Top 10 Rising Soccer Stars To Look Out For in 2024

Who are the next set of rising soccer stars to look out for in 2024? Globally, there are a multitude of elite soccer stars that grace the field every week. Worldwide superstars such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are sadly coming to the end of their illustrious careers. It’s been a real joy, but we’re going to have to say goodbye soon. 

However, a host of young stars and up and coming talents have already hit the scene across Europe. Think of names such as Jude Bellingham, Jamal Musiala and Pedri. All of them are aged 21 or under and are already some of the best players in the world. It just goes to show just how good these players are at such a young age that they are already crucial players for their respective sides. 

It’s clear that we already know about many rising soccer stars. Nevertheless, I will be taking you through some of the lesser known wonderkids that are set to hit the scene in 2024. Now, you may have already heard of some of these players. However, they are yet to establish themselves as elite players like Bellingham, Musiala and Pedri. Let’s examine the next set of rising soccer stars that fans will enjoy for years to come. 

Top 10 Rising Soccer Stars To Look Out For in 2024

Endrick (Palmeiras) – Forward

You may have already heard Endrick’s name before. The 17-year-old Brazilian was signed by Real Madrid last winter when he was just 16. He has still been playing for Palmeiras over the past year, but will join the Spanish club once he turns 18 in July of 2024. 

Los Blancos have a history of acquiring young Brazilian talent early on before developing them themselves. Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr. are the most recent examples. Endrick looks set to be the next big thing to come out of South America. 

With 11 league goals from 31 appearances in the Brazilian Serie A, Endrick has proven that he can get goals at a high level, despite still being so raw. Clearly, Real Madrid see a lot in the forward. The reported deal is worth €35,000,000, potentially rising to €60,000,000. That’s a crazy amount for a teenager. 

Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain) – Midfielder

Warren Zaire-Emery has already established himself as an important player in Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain side at just 17-years-old. He made 26 Ligue 1 appearances during the 2022/23 season but has become a regular this term. 

Of course, he is also a well-known name. But, at such a tender age, he is yet to fully establish himself as elite. Having been called up to the French national side in November, he became the youngest player to play for France since 1914. 

Zaire-Emery has four goal contributions in just 14 Ligue 1 appearances this term and has also supplied three assists during this season’s Champions League campaign. It looks inevitable that he is going to one of the next rising soccer stars. 

Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) – Forward

We have all heard about Jude Belliingham who has taken La Liga by storm this season after his move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid. However, did you know that Jude has a younger brother called Jobe? 

Well, Jobe is currently plying his trade in the English second tier for Sunderland. He is two years younger than his elder brother and also began his career at local team Birmingham City. 

Although Jobe will be compared with Jude throughout his career, many have cited him to go right to the top, regardless of his last name. He already has four Championship goals for the Black Cats this season and the 18-year-old has five caps for England U19s to his name. 

Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) – Winger

Alejandro Garnacho has already featured a lot for Manchester United over the last couple of seasons. Most recently, he hit the headlines after scoring a stunning bicycle-kick against Everton. That goal alone makes him worthy of being named as one of the top rising soccer stars. 

The Argentine is yet to fully establish himself as a top-tier player, but he has shown some great flashes of what he could offer in years to come. Given the tumultuous times in the red side of Manchester of late, the 19-year-old is doing a pretty good job. 

He was called up for the Argentina national team earlier this year and made his debut over the summer. Garancho was also named Manchester United’s Player of the Month for November. 

Ivan Fresneda (Sporting CP) – Right-back

A Spanish right-back is typically expected to have strong technical skills. And that’s exactly what Ivan Fresnda boasts. Despite previous links with Arsenal in the past, he signed for Sporting CP over the summer from Real Valladolid. 

Full-backs are becoming increasingly important in the modern game and need the technical ability, as well as the defensive competence, to help in the build-up. It seems as though Fresneda is able to not only provide excellent abilities on the ball, but is also extremely strong defensively, too. 

He has the ability to tuck into midfield as coaches across Europe continue to utilize an inverted full-back in the middle of the park. That ability is key for a player in his position to be named one of the rising soccer stars. 

Ousmane Diomande (Sporting CP) – Center-Back 

There aren’t many defenders on this list but Ousmane Diomande just had to be mentioned here. The 20-year-old is already a physical specimen, using a combination of his strength and speed to dominate the defense. 

The Ivorian is good on the ball, too, which is becoming increasingly important in today’s game. He was named as Primeira Liga Defender of the Month back in September of 2023 so his ability is not going unnoticed. 

Arda Guler (Real Madrid) – Midfielder 

Another Real Madrid man, Turkish youngster Arda Guler joined Los Blancos over the summer of 2023 from Fenerbahce for a fee of €20,000,000. He was previously linked to a host of top European clubs such as Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. However, it was Real Madrid who managed to acquire his services. 

The Spanish side have been doing a wonderful job at creating a conveyor belt of young talent to come in and replace their aging stars. Guler looks set to be yet another rising soccer star that will make a big impact. 

Guler has been heralded as the ‘Turkish Messi’ and even made his senior national team debut in November 2022. The 18-year-old is already dealing with a host of injury issues, though, so the hope is that it won’t hinder his development too much. 

Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) – Winger 

At just 16-years-old, Lamine Yamal is the youngest player in this list. He has already made 15 La Liga appearances for Barcelona and even played for the first team when he was just 15-years-old. If anyone deserves to make it in this list of rising soccer stars, then it’s Yamal!

Yamal has played in the Champions League already, the pinnacle of European club soccer, when he played against Antwerp back in September. At the beginning of December, the Spaniard was awarded the Golden Boy The Youngest award. 

Having become the youngest goalscorer in La Liga and Barcelona history after he got on the scoresheet against Granada back in October, Yamal continues to break club, league and international records. 

Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich) – Forward

French forward Mathys Tel has been featuring for German giants Bayern Munich over the past couple of seasons. He signed for Bayern in 2022 from French side Rennes and he has already scored eight Bundeslga goals for the club. 

France have a knack at continuing to develop high-quality players and Tel looks set to be the next top forward prospect. The 18-year-old is incredibly versatile and can be used anywhere across the front three, as well as in a deeper midfield role. Tel even started his career as a center-back!

Tel is yet to make his senior debut for France, but he has featured four times for the Under-21 side. Having drawn comparisons to Kylian Mbappe, many have complimented his ability in front of goal and his physical attributes. 

Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United) – Midfielder 

Another Manchester United starlet that is hyped for big things, Kobbie Mainoo also recently left his mark away to Everton, just like teammate Garnacho. The 18-year-old midfielder added a mature presence in the middle of the park for the Red Devils. Such a composed display was impressive at his age and he looks like one of the next rising