Top 20 Players Unveiled
The fast-paced and global nature of football means that emerging talents are scouted and signed at a very young age. Whether they come from youth academies or are persuaded to leave their local clubs after a standout season, many of today’s most sought-after players were already on the radar well before they could drive. While domestic leagues offer great opportunities for young athletes to excel, there’s no stage quite like the U17 World Cup to showcase raw talent and attract the attention of major clubs worldwide.
This year’s tournament is currently underway, with each participating country striving to progress from their groups. Young stars like Belgian pair Jorthy Mokio and Nathan de Cat, Brazilian midfielder Zé Lucas, and German forward Wisdom Mike are generating excitement. However, who were the stars that paved the way for these budding talents? Today, Transfermarkt examines the biggest names ever to participate in the U17 World Cup, ranking them by their peak market value throughout their careers.
20. Aymeric Laporte – France
19. Pau Cubarsí – Spain
18. James Rodríguez – Colombia
17. Toni Kroos – Germany
16. Casemiro – Brazil
15. Ronaldinho – Brazil
14. Alisson – Brazil
13. Heung-Min Son – South Korea
12. Isco – Spain
11. Marc-André ter Stegen – Germany
10. Aurélien Tchouaméni – France
9. Trent Alexander-Arnold – England
8. Victor Osimhen – Nigeria
7. Jadon Sancho – England
6. Pedri – Spain
5. Phil Foden – England
4. Philippe Coutinho – Brazil
3. Eden Hazard – Belgium
2. Raheem Sterling – England
1. Neymar – Brazil
