🌍 CIES ranks the world’s best U20s: top 10 revealed, Italy fare poorly 📉 | OneFootball

With the end of the transfer market in almost the entire world and the new balances established globally, the CIES has identified the best Under 20 players, ranging from absolute certainties to incredible surprises.

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The ranking was compiled using two criteria: a performance index calculated with statistical data and an experience index that considers the minutes played, weighted according to the sporting level of the matches.

1) Lamine Yamal - Barcelona

First, unbeatable, unreachable, and unapproachable at 18 years and 2 months is obviously Lamine Yamal. The Barcelona ace leads with a rating of 97.7: were there any doubts?

2) Pau Cubarsì - Barcelona

The top two positions are dominated by the Blaugrana: following is Cubarsì, who is 18 years and 8 months old, a defender launched by Xavi and already a pillar of the Catalans. Rating of 93.4.

3) Warren Zaire-Emery - PSG

Despite an injury that affected part of his short career, Zaire-Emery at 19 years and 6 months remains one of the brightest talents in the European and world scene. The PSG midfielder has a rating of 87.8.

4) Estevao - Chelsea

Having just landed in Europe, the former Palmeiras star and now Chelsea player could be the future of the club and Brazil. His rating is 86.7 at 18 years and 5 months, also thanks to the matches played in the Club World Cup.

5) Franco Mastantuono - Real Madrid

The million-dollar signing of Real Madrid is the fifth world talent according to the CIES. Franco Mastantuono is now 18 years and 1 month old: his move from River to the Blancos, his starting role in Argentina, and the matches played in Madrid earn him a score of 85.4.

6) Jorrel Hato - Chelsea

One of Chelsea's many signings: left-back Jorrel Hato moved from Ajax to the Blues for 45 million euros. His rating is 84 at 19 years and 6 months: a deserved position thanks to the number of matches played in the Netherlands.

7) Roger Fernandes - Al Ittihad

A unique case: Roger Fernandes moved at the end of the market from Braga to Al-Ittihad for about 30/35 million euros: the left winger is 19 years and 10 months old and scores a rating of 83.9, given that last year he was a starter in the league and Europa League.

8) Myles Lewis-Skelly - Arsenal

The Arsenal left-back totaled about 2000 minutes last season, scored a goal, and provided 3 assists: at 18 years and 11 months with a rating of 83.9 (tied with R. Fernandes), he rightfully belongs in this ranking.

9) Geovany Quenda - Sporting Lisbon (Chelsea)

Left winger of Sporting Lisbon who has already been purchased by Chelsea: Geovany Quenda will arrive in the Premier League in 2026 for 52 million euros. The Portuguese born in 2007 (18 years and 5 months) has a rating of 83.8.

10) Elías Montiel - Pachuca

Closing the top is Elías Montiel with 83.2: a midfielder born in 2005 from Pachuca, a Mexican team where he has been a starter for two seasons. The player scored a goal in the Club World Cup and costs about 20 million dollars: a very high figure for the league (the record sale is Edson Álvarez at 15.6 million).

Serie A and Italians: discouraging data

Keeping the Serie A flag high is only Como: Jesus Rodriguez (born in 2005) ranks 12th and Assane Diao (2005) is in 23rd position.

To find the first Italian player, you have to go to the 68th place: Seydou Fini from Genoa, an offensive winger who last year played as a starter at Excelsior Rotterdam on loan.

In 99th place is midfielder Lennon Miller (2006): a new signing for Udinese who bought him at the end of the market from Motherwell (Scotland), where he was a starter last season.

The other two Serie A players present in the ranking, but outside the TOP 100, are Niccolò Fortini from Fiorentina (a full-back who played on loan at Juve Stabia) and Isak Vural from Pisa (a midfielder taken from Frosinone in the summer).

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

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