi fields a 17-year-old kid: Pau Cubarsí .
And in true Catalan style, Cubarsí doesn't stand out for difficult closures or body-to-body duels, but rather goes down the field and starts distributing balls with the precision of a playmaker. First touches, changes of play 60 meters away. Cubarsí is the defender of the future. Born in the ranks of Girona and immediately taken, when he wasn't even 10 years old, by Barça who then sent him to the B team to raise him in the right way. Of course, against Inter the Catalans didn't shine for the defensive phase, but we're talking about someone who at 18 years old plays like a veteran in the Champions League semi-final. A generational talent.
The best player under 20 after Lamine Yamal. With his excellent dribbling skills and acrobatic tricks, Doué seems like the reincarnation of Neymar : Luis Enrique did not hesitate for a moment to give him the starting shirt in the star trident of his PSG, even at the expense of a great player like Barcola. Doué is an eclectic footballer who combines excellent technique with unexpected muscularity. He played his entire short career at Rennes , before the Parisians paid over 50 million for his registration. This French attacking winger has had a dizzying rise in 2025 that will culminate with the Champions League final against Inter. He will turn 20 on June 3. Simply impressive.
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