Top 11 Young Football Stars of the 2000s to Watch Worldwide

Alphonso Boyle Davies is a professional footballer from Canada who plays as a left-back or wing midfielder for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Canadian national team. He is regarded as one of the best full-backs in the world, known for his speed, dribbling ability, and creativity. Davies made history as the first player born in 2000 to play in a Major League Soccer match. He joined Bayern Munich in January 2019 from MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps FC in a record transfer deal at the time, which was set to last until 2023.

In June 2017, Alphonso Davies became the youngest player to represent Canada’s men’s national team. By scoring two goals against French Guiana in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, he became the youngest player to score for Canada’s men’s team, the youngest to score in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and the first player born in the 2000s to score in a major international competition. He was later named CONCACAF’s 2021 Player of the Year. Widely regarded as one of the best players and a key figure for Canada, Davies made history as the first Canadian and first footballer to become a UNHCR ambassador for refugees.

Born: November 2, 2000

Jadon Malik Sancho is a professional English footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team. Known for his skills, game intelligence, pace, and ability to use feints in one-on-one situations, Sancho began his career at Watford and later joined Manchester City’s youth setup. In 2017, he signed his first senior contract with Borussia Dortmund. By his second season, he had become a key player for the first team, earning a spot in the Bundesliga Team of the Season for 2018–19.

Before the 2019-2020 season, Jadon Sancho won his first trophy, the DFL Supercup, after a victory over Bayern Munich. He was runner-up for both the Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy awards in 2019. Sancho was part of England’s U17 team that won the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, and made his senior debut in 2018. He had an impressive October 2018, winning the Bundesliga Player of the Month award after scoring three goals and providing an assist in just three matches.

Among his goals that month, he netted a brace against Hertha BSC, making him the first player born in the 2000s to score two goals in a Bundesliga match and the youngest-ever Dortmund player to do so. On October 24, he also became the first player born in the 2000s to score in the UEFA Champions League for Dortmund, against Atletico Madrid. In a 3–3 draw with Hoffenheim on February 9, 2019, Sancho became the youngest player to score eight goals in a Bundesliga season, breaking the record previously held by Christian Wück.

Born: March 25, 2000

Philip Walter Foden is a professional footballer from England who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Manchester City and the England national team. Regarded as one of the brightest young talents in the world, Foden's breakthrough into professional football came in 2017 when he won the Golden Ball at the FIFA U-17 World Cup after England’s successful campaign. He made his senior debut for Manchester City in the same year, and in December, he was named BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year.

Since then, Foden has made over 100 appearances for the club, winning 9 major titles, including becoming the youngest player to win a Premier League championship medal. In 2019, the young midfielder claimed his second Premier League title and became the club’s youngest scorer in a UEFA Champions League match, while also becoming the youngest English player to start and score in a Champions League knockout game. In 2021, he was named the Premier League Young Player of the Season and the PFA Young Player of the Year.

Foden has represented England at various youth levels, scoring 19 goals in 51 appearances for the youth teams. He was first called up to the senior national team on August 25, 2020, and made his debut on September 5, 2020, in a 1–0 victory over Iceland in the UEFA Nations League. Foden has since earned the PFA Young Player of the Year award and the Premier League Young Player of the Season accolade for two consecutive years. Additionally, he was nominated for PFA Player of the Year and the Ballon d'Or for the 2021–22 season.

Born: May 28, 2000

Born in Lodi, Italy, Sandro Tonali is a young professional footballer who began his career four years ago as a midfielder for Brescia. In addition, he has represented his national team for about three years. After more than a year playing for Serie A club Milan, Tonali’s outstanding performances have shown exactly why he deserves to be a part of such a top-tier club. Known for his unique personality both on and off the field, Tonali gained high praise from his coaches, particularly Luciano Esposito, which made him stand out even more.

His impressive number of goals at a young age makes Sandro stand out from his teammates. During his time at Brescia, Tonali's distinctive passing helped secure many points for his team. He scored 2 goals and assisted 2 more in 19 appearances during the 2017-18 Serie B season. The following season, Tonali led Brescia to win the Serie B title and promotion to Serie A, securing a starting spot for the club throughout the 2018-19 season. One of Tonali's most remarkable achievements came in July 2019, when UEFA named him one of the 50 most promising young players of the 2019-20 season.

