The Top 10 Footballers Under the Age of 25 Including Mbappe and Saka

Football is witnessing the next generation of superstars starting to dominate as the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo era fades.

Football players tend to be at their best fitness levels between 23 and 28, a period where they become world-class players.

This season, we have seen Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and other players under 25 dominate their respective leagues.

Most teams in Europe's top 5 leagues tend to have a mixture of youth and experience. For instance, Real Madrid has veterans like Luka Modric and Toni Kroos and younger players like Bellingham and Arda Guler.

Fascinating facts about the best offensive midfielders in the world right now

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This list includes the 10 best players in the world below this age bracket, so some fan favourites will miss out. Sports Brief ranks the top best under 25 players.

Top 10 footballers under 25 years

10. Alphonso Davies (23) - Bayern Munich

The Canadian international is probably the best left-back in the world. His pace enables him to contribute both offensively and on defence. It is hard to think of anyone better than the Bayern star.

9. Gavi (19) - Barcelona

Gavi is known for his combativeness, which sometimes takes attention away from his footballing brilliance. He's established himself in the Barcelona and Spanish senior teams and is forming a great partnership with Pedri.

8. Jamal Musiala (20) - Bayern Munich

Musiala is a world-class talent and is always the first name on the team sheet. Last season, he won Bayern their 11th straight Bundesliga last season with a clutch goal. His dribbling in tight spaces is second to none, and you can see why he is valued so much at Bayern and Germany.

7. Pedri (20) - Barcelona

It is still astounding that Pedri is only 20 since it seems like he's been playing for years. His passing skills are elite, and his understanding of space and positioning, coupled with his balance, make him a joyous footballer to watch. It wouldn't be surprising to see him become the best midfielder in the world in the next few years.

6. Bukayo Saka (22) - Arsenal

Despite being just 22, Saka is a key player for both club and country. He was brilliant in the 2022 World Cup and helped Arsenal challenge for the Premier League title in 2022/23. His dribbling, passing and technique have made him an important player for the Gunners.

5. Vinicius Junior (23) - Real Madrid

There must be a Brazilian on this list. Vinicius is known for his elite dribbling skills, chance creation and goal-scoring. He scored the only goal in the 2022 Champions League final and made vital contributions at Real Madrid. He still has time to improve, and playing in the biggest club in the world is the perfect place.

4. Jude Bellingham (20) - Real Madrid

No one expected Bellingham to quickly settle the way he has at Real Madrid this season. He was the club's marquee signing this summer and has lived up to expectations. He is the top scorer in La Liga after 13 games, and winning the Golden Boot would be a historic achievement for the Englishman. Currently, he is the third-best player in the world. Bellingham also won the 2023 Kopa Trophy.

3. Victor Osimhen (25) - Napoli

The Nigerian striker has been scoring for fun in Italy. He helped the Partenopei lift their first Scudetto since 1990, per the Guardian. He might be the second-best striker after Haaland. Last season, he became the first-ever African player to win the Golden Boot in Serie A.

2. Erling Haaland (23) - Manchester City

The Norwegian is only 23 and has scored over 200 goals in his career, per Transfermarkt. He broke the record for the most goals in a Premier League season in 2022/23 and has started well this term. He is the best striker in the world, without a doubt and narrowly lost the 2023 Ballon d'Or to Lionel Messi. He will surely lift several in the coming years.

1. Kylian Mbappe (24) - PSG

The French superstar won a World Cup at 19 and scored a hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup final. The PSG forward also won the Golden Boot at the tournament in Qatar. He has won five Golden Boots in Ligue 1. If he retired today, his name will surely be written on the record books and he might be the best player in the world right now. He finished third in the 2023 Ballon d'Or and has been backed to win several in future.

Mbappe told to leave PSG

In a previous report, Sports Brief stated that Mbappe was told to leave PSG as it 'hampers his chances' of winning the Ballon d'Or after he lost out this year to his former teammate.

The 24-year-old had a phenomenal year, reaching the World Cup final and also winning the Ligue 1 title with PSG, but finished third overall behind Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi.