Lamine Yamal is firmly in contention to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or. No teenager has ever won the illustrious award before, leading us to question whether Yamal is the best 18 year old of all time?
10. Raúl – Real Madrid 1995/96
Raúl made his debut for Real Madrid aged 17 and never looked back. Following a derby goal against Atlético and a string of impressive performances, Raúl successfully dislodged Emilio Butragueño to become Madrid’s main man. By the time Raúl turned 18, he was already a starter for the Real Madrid team that won the league.
In the 1995 / 96 season, the 18 year old Raúl scored 19 league goals and registered 7 assists, as well as scoring 6 in the Champions League. He was a rare glimmer of hope for a struggling Madrid side who could only muster up a 6th place finish.
If it wasn’t for the goals of Raúl, it could have been much worse.
9. Wayne Rooney – Euro 2004
Rooney was just 16 when he burst onto the scene in the Premier League, but it was as an 18 year old at Euro 2004 that he announced himself on the international scene. His goal against Switzerland made him the youngest player to ever score at a European Championship, although this record has now been taken by Yamal.
Rooney went on to score four goals in three and a half games, including a double against Croatia, before a heartbreaking foot injury cut short his and England’s tournament.
A big money move to Manchester United followed, and the rest is history as Rooney went on to become their all-time top goal scorer and won every domestic trophy there was to win.
8. Michael Owen – World Cup 1998
Sticking with English star strikers, Owen became England’s youngest ever player at a World Cup. He was the Mbappé of the 90s – rapid yet composed under pressure. Following 18 league goals for Liverpool, Owen earned a place in the 1998 World Cup squad. Whilst he started the tournament on the bench, his strong performances off the bench resulted in Owen winning a starting spot. His solo goal against Argentina in the second round is one of the most iconic in World Cup history.
Owen went on to win a Ballon d’Or in 2001 and later joined Real Madrid as a Galáctico. Whilst injuries robbed Michael Owen of longevity at the top, he was undoubtedly a world beater as a teen.
7. Pedri – Euro 2020
Pedri played all but one minute of Spain’s six matches at Euro 2020, earning himself a spot in the Team of the Tournament, as well as winning the Young Player of the Tournament. For Barcelona, Pedri became the second youngest player to hit 50 appearances, second only to Bojan Krkić.
Pedri’s emergence followed the old guard of Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets reaching the twilight of their respective careers. His elegance and effectiveness in the middle of the park has been at the heart of Barcelona’s rebuild.
6. Neymar – Santos, 2010 / 11
Long before he ever moved to Europe, Neymar was tearing up the Brazilian Série A. He was the Brazilian wonderkid who combined flair with an eye for goal. 42 goals in 60 games for Santos was an impressive return for the 18 year old, but it was his flair that brought him worldwide attention. Arguably the first YouTube sensation, compilation clips of Neymar humiliating defenders with elasticos and sombrero flicks went viral overnight. The buzz around the young Neymar was comparable to Ronaldinho in his prime; the move to Barcelona seemed written in the stars.
5. Paolo Maldini – AC Milan, 1986/87
Maldini broke into the AC Milan backline when he was just 17. By 18, he had firmly established himself as a formidable defender. Primarily deployed as a left-back, Maldini played over 2,500 minutes. Whilst Milan finished a disappointing 6th, they only conceded 21 goals in the league, despite Serie A boasting attacking talent such as Maradona, Mancini and Vialli at the time.
902 matches and 26 trophies later, Maldini finally retired from playing in 2009, bringing to an end an impressive 25 year career.
4. Jude Bellingham – Borussia Dortmund, 2021/22
Bellingham’s 21 / 22 season wasn’t just impressive for an 18 year old, it was an elite performance that any midfielder would have been proud of. He became a core part of the exciting Dortmund team that boasted a young Haaland. Goals and assists do not tell the whole story when it comes to Bellingham’s game. He is press resistant, carries the ball forward and is versatile across many positions in the midfield.
His early success saw him later awarded the captaincy of Dortmund, winning the Bundesliga player of the year award before securing an £88 million move to Real Madrid in 2023.
3. Kylian Mbappé – AS Monaco 2016 / 17
Mbappé first appeared for Monaco as a 16 year old, beating Thierry Henry’s record for the club’s youngest debutant. Through the 2016 / 17 season, the young Frenchman had many notable standout performances. He became the youngest player to score in a Champions League knockout game with a well-taken goal against Manchester City. Not only did he run City’s defence ragged, he showed a composure and maturity far beyond his age. In the quarter finals against Borussia Dortmund, Mbappé scored three across both legs, becoming the first player to score in each of their first four Champions League knockout games. He went on to win the World Cup with France in 2018 at the tender age of 19.
2. Lamine Yamal – Barcelona and Spain 2024 / 25
We reckon Yamal just about misses out on the accolade of being the best 18 year old of all time. When you get to number one, you’ll understand why.
This isn’t to say that Yamal hasn’t already shown to be a generational talent. He’s already a key starter for both club and country. He was the standout attacker at Euro 2024 as Spain went all the way. Yamal offers more than just goals; he provided key assists throughout the tournament. His instrumental role in Spain’s trophy puts him ahead of others in this list who had similarly exciting seasons from a personal perspective but were not part of trophy-winning teams.
And as for who we reckon to be the best 18 year old of all time?
A few honourable mentions
- Lionel Messi – Glimpses of the genius that he would become but wasn’t yet a regular starter
- Patrick Kluivert – Scored the Champions League final winner for Ajax
- Cesc Fàbregas – Running the Arsenal midfield
- Pele – If the discussion was the best 17 year old, would be the undisputed winner for his performances at the 1958 World Cup
1. Ronaldo Nazário – PSV Eindhoven, 1994 / 95
O Fenômeno was already the complete striker by 18.
Ronaldo could go from a standstill to full speed in seemingly one touch. Once he was moving, there was no catching him or stopping him.
He made goalkeepers look helpless. Left foot, right foot, chips, lobs, toe pokes, 1 on 1s, everything came naturally.
In his first full season in Europe, Ronaldo scored 35 goals in 36 games for PSV. Standout games from the season included four goals against Sparta Rotterdam and a hat trick against a strong Leverkusen side. Rudi Völler remarked after the game that “Never in my life have I seen an 18-year-old play in this way”.
Ronaldo’s season as an 18 year old is arguably one of the best individual seasons any player has ever had. By 19, Barcelona signed him for a then record fee, which he repaid with 47 goals in 49 games. In January 1997, at the age of 20, World Soccer were already discussing whether he was “The Best Ever”.
Do you agree with our list?