Born: May 8, 2000

Sven Adriaan Botman is a professional footballer from the Netherlands who plays as a center-back for Premier League club Newcastle United. Born in 2000, Botman has represented the Netherlands at various youth levels, from U15 to U21. He made his debut for Ajax’s first team on June 23, 2018, during a friendly against VVSB. Botman also debuted in the Eerste Divisie for Jong Ajax on August 17, 2018, in a match against Roda JC Kerkrade. Besides being an excellent passer, Botman is also known for his great ball control. His teammates at Lille are confident in passing the ball to him, and he ranks among the top five players in Ligue 1 for touches per game.

Botman has long been considered one of the Netherlands’ brightest prospects. He has played for the Dutch national team at U15, U16, U18, U19, U20, and recently U21 levels. To succeed as a modern center-back, possessing impressive passing ability is essential, and Botman has proven this in the current season. At the time of writing, he is one of the top five passers in Ligue 1. He ranks seventh in progressive passing distance in the league and is one of only nine outfield players to complete long passes (over 30 yards). Notably, Botman is one of just four outfield players in Ligue 1 who hasn’t missed a minute of play this season.

Born: January 12, 2000

Marc Guehi is a professional footballer from England, playing as a center-back for Premier League club Crystal Palace and the England national team. Born on July 13, 2000, Guehi developed through Chelsea's youth academy before spending two seasons on loan at Swansea City. He became Crystal Palace's third-most expensive signing when he joined the club in July 2021. Guehi has represented England at various youth levels, and he was a key player in the team that won the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Guehi has featured for England at U16, U17, U18, U19, U20, U21, and senior levels. He captained the U17 team during the 2017 UEFA U-17 European Championship and was a vital part of the squad that lifted the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India. On March 26, 2021, Guehi made his senior international debut for England. Seeking first-team opportunities, he moved to Crystal Palace in the summer of 2021. At just 21 years old, Guehi is highly regarded as a promising talent, with a market value nearing €30 million, which continues to rise.

Born: July 13, 2000

Wesley Fofana did not enter a professional youth academy until he was 14, but quickly made up for lost time with an immediate impact when given the chance to play for Saint-Etienne in France. The 21-year-old defender then moved to England, where he signed with Leicester City and rapidly became one of the most exciting young defenders in the Premier League. Born in the football academy of Marseille on France’s southern coast, Fofana began his career at several small clubs across the country, including Repos Vitrolles, Mining Basin, Des Pennes Mirabeau, and Air Bel, before joining top-tier Saint-Etienne at the age of 14 in 2015.

Starting with Saint-Etienne II in the fourth division, Fofana’s breakthrough came during the 2018/19 season, after signing his first professional contract that summer. The talented teenager made several appearances for the second team and played a key role for the U19s, helping them win the prestigious Coupe Gambardella, France’s national youth cup. Fofana also contributed to a clean sheet in a 3-0 victory against Nice, which secured their fourth-place finish and European qualification. His first-team debut came in the final match of the season, a 1-1 draw against Angers.

Fofana has impressed over the years, even against a star-studded Paris Saint-Germain attack featuring Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, despite his central defensive partner Loic Perrin being sent off early in the match. Fofana made 38 appearances for Leicester City in his first season, 28 of them in the Premier League, with all but one of those starting. His stellar performances earned him the club’s Young Player of the Year award.

Born: December 17, 2000

Illan Stephane Meslier is a professional French footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Leeds United, on loan from Ligue 1’s Lorient. He is also a member of the France U20 national team. Meslier began his football journey at his local club Merlevenez at just 6 years old, and after an impressive match against FC Lorient, he joined their academy. On February 1, 2018, he signed his first professional contract with Lorient. In July 2018, Lorient turned down a €10 million offer from Ligue 1 club AS Monaco for his services, with interest also coming from Premier League side Chelsea.

