Champions League: Five youngsters to look out for this season | OneFootball

Each season new stars emerge in Europe, with Desire Doue becoming a household name during last season’s Champions League.

Doue scored twice in Paris Saint-Germain’s final win over Inter Milan and was duly named as the Young Player of the Season. We’ve picked out five starlets to keep an eye on as the 2025/26 season gets underway.

Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid)

Real Madrid won a notable transfer tug-of-war in the summer to land Franco Mastantuono from River Plate. The Argentine teenager had looked set to sign for PSG, until Real Madrid’s interest scuppered that deal.

The 18-year-old has featured in all three La Liga games for Real Madrid so far this season, and made his senior Argentina debut earlier this year.

A brilliant creative talent with a penchant for spectacular set-pieces, he has the potential to shine this season.

Christos Mouzakitis (Olympiacos)

Olympiacos have emerged as a hive of talent in recent seasons, with the club upsetting the odds to claim the UEFA Youth League ahead of European giants in 2023/24.

Several of that side have progressed into the senior team, with forward Charalampos Kostoulas joining Brighton in a €35m deal this summer.

Christos Mouzakitis also looks set to fetch the Greek outfit a fortune in the near future, having cemented himself as a first-team star.

The 18-year-old was influential as Olympiacos won a domestic double last season and has already earned five caps for Greece. Expect interest to accelerate if Mouzakitis can shine in Europe.

Geovany Quenda (Sporting Lisbon)

Geovany Quenda is a top talent whose future is already decided, with the winger set to link up with Chelsea next summer.

The West Londoners have agreed to pay £44m for the teenager, following his electric emergence at Sporting Lisbon.

Quenda combines explosive pace with a direct brand of football, impressing at wing-back and further forward.

He helped Sporting to a Portuguese double last season and shone at this summer’s u-21 European Championship with three goals.

Victor Froholdt (FC Porto)

Porto’s capture of Victor Froholdt from FC Copenhagen this summer was considered a coup, with the promise of a prominent role luring the in-demand teenager to Portugal.

The 19-year-old has started promisingly in the Primeira Liga, with three goals and assists in five Liga Portugal appearances. His displays have helped Porto to the top of the table, with maximum points in league action to date.

George Ilenikhena (AS Monaco)

George Ilenikhena has already shown glimpses of his talent on this stage, scoring twice in six substitute appearances last season.

The teenage forward is bidding to break into the Monaco side on a regular basis and has certainly stated his case for more regular inclusion.

Since joining the French side from Royal Antwerp, Ilenikhena has averaged a goal or assist every 106 minutes across Ligue 1 and the Champions League. It’s time the 19-year-old is let off the leash.

Read – The five favourites to win the 2025/26 Champions League

See more – Champions League talking points ahead of matchday one

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