CIES Football has released its ranking of the most valuable under-20 players in the world, and the result confirms what many already suspected: Lamine Yamal is the face of the new generation. The Barcelona teenager is valued at an estimated €349.6 million, a massive gap ahead of second place Estêvão from Chelsea, who’s valued at €118.1 million.
At just 18, Estêvão has been making steady progress in England. He’s already scored four goals and provided one assist in 15 matches, numbers that show consistency under the pressure of the Premier League. In the 2–2 draw with Qarabag in the Champions League, he found the net again, reinforcing the feeling that Chelsea made the right call by betting on him so early. The Brazilian arrived as a prospect and quickly became a solution.
The youth system that delivers results
The CIES report highlights the importance of youth academies at Europe’s biggest clubs. Real Madrid features Franco Mastantuono and Endrick among the top ten. PSG has Zaire-Emery. Arsenal is represented by Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly. At Tottenham, the spotlight falls on Lucas Bergvall. Sporting from Portugal appears with Geovany Quenda. These names show how investing in development has become a priority in markets that used to prefer spending big on ready-made players.
Lamine Yamal stands apart. At 18, he’s already part of Barcelona’s senior squad and leads the ranking by a wide margin. The number is symbolic, it reflects market value, of course, but also the trust the club has placed in him.
The new logic of value
The study also reveals that 113 teenagers across 25 leagues and 80 clubs are already worth at least €10 million. The Premier League leads the way with 25 players, followed by the Bundesliga with 16 and Ligue 1 with 11. It’s a snapshot of a sport that’s betting more than ever on players who are just getting started.
Ultimately, the list serves as a barometer for what elite soccer is looking for today: young players who are adaptable and ready to compete early. It’s a model that blends talent and investment—and one that’s likely to shape the near future of the game.