The 530th CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post presents the outfield players not yet having turned 22 who most outperformed their teammates during the current or last completed season in 65 leagues around the world. The rankings were compiled using Impect data based on performance in eight game areas, as explained in this methodology note.
The study highlights young talents whose performance level makes them eligible for transfers to more prestigious teams. Several of the footballers mentioned have in fact already been transferred. These notably include Nigerian Suleman Sani, signed by RB Leipzig from AS Trenčín, Bulgarian Rosen Bozhinov, from Antwerp to Pisa, and Senegalese Massiré Sylla, from Lyn FK to Union St-Gilloise.
The three U22 footballers with the highest performance ratio compared to their teammates overall are France's Joris Manquant (Stade Nyonnais), in the Swiss second division, Turkey's Kenan Yildiz (Juventus) and Belgium's Wout Asselman (Jong Gent). The three youngest players in the top 10 of a league are Mexico's Gilberto Mora (Club Tijuana), Belgium's Alexander De Ridder (RSCA Futures), and Brazil's Zé Lucas (Sport Recife).
U22 outperforming the most their teammates, by league
Season 2025 or 2025/26 until 19/01/2026. Data: Impect.