Do Lamine Yamal and Cubarsí dominate the World? Barça has the answer

Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí have once again placed Fútbol Club Barcelona at the epicenter of world football. The CIES Football Observatory has published its 510th weekly report, which analyzes the 200 best under-20 footballers on the planet, and the two Azulgrana academy players occupy the positions of honor.

The study values the experience accumulated in official minutes, weighted according to the demands of the competitions played, which makes this classification a true thermometer of emerging talent in international football.

The report confirms that Barça continues to be the world reference in the training of young stars. Not only because of the place their players occupy in the ranking, but also because of the projection they have already achieved in the first team. Both Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí are not just promises: they are realities that already shine with their own light in the Barça first team.

Lamine Yamal, the undisputed leader

Lamine Yamal celebrates the comeback against Levante

The striker from Mataró leads the list with a score of 97.7 points. Winner of the Golden Boy 2024 and current holder of the Azulgrana ’10’ shirt, Yamal has established himself as Flick's great offensive reference.

Lamine Yamal: The meteoric rise of the '10' Azulgrana. With an impressive score of 97.7 points, the Golden Boy 2024 leads the CIES ranking. But, what makes Yamal so special? We analyze his explosive scoring ability and how he has become Flick's secret weapon in the Barça attack.

His imbalance, vision of the game and scoring ability have made Lamine Yamal a global phenomenon who continues to shatter precocity records. At just 18 years old, he is already considered by many to be the natural heir to the great legends of the culé history.

Pau Cubarsí, a wall in defense

Pau Cubarsí with Laporta, Deco and Rafa Yuste at the announcement of his renewal with FC Barcelona until 2029

The central defender from Estanyol occupies the second position with 93.4 points. His emergence in the elite has been meteoric: in less than a year he has gone from debuting with the first team to being an undisputed starter in Flick's schemes.

His tactical maturity, clean ball output and defensive leadership place Cubarsí as the best young center back in the world and a key piece in the present and future of Barça.

The top-10 of world promises 2025

CIES highlights ten under-20 footballers who already shine in the elite and who are called to mark an era in international football:

1. 1. Lamine Yamal (Barça) – 97.7 points
2. 2. Pau Cubarsí (Barça) – 93.4 points
3. 3. Endrick (Real Madrid) – 91.2 points
4. 4. Arda Güler (Real Madrid) – 90.5 points
5. 5. Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG) – 89.9 points
6. 6. Alejandro Garnacho (M. United) – 88.7 points
7. 7. Evan Ferguson (Brighton) – 87.4 points
8. 8. Désiré Doué (Rennes) – 86.9 points
9. 9. Mathys Tel (Bayern) – 86.2 points
10. 10. Arthur Vermeeren (Atlético) – 85.6 points

A Barça protagonist in the new generation

The doublet of Yamal and Cubarsí at the top of the ranking reflects the great work of the Azulgrana academy. La Masia continues to be the cradle of world talent, with a philosophy that combines technical training, tactical development and competitive values.

The Catalan club thus demonstrates that, despite the economic difficulties, it continues to bet on its own talent as a pillar of its sports project.

Europe sweeps the ranking of young promises

The report also highlights the dominance of European football in the projection of young stars.

The Premier League, LaLiga, Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga concentrate the majority of the players in the top-10, confirming that the big clubs of the continent continue to be the main scenarios for the development of the cracks of the future.

In this context, Barça not only reaffirms itself as a trainer, but also as a club capable of giving responsibility and prominence to its young players in matches of maximum demand, something that few elite teams dare to do with such determination.

With Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí at the top of the world ranking, Fútbol Club Barcelona is once again a benchmark in the generation of young talent. Two jewels that already shine in the present and that project a future full of hope for the culé fans.

• 👉 Follow all the Barça news, in addition to results, calendar and statistics in FCBN.