The future of football is also already on the scene, and a future that could be crystal clear in 2026–27 through some of the brightest young talents.
At the centre of that conversation is Lamine Yamal. Born in 2007, the forward in Barcelona has already left the ‘prospect’ category. He has 11 goals and nine assists in 33 appearances for UEFA at the Champions League level, impressive figures for a young man of no 19. He is one of the most promising young talents in world football, thanks to his dribbling skills and creativity, which he can use to bring influence to games.
Another player to keep an eye on is Franco Mastantuono. The Argentina international was spotted by Real Madrid when he was joining River Plate and was a consistent option in their ranks during the 2025-26 season. In Real Madrid’s official stats it showed up there 35 times and hit the net three times in all competitions last season. The club later has agreed to put his forward into Fiorentina so that he can continue to grow with quality football in the main team.
Pau Cubarsí is another name from the Barcelona academy, and has made a fast start at senior level. Then, FIFA named both Cubarsí and Mastantuono in the list of youngsters to watch at the 2026 World Cup.
It is not just about finding the next big thing but rather learning about the oncoming season. The next step may be making this promise a reality for some of the young players, as they become elite speedsters.
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