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Kerim Alajbegovic – A prologue to great things
A breakout season with Red Bull Salzburg has taken the talented teenager to Turin where he has immediately impressed for Juventus, tormenting full-backs down the left flank.
His stand-out moment, however, was enacted in the summer at the World Cup, for Bosnia against Qatar.
Having already completed a couple of eye-catching dribbles, Alajbegovic negotiated his way through heavy traffic to 20 yards from goal. His unleashed shot buried itself into the corner of the net, just beyond the reaches of the keeper.
It made him the youngest player to score from outside the box at a World Cup finals since records began in the 1960s.
Ayyoub Bouaddi – Besting the best
The 18-year-old’s mature performances for Lille led to a big-money move to Manchester City this summer, but not before he showcased at the World Cup what the Premier League could expect from him.
Superbly marshalling Morocco’s midfield it was hard to believe that his opening outing in the tournament – against Brazil of all sides – was only his fourth appearance for his country.
Bouaddi bossed the centre-circle, coming out on top against Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes time and again, and ultimately accruing elite stats. He recorded a 91% pass accuracy, registered five interceptions, and won nine duels.
One neat interchange down the right as half-time approached stands out, a brace of bewitching one-twos that had the iconic Brazil floundering.
Pau Cubarsi – The stylish wall
A series of defensive masterclasses at the World Cup is an obvious starting point when celebrating the teenager’s rare attributes. As part of a back-four that conceded only once all summer, Cubarsi was voted the young player of the tournament.
Yet prior to announcing himself on the global stage the Bescanó-born stopper excelled many times over for Barcelona across 2025/26 as the Blaugrana secured a 29th La Liga title.
One moment away to Villarreal perfectly exemplified the levels of anticipation and composure he possesses, of a standard that has already seen him deemed ‘generational’.
A forward was seemingly clear on goal but Cubarsi puts his afterburners on and intercepted, changing direction in the same movement. This brought an approaching midfielder into proceedings, who the defender easily sidestepped. A further Villarreal player was taken out of the game with a neat pass to a team-mate.
Five seconds earlier, Barcelona were in danger of going a goal behind. Now they were attacking, with a numerical advantage. That’s Cubarsi.
Yan Diomande – Feared for good reason
An outstanding 2025/26 from the winger brought 21 Bundesliga goal involvements and a summer move to Real Madrid. On a weekly basis, the exciting teen is transforming hype to fulfilment.
Several of his 13 league strikes last term are deserving of closer inspection but one in particular stands out, for the thought process behind it.
Diomande received the ball out wide and immediately drifted inward, the defence backing off him. They are scared of what he can produce.
Aware of this, the attacker used this time to his advantage. He waited for team-mates to make runs off him, that in turn pulled defenders out of shape, not a lot, but enough to leave a gap to goal.
He then ruthlessly pulled the trigger.
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Lennart Karl – A fairytale start
The impish playmaker boasted a mere 195 minutes of professional football when Vincent Kompany started him – to widespread surprise - against Club Brugge in the Champions League last October.
Just five minutes in, Karl drove at the heart of the Belgian’s defence, and when they back-pedalled he was only encouraged to drive some more.
On the edge of the box he curled a sumptuous shot up and over the despairing arm of Nordin Jackers in nets.
As introductions go it was pure Hollywood, the moment making the 18-yer-old Bayern’s youngest ever goalscorer in the competition.
Eli Junior Kroupi – Late saviour
The young French forward fired 13 Premier League goals for Bournemouth in 2025/26, the highest number by a teenager in his debut campaign in the competition’s history.
Arguably, his first was the most dramatic.
Procured by the Cherries months earlier, but initially loaned back to Lorient, Kroupi travelled with his new team-mates to Elland Road, Leeds, in the autumn of 2025 with just three substitute appearances to his name. Once again here he started on the bench.
That was until Andoni Iraola threw him in with just minutes remaining, the visitors desperately searching for a late equaliser.
With seconds to spare, the teenager obliged, waiting for a high ball to come down at the far post, and skilfully guiding home a volley.
Lamine Yamal – Firework for the ages
The two-time winner of the Men’s Young Talent of the Year Ballon d’Or has already accumulated a welter of magnificent moments from a three-year career to date that can be equated to a firework going off.
There have been spectacular goals for his country at major tournaments and individual efforts that evoke a predecessor at Barcelona also well-acquainted with Ballon d’Or gold.
Last January, the gifted teen added another highlight to his reel, one that for sure will live long in the memory.
Blaugrana were home and dry against Real Oviedo at Camp Nou when a speculative cross arrived at Yamal chest height and sideways-on. Adjusting his body instinctively, the Spanish international twisted airborne and executed a bicycle kick for the ages.
Johan Manzambi – Meeting expectation
Going into World Cup 2026, Swiss football supporters had high hopes for Manzambi, after the youngster’s Europa League heroics for Freiburg put him on the radar of several European giants. Aston Villa was the club who eventually secured his signature in mid-July.
By then, the winger was a break-out World Cup star, with three goals and two assists to his name, after more than justifying the pre-tournament hype.
His first came against Bosnia, having come on as a late sub only moments earlier. An adroit, controlled volley presumably added an extra nought to his fee and acted too as an announcement of sorts. That Johan Manzambi was indeed the real deal.
Ibrahim Maza – A testament of class
Labelled ‘Mazadona’ by an adoring Bayer Leverkusen faithful the Algerian schemer showed in his inaugural season in the Bundesliga that he is a creative force to be reckoned with. Twelve goal involvements from the youngster is proof enough of that.
His first strike came against Heidenheim, just three full appearances in, but it was his second of the contest that made the bigger statement.
The manner in which he first wrong-footed the defender with a burst of pace, and then the goalkeeper with an unorthodox finish, was testament of rare ability.
Warren Zaïre-Emery – Versatility and maturity
If 2024/25 was the midfielder’s break-through campaign, last term was all about establishing himself within the PSG set-up, and showcasing the maturity required to thrive within it.
This largely came through loud and clear in his assured displays at right-back, filling in for an injured Achraf Hakimi, with an excellent performance in December’s Intercontinental Cup clash with Flamengo standing out.
Does a whole game constitute a moment? It does in this case, with Zaïre-Emery winning 11 of his 17 duels and proving beyond doubt he is infinitely more than a technically gifted individual.