Illan Meslier stayed at Lorient and soon made his professional debut under coach Mickaël Landreau, keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 Coupe de la Ligue victory over Valenciennes FC on August 14, 2018. He went on to keep a clean sheet in his first five professional appearances, conceding his first goal in his sixth match against Paris FC. In a 1-0 win over Clermont, Meslier saved a last-minute penalty from Clermont’s Manuel Perez. His impressive performances solidified his position as Lorient’s number one goalkeeper, as he made 30 appearances during the 2018/19 season, keeping 11 clean sheets. Meslier’s strong form helped Lorient finish sixth in Ligue 2, narrowly missing out on playoff qualification due to goal difference compared to RC Lens.

Born: March 2, 2000

Erling Braut Haaland is a professional footballer from Norway who plays as a forward for Premier League club Manchester City and the Norwegian national team. Regarded as one of the best players in the world today, Haaland is known for his exceptional speed, strength, and finishing ability. Having progressed through the youth ranks, Haaland played at senior level for Bryne’s first team and reserves. He moved to Molde in 2017, where he spent two successful seasons.

Haaland joined Austrian Bundesliga club Red Bull Salzburg in January 2019, winning two league titles and an Austrian Cup. In December 2019, he transferred to German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, where he won the DFB-Pokal in the 2020–21 season. In 2022, Haaland made the move to Manchester City for a €60 million fee (around £51.2 million).

Haaland has accumulated numerous individual awards and broken several records early in his career. He was the top scorer of the UEFA Champions League in the 2020–21 season. In 2020, Haaland was awarded the Golden Boy award, and in 2021, he was named Bundesliga Player of the Year and included in the FIFA FIFPro World11.

While playing for Manchester City in the Premier League, Erling Braut Haaland has also shattered records, becoming the fastest player to score two and three hat-tricks and the first player in Premier League history to score three consecutive home hat-tricks. Haaland has represented Norway at various youth levels and won the Golden Boot at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup after scoring a record 9 goals in one match. He made his senior international debut in September 2019.

Born: July 21, 2000

Vinicius Junior is a professional footballer from Brazil who plays as a winger for Real Madrid in La Liga and the Brazilian national team. Known as one of the best players in the world, Vinicius is celebrated for his dribbling skills, exceptional pace, and long-range shooting ability. Born in Sao Gonçalo, Vinicius began his professional career and made his senior debut in 2017 at the age of 16. Shortly after, he became a target for La Liga's Real Madrid, signing for them in a deal worth £38 million, which set a national record for a player under 18.

The transfer became official after his 18th birthday, and Vinicius Junior made his debut for the club during the 2018–19 season. By his fourth season, Vinicius had established himself as a key player in Real Madrid’s squad, contributing to their La Liga title win in the 2021–22 season and scoring the decisive goal in their UEFA Champions League final victory in 2022. He was also named the UEFA Champions League Young Player of the Season. After leading Brazil to the South American U-17 Championship title, Vinicius was honored as the tournament's best player and top scorer with 7 goals.

Born: July 12, 2000

Ferran Torres is a Spanish footballer who currently plays for the prestigious Spanish club Barcelona. He is a versatile forward, playing both centrally and on the wings for his club and the Spanish national team. Torres is part of a revitalized Barcelona squad being shaped by Xavi Hernandez, a team that blends youthful talent with some experience. As one of the younger players in the squad, Torres plays a key role in this exciting new era for the club.

Born in 2000, Ferran made his name at Valencia, before moving to the Premier League with Manchester City and then returning to Spain with Barcelona. Despite his young age, he has amassed considerable experience that many of his peers can only envy. On December 16, 2018, he made his La Liga debut, coming on as a substitute in the final 9 minutes of a 1-2 loss to Eibar. That appearance made him the first player born in the 2000s to play in La Liga. After his debut, Torres was promoted to Valencia's first team on January 1, 2019.

Ferran Torres became the youngest player to reach 50 appearances in La Liga for Valencia on November 23, breaking a 38-year-old record held by Miguel Tendillo. Torres achieved this feat at the age of 19 years and 254 days, surpassing Tendillo's record of 19 years and 351 days. He is also a regular for Spain's national team and will represent his country in Qatar at the 2022 World Cup under the guidance of former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique.

Born: February 29, 2000