🥇OneFootball Awards | Who was the best young player of the year? 💎 | OneFootball

As tradition dictates, Christmas is also a time for assessments and judgments, and so, right on schedule as every year, the OneFootball editorial team pauses to look back at what happened in Serie A in 2025.

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It's time to make our choices and celebrate those who truly made a difference, by awarding the prestigious OneFootball Awards. We conclude with the best young player.

1️⃣ Francesco Pio Esposito (Alessandro De Felice)

2025 was without a doubt the year of Pio Esposito. The 2005-born striker, at just 20 years old, first found himself leading Spezia towards a near-promotion to Serie A, only to miss out at the final stretch, and then withstanding the huge leap to San Siro, between Inter and the National Team. But the young striker proved himself ready and demonstrated technical, physical, and mental qualities, but above all, a great instinct for scoring goals.

In succession, his first goals came with Inter and at the Club World Cup (against River Plate), in Serie A (against Cagliari), in the Champions League (with Union SG), for the National Team (against Estonia), at San Siro (against Norway with Italy and with Inter against Venezia), and in the Coppa Italia (again against Venezia). A pure-bred striker, with a frightening nose for goal and a strong, determined character: 2025 was undoubtedly the year of Pio Esposito's dazzling talent.

2️⃣ Nico Paz (Alessio D'Errico)

Nico Paz is probably one of the few players in this Serie A on whom you can truly pin hopes for a bright future at the top of world football. Crystal-clear class combined with impressive tactical growth, the Argentine is the beacon of an ambitious team like Como. With numbers worthy of a European top player, the Real Madrid academy graduate has shown himself to be much more than just a "simple" number 10 with class.

Paz is a complete footballer, physically equipped to withstand the pace of the great European teams and a joy to watch. His stats for goals and assists place him firmly among the best in Serie A, and the feeling is that in a European giant, even now, he would make his mark wearing the number 10. From Real Madrid, not just to fill out his resume, but to play.

3️⃣ Marco Palestra (Diego D'Avanzo)

Sure, Nico Paz and Kenan Yildiz or Pio Esposito are by far the most decisive young players in Serie A, but let's give credit to the real revelation of this Serie A: Marco Palestra. The Cagliari winger—owned by Atalanta—arrived with an excellent pedigree and great references from youth sector insiders (picked in Fantasy at 1, I'm last), but no one expected this kind of impact.

His performances have been impressive and the numbers confirm it: only 2% of players in his position in Europe have completed more dribbles and "progressive ball carries." In every respect, Palestra is already a European-level player, as Pisacane also confirms: "Palestra is a boy of the highest quality". If he isn't yet the absolute best young player, he is certainly the surprise of 2025 in Serie A.

4️⃣ Kenan Yildiz (Emanuele Garbato)

In a Serie A where there are constant complaints about the lack of talent, Kenan Yildiz is a wonderful exception. The 2005-born is the brightest product of the successful blend of youth sector and Next Gen implemented by Juventus in recent years, the only great talent the club has decided to keep. He is repaying them with goals, assists, and increasing consistency throughout matches.

He may not be the most ready young player in the league, also because the competition is fierce, but he is certainly the one who can pull off the most important plays even in a club like Juventus, where the pressure is unlike anywhere else. In the toughest possible context in Italy, the Turk is already the team's undisputed top player. Now he needs to be secured with a contract renewal.

5️⃣ Francesco Pio Esposito  (Marco Alessandri)

The choice was between Esposito and Bartesaghi, but since the Rossonero only broke out in this last part of 2025... I'll go with Francesco Pio Esposito. The Inter striker's year is one to remember: 17 goals in Serie B with Spezia, then the Club World Cup with Inter and his debut with the National Team, with a goal. The term "predestined" is often overused, but perhaps this time it's appropriate.Credit to Inter for developing such a strong player and bringing him into the team at the right time, when behind Thuram and Lautaro they needed hungry players ready to do anything to honor the shirt. The future is assured, but even the present is not bad at all.

6️⃣ Kenan Yildiz (Matteo Rimoldi)

Taking up the legacy of Alessandro Del Piero at just 19 years old was no easy feat, but Kenan Yildiz has long lived with the label of destined for greatness. He didn't come up through the Juventus youth academy, yet his arrival on a free transfer in 2017 was enough for him to absorb and fully embody the values of the Bianconeri, which he now represents with pride.

The captain's armband, worn on several occasions, is no coincidence: Yildiz, despite his young age, is already a recognized leader in the locker room. A status built above all thanks to a 2025 as an absolute protagonist. With Thiago Motta he secured a starting spot and never let it go, stringing together a series of high-level performances even in a context that was anything but simple, marked by three coaching changes in a season and a half.

Now, with the arrival of Luciano Spalletti, the Turkish talent has the chance to make the definitive leap in quality. “He doesn't know how good he is,” said the Tuscan coach to praise him. But in truth, Yildiz, deep down, is fully aware of it. He earns far too little to be the face of Juventus. The renewal could be the cherry on top of a 2025 to frame or the best way to kick off a 2026 as a proclaimed protagonist.

7️⃣ Kenan Yildiz (Vincenzo Visco)

For Kenan Yildiz, this was the year of his consecration, not only at Juventus but in world football. The Turkish talent made the definitive leap in quality, becoming a technical and emotional reference point for the Bianconeri. Goals, assists, and decisive plays marked a season often lived on his intuition, even during the most complex moments of a Juve with ups and downs. Yildiz took on responsibility, made an impact in crucial matches, and raised his level when needed. Consistent in performance, decisive in key games, he confirmed himself among the best in the group and, at times, simply indispensable.

8️⃣ Nico Paz (Damiano Benzoni)

It's undeniable, Nico Paz has reconciled us with football and Serie A: an exciting talent who has forcefully grabbed the football world's attention, fueling constant transfer rumors about when he'll return to his parent club Real Madrid, who watch from Spain and rub their hands, despite having plenty of players in his position. What is certain is that the Como starlet has given us footballing magic in abundance, with that cultured left foot and a vision of the game that leaves us speechless.

Above all, though, he has shown the maturity of a player already grown beyond his years, the ability to carry the team on his shoulders, and a tenacity that sees him play all over the pitch, fight for every ball, and always be decisive. Whether this will be enough to earn him a starting spot at Real (and who knows, maybe the Argentina number 10 shirt one day), remains to be seen. What is certain is that Paz has found the perfect stage to grow and shine.

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

📸 PABLO PORCIUNCULA - AFP or licensors