The world of football is constantly evolving, and 2025 is shaping up to be a breakthrough year for some of the sport’s most exciting young football talents. As seasoned stars near the twilight of their careers, a new generation of footballers is ready to take centre stage—bringing fresh energy, creativity, and game-changing skills to the pitch. From teenage sensations lighting up Europe’s top leagues to under-the-radar prodigies on the verge of global fame, these players represent the future of football.
In this spotlight, we highlight the Top 10 Rising Football Stars to Watch in 2025—a list filled with next-gen icons, potential Ballon d’Or contenders, and players already being called the future football legends. Whether you’re a scout, a die-hard fan, or a fantasy football strategist, these names are impossible to ignore. Get ready to meet the rising football stars 2025 who are redefining the game one match at a time.
Endrick
At just 18, Endrick is already one of the most talked-about young football talents in 2025. The Brazilian forward made headlines with his explosive performances at Palmeiras, showcasing raw power, composure, and elite finishing. Now signed with Real Madrid, he’s expected to be a future Galáctico and lead the club’s attack for years. His ability to score under pressure and adapt to high-tempo games has drawn comparisons to Ronaldo Nazário. With international goals already under his belt, Endrick is a top football prospect and a true Brazilian wonderkid destined for greatness.
Youssoufa Moukoko
At just 19, Youssoufa Moukoko was long heralded as one of the most prolific young football talents in Europe. After exploding in Dortmund’s youth ranks—scoring 141 goals in 88 U17/U19 games—he debuted in the Bundesliga at 16 and became its youngest-ever goal scorer. Between 2020–24, he amassed 76 Bundesliga appearances and 17 league goals for Dortmund.
However, the 2024–25 season saw a turning point: a loan to OGC Nice where he made 11 League 1 appearances (2 goals, 1 assist)—and an impressive 0.91 shots on target per 90, ranking him in League 1’s top 15% for shooting accuracy. Still, limited game time after mid-season and dips in form led to Nice skipping his buy option.
Now transferred to FC Copenhagen for approximately €5 million, Moukoko seeks to reignite his career in a less pressured environment. With proven shooting precision and elite chance-creation (0.38 xA/90, top 3% in League 1), he remains a genuine Bundesliga prospect and future football legend, provided he rediscovers confidence and consistency.
Cole Palmer:
At 23 years old, Cole Palmer has emerged as one of the rising football stars in 2025, now wearing Chelsea’s iconic No. 10 shirt and anchoring the attack under coach Enzo Maresca. Known for his ice-cold composure (nicknamed “Cold Palmer”), he delivered 15 goals and 8 assists in 37 Premier League games during the 2024–25 season, directly contributing to 23 goals.
Skillset & Style
- Elite chance creation: Ranked in the top percentiles for shots on target and big chances created—15 big chances, 2.52 key passes per 90, in the upper 98th for shooting accuracy and 94th for expected assists.
- Explosive scoring: Made history with a four-goal first half against Brighton—the first player to achieve that in Premier League history.
- Big-game influence: Named Man of the Match and supplied two assists in the Conference League final vs Real Betis; pivotal in Chelsea’s 4–1 comeback win.
Giovanni Reyna:
Born November 13, 2002, Reyna broke into Dortmund’s first team at 17, becoming the youngest player to both score in the DFB-Pokal and register a Bundesliga assist hat-trick. Son of USMNT veteran Claudio Reyna, Giovanni debuted for the USA in November 2020 and has earned 32 caps and 8 goals to date.
2024–25 Season Overview
- Limited to 3 starts + 13 sub appearances, scoring 2 goals in the Bundesliga.
- His playing time has been sporadic amid injuries and club instability—side-lined with a groin issue and frequently relegated to a bench role.
- Made a substitute appearance at the 2025 Club World Cup, completing all four passes across 12 minutes.
Strengths & Challenges
- Technical brilliance: Exceptional vision, dribbling, and creative flair, capable of high-impact moments when on the pitch.
- Injury & consistency concerns: Recurring injuries and lack of form have halted momentum.
- Outside perspective: USMNT legends like Landon Donovan emphasize that Reyna must move to regain form before the 2026 World Cup
Rayan Cherki
At 21, Rayan Cherki secured a high-profile move to Manchester City on a five-year deal during the summer transfer window, for an estimated €35–40M. Known for his explosive breakthroughs at Lyon since debuting at just 16, he’s been hailed as the next “new Nabil Fekir.”
📊 2024–25 Season Stats
- 12 goals + 20 assists across 44 matches in all competitions.
- Led League 1 in assists with 11, topping charts as the league’s most creative playmaker.
- Topped Europe’s big-five leagues for expected assists (xA) at 0.53 per 90, creating chances every other game.
- Europa League standout, earning Young Player of the Season and a spot in its Team of the Season, with 8 assists.
