Every autumn, the football world pauses to take stock of the next wave coming through. This year's crop — players born in 2009 — is generating the kind of excitement that has scouts flying across continents and clubs quietly moving to tie down promising youngsters before rivals can get a look in. Sixty names have been identified as the most gifted teenagers on the planet right now, and the noises out of academies from Munich to Mexico City suggest this generation could be something special.

A Class With Range

What stands out about the 2026 list is the sheer geographic spread. Previous editions have leaned heavily on Western Europe, but this intake draws from a far wider pool. North America features prominently, with Cavan Sullivan flagged as the United States' next great hope in the game. Still only 17, Sullivan has already been attracting attention on both sides of the Atlantic, and those who have watched him up close describe a player with the composure and reading of the game you rarely see at that age.

Elsewhere, one midfielder is being talked about in the same breath as Toni Kroos — high praise in any era, but particularly now given how the German's legacy looms over the position. The comparison is never straightforward, but the suggestion is that this player carries the same capacity to dictate tempo and pick a pass that made Kroos one of the finest of his generation.

Europe's Academies Lead the Way

The major European clubs are well represented, as you would expect. Germany, Italy and Spain all contribute several names, and it is clear that the elite academy systems across those countries continue to produce technically refined players capable of making an early impact. Several of the 60 are already training with first-team squads, and a handful have made senior competitive appearances at club level.

The Premier League's own contribution to this year's list has been highlighted separately, a reflection of the growing investment English clubs have made in youth development infrastructure over the past decade. The top flight's academies have come in for criticism historically, but the picture in 2026 looks considerably healthier.

What Comes Next

Identifying talent at 17 is, of course, an inexact science. History is littered with players who appeared on lists like this and faded before reaching their potential, and it is equally full of stars who were spotted late and ignored early. The class of 2026 will face those same pressures — agents, transfer speculation, the weight of expectation and the physical demands of professional football arriving all at once.

The market is already taking notice of several names on the list, and it would be no surprise to see significant fees mentioned in connection with one or two of them before the next transfer window closes. Clubs that move early on these players tend to do so quietly, and the biggest deals at youth level rarely make the front pages until the paperwork is signed.

For now, though, this is a moment to appreciate what is coming. The class of 2009 is on its way, and on the evidence of what scouts and coaches are saying, football is in good hands.

Key Themes From the 2026 List

  • Global reach: North America, Africa and Asia feature more prominently than in previous years.
  • Early first-team exposure: Several players have already appeared in senior competitive football.
  • Midfield quality: The position is particularly well served in this intake, with multiple players drawing elite comparisons.
  • Premier League presence: English academies have their own dedicated cohort within the wider 60.

Frequently asked

Who is Cavan Sullivan and why is he rated so highly?
Cavan Sullivan is a young American footballer born in 2009 who has been identified as one of the 60 best teenage talents in world football. He is regarded as the United States' next big hope in the game, with his composure and footballing intelligence drawing significant attention from clubs on both sides of the Atlantic.
Which Premier League players are in the Next Generation 2026 list?
The Next Generation 2026 feature includes a dedicated Premier League class of 2026 alongside the global 60. The full breakdown of those English top-flight prospects is published separately as part of the same feature.
Who is being called the new Toni Kroos?
One of the midfielders in the Next Generation 2026 list has been compared to Toni Kroos for his ability to control tempo and distribute the ball at the highest level. The specific player is featured in the full interactive guide, which covers all 60 talents born in 2009.