The Champions League is back, and so is the excitement surrounding young stars aiming to leave their mark on Europe's most prestigious club tournament. Building on last season's thrilling performances, where young players like Desire Doue helped Paris St-Germain secure their first title and Lamine Yamal of Barcelona earned a spot in the team of the competition, the spotlight now shines on a new generation of football talent.


This season features an impressive lineup of ten teenagers who are ready to make their presence felt. Starting with Juventus's Vasilije Adzic, who made headlines by debuting in October 2024 as the first Montenegrin to play for the club in over a decade, and continuing with Borussia Dortmund's Jobe Bellingham, who was the only teenager to score and assist in the recent Fifa Club World Cup.


Others to watch include:



  • Claudio Echeverri (Bayer Leverkusen): The Argentine attacking midfielder is on loan from Manchester City, having previously dazzled at River Plate.

  • Jorrel Hato (Chelsea): A defender who played over 120 club games by age 19, Hato was recently named the top under-21 player in the Dutch Eredivisie.

  • George Ilenikhena (Monaco): Noted for being the third-youngest scorer in Champions League history, the Nigerian-French striker looks to build on his growing reputation.

  • Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid): At just 18, Mastantuono could become one of the youngest players to start a Champions League match.

  • Senny Mayulu (Paris St-Germain): The French midfielder has already scored in a Champions League final and has two Ligue 1 titles to his name.

  • Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool): The youngest goalscorer in Liverpool's history, Ngumoha continues to impress as he takes on bigger challenges.

  • Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal): Regarded for his scoring ability, he became the youngest player to appear in England's top flight at just 15 years old.

  • Geovany Quenda (Sporting): The Portuguese winger marks a significant transfer to Chelsea for the upcoming season.


As the matches unfold this week, these young stars will undoubtedly aim to make a lasting impression on the Champions League stage.