⚡ Style & Strengths
- Elite chance creation: Drifts into pockets between lines, threads incisive through-balls — led League 1 in progressive carries at 11.3/90.
- Two-footed dribbling: Equally adept with both feet, allowing him to destabilize defences — “am bipedal” vision praised by experts.
- Laid-back flair: Capable of dazzling with technical skill and creativity; stylists describe him as part Messi, part dribbler, part creator.
Warren Zaire‑Emery
Born March 8, 2006, Warren Zaire‑Emery debuted for PSG at just 16, becoming the club’s youngest-ever player and youngest scorer in both League 1 and the Champions League. In 2024–25, he’s cemented his place: 81+ senior appearances, lifting PSG’s domestic double and continental treble. At only 19, he’s also France’s youngest captain at U21 level and already earned 7 senior caps with 1 goal.
🎯 Style & Strengths
- A polished box-to-box midfielder: masterful in passing (~92% success), with elite vision, duel-winning ability, and composure.
- Extends influence in big matches—led PSG in Champions League assists (3) as a teenager and impressed in knockout stages.
- High football IQ, physical resilience, and maturity make him a generational talent.
🚀 2025 Outlook
- Expect him to anchor PSG’s midfield, combining energy with creative passing to dominate games.
- On the international stage, he’s locked in as a long-term starter for Les Bleus, with Euro 2024 call-ups already under his belt.
- A true PSG and France future star, already described as “the next king of Paris” and a prototype midfield general.
Gavi
Twenty-year-old Gavi has firmly re-entered Barcelona’s engine room after overcoming a long-term ACL injury, playing 25 games in the 2024–25 season with contributions of 2 goals and 3 assists across La Liga and domestic cups. Previously crowned Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy winner in 2022, he’s an elite talent recognized for his work ethic, technical ability, and high pressing.
🎯 Style & Strengths
- Dynamic two-way performer: renowned for ferocious pressing and defensive cover—qualities lauded by manager Hansi Flick.
- Technical quality: despite his combative profile, fans emphasize his composure (“not just a work rate merchant”).
Club favourite: Deco celebrated him as the embodiment of Barça’s identity and implied there’s a contract renewal in sight.
Jorrel Hato
Nineteen-year-old Jorrel Hato has already exceeded 100 first-team appearances at Ajax—the youngest ever to do so—and featured in 31 Eredivisie matches in 2024–25 with 2 goals and 6 assists. He also made his senior 🇳🇱 debut, earning six caps by March 2025.
🏆 Accolades & Recognition
- Johan Cruyff Talent of the Year 2024–25 – voted by coaches.
- Ajax youth MVP (Abdelhak Nouri Trophy) and club’s official Talent of the Year.
- Praised for leadership—Ajax’s youngest-ever European match captain—and versatility across centre-back and left-back.
🧠 Style & Strengths
- Ball-playing intelligence: Excellent passing (90%+), strong tackling (100%), and composure under pressure.
- Versatile defender: Equally adept at CB and LB roles with strong positional sense.
- Mature beyond age: Seen as a defensive leader, earning early captaincy and glowing fan support.
Pau Cubarsí
Born January 22, 2007, Cubarsí shot up from Barcelona’s academy to first team debut in January 2024. He instantly impressed, becoming the youngest ever centre‑back to start a Champions League knockout match at just 17 years and 79 days. In February 2025, he netted his first senior goal—a headed equalizer in the Copa del Rey semi-final. Extended his contract in February 2025 through June 2029; widely praised by coaches as a future defensive cornerstone.
Playing Style & Strengths
- Ball-playing excellence: renowned for clean, line‑breaking passes and composure under pressure—often leading Barça’s progressive passing stats.
- Intelligent defending: calm under pressure, reads the game well, and executes effective offside traps—a trait admired by Hansi Flick.
- Consistent performer: early comparisons to Piqué and acknowledgments from legends like Puyol highlight his maturity.
Pau Torres
Born January 16, 1997 in Villarreal, Valencia, Torres rose through Villarreal CF’s academy, making his senior debut in 2016. Over 173 appearances, he helped the club win the Europa League in 2021 and reach the Champions League semi-finals in 2022. He earned 23 caps for Spain before transferring in July 2023 to Aston Villa under coach Unai Emery. Moved for around €32.5 million plus €5 million bonuses, reuniting with Emery, his former coach during Villarreal’s Europa League triumph.
⚙️ Playing Style
- A modern ball-playing centre-back: strong in progressive passing and carrying the ball from defence. Reedit fans dubbed him a “Cadillac dribbling up the pitch”.
- Listed stats for the 2024–25 Premier League: 88.6% passing accuracy, 3.7 recoveries, 0.2 tackles per match, with significant progressive passes and dribbled-past rates in top percentiles.
- Still developing physically—rarely a brute—but effective in positional sense and choosing moments to defend
