Who are the best young Spanish football players?

A generation raised on the success of La Roja between 2008 and 2012, the latest batch of young Spanish football players points to a bright future for the national team. Some of them were key components in the Euro 2024 winning squad, while others are starting to make their mark in LaLiga or other major leagues, and will be hoping for international recognition in the coming years.

Let’s take a look at the top 10 Spanish youngsters, as ranked by their average Sorare score over the past 40 games. Only players currently active in one of Europe’s top five leagues were considered for inclusion, while they had to be 23 or younger on July 1st 2024. Players must have appeared in at least 50% of their last 40 eligible matches.

If you’re unfamiliar with Sorare, it’s a fantasy football game, with an advanced scoring matrix where everything from goals and assists, to tackles, interceptions, dribbles, saves, shots and missed chances score points, or in some cases lose them. Sign up to Sorare today to get involved.

Best young Spanish football players (U23) – The top 10 ranked by their Sorare scores

10. Marc Casado, Barcelona – 53.1

A virtually unknown name as recently as the summer, Marc Casado has become an unexpected fixture in Hansi Flick’s Barcelona starting XI this season. 

Filling a gap at the base of the midfield, the 21-year-old has caught the eye with some composed displays in big matches. He registered assists against both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid back in October, and his form earned him international recognition, with Casado representing Spain in the UEFA Nations League at the end of 2024.

9. Pablo Ramon, Espanyol – 53.7

A strong loan spell at Mirandes in the Segunda Division last season largely accounts for Pablo Ramon’s high average score. The defender returned to Real Madrid in the summer, before moving to Espanyol on a free transfer in early January,

While not exactly viewed as one of the Spanish wonderkids of this generation, Ramon will be hoping to get a chance to show what he can do in the top flight over the remainder of the campaign.

8. Alex Valle, Como – 54.7

With Cesc Fabregas at the helm, Serie A side Como seem intent on accumulating some of the best Spanish young players. That includes Alex Valle, who joined on loan from Barcelona in January, following spells at Andorra, Levante and Celtic.

Valle is a 20-year-old left-back who is comfortable on the ball. He has already made two starts in the Italian top flight as he continues his development.

7. Dean Huijsen, Bournemouth – 55.0

While he was born in the Netherlands, Dean Huijsen spent most of his formative years on the Costa del Sol, progressing through the ranks at Malaga. Spells at Juventus and Roma followed, before an already colourful career path took the teenager to Bournemouth in a €15m deal last summer.

The centre-back, who is still only 19, is enjoying an impressive debut campaign in the Premier League and looks to have a big future ahead of him.

6. Alex Baena, Villarreal – 55.0

One of the more established and experienced Spanish prospects, Alex Baena has already clocked up more than 100 appearances for Villarreal, while he has already appeared eight times for Spain.

He has gained recognition for his outstanding creative qualities. Since the beginning of the 2023/24 LaLiga season, Baena has registered an outstanding 20 assists, more than any other player in the division.

5. Pau Cubarsi, Barcelona – 55.3

One of the many exciting talents to graduate from La Masia in recent years, Pau Cubarsi looks like he could be a fixture in the Barcelona defence for many years to come.

It has been a whirlwind rise for Cubarsi who was handed his debut by Xavi as a 16-year-old in January 2024. Having only recently turned 18, the centre-back has now cemented himself in the Barca side, appearing in every one of their LaLiga matches so far this term.

4. Leo Roman, Mallorca – 55.4

Along with the likes of Joan Garcia at Espanyol, and Julen Agirrezabala at Athletic Club, Leo Roman is one of the most highly rated young Spanish keepers.

He was very impressive on loan at Real Oviedo in the Segunda Division last season. This term, he has made five appearances in LaLiga back at Mallorca, but Jagoba Arrasate has tended to prefer Dominik Greif in goal for the Balearic Islanders.

3. Nico Gonzalez, Man City – 55.5

A regular feature in the Barca midfield during the cash-strapped club’s challenging 2021/22 season, Nico Gonzalez was subsequently loaned out to Valencia, and then sold to Porto in the summer of 2023.

The move to the Estadio do Dragao would prove a good one for Nico, with some impressive displays in Portugal helping to relaunch his career. The A Coruña-born player was a surprise target for Manchester City in the January window, with the 23-year-old completing a €60m deadline day switch to the defending Premier League champions.

2. Pedri, Barcelona – 59.2

While his style of play and ability on the ball suggests otherwise, Pedri did not come through the ranks at La Masia, instead experiencing his football education in his native Canary Islands, before getting his chance in the Las Palmas first team as a 16-year-old.

It didn’t take long for Barcelona to make their move, and the midfielder quickly made his mark for club and country following the switch to Camp Nou. Winner of the prestigious Golden Boy award in 2021, injuries and a heavy workload have perhaps slowed his development slightly, but some sparkling displays in the 2024/25 campaign suggest Pedri is starting to hit the heights many expected him to reach.

1. Lamine Yamal, Barcelona – 70.2

As far as records for the youngest Spanish football players go, Lamine Yamal has broken too many to mention, with the 17-year-old already widely regarded as not just one of the best young players in the world, but one of the best players.

Comparisons to the young Leo Messi are unavoidable given the quality and maturity of some of his displays on the right flank for Barcelona. The winger has the ability to beat players for fun with his blend of speed and skill, whilst his ability to deliver pinpoint crosses and shoot from range has already seen him make some vital contributions for club and country.

Young Spanish football players – The five most valuable teenagers

According to figures from Transfermarkt, these are the most valuable Spanish teenagers:

5. Assane Diao, Como (19) – €9m

Another recent arrival at Como, winger Assane Diao moved from Real Betis in a €12m deal during another very busy transfer window at the Seville club. Diao had found gametime tough to come by at Betis this season, but he has already made a big impact in Italy, scoring in three of his first six appearances in Serie A.

4. Hector Fort, Barcelona (18) – €10m

Back–up to Jules Kounde at Barcelona, Hector Fort is a promising young right-back who currently ranks as the fourth most valuable Spanish teenager. He has only made two starts for Flick in all competitions this season though, and it may be that we see Fort granted a summer loan move if he cannot get more meaningful minutes in the second half of the campaign.

3. Dean Huijsen, Bournemouth (19) – €18m

Bournemouth centre-back Huijsen has clearly gained the trust of Andoni Iraola at the Vitality Stadium. The 19-year-old opted to represent Spain U21’s in 2024, having previously featured in the Dutch youth set-up, and he’ll be hoping to kick on and progress into the senior international ranks with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon.

2. Pau Cubarsi, Barcelona (18) – €70m

One of the obstacles in Huijsen’s way in terms of international recognition is Pau Cubarsi. The 2007-born defender narrowly missed out on a place in La Roja’s Euro 2024 squad, but he did feature at the Paris Olympics as Spain won gold, and has won five caps for the senior team. 

Cubarsi’s value has soared to €70m over the past year, making him the world’s most valuable teenage defender, according to Transfermarkt.

1. Lamine Yamal, Barcelona (17) – €180m

Born in July 2007, Lamine Yamal was still aged just 16 when he scored a wonder-goal against France in the semi-finals of Euro 2024, a moment that formally announced his arrival to the world as one of the biggest talents of his generation.

The Barca winger has only gone from strength to strength since, developing his game and increasing his composure in front of goal. Now aged 17, Yamal is already capable of dominating games and his estimated market value of €180m is only less than Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.

Overall, the future looks very bright for Spain, with 20-year-olds Gavi, Samu Aghehowa and Cristhian Mosquera also valued at €30m or more, while 22-year-old Nico Williams is another exceptional young talent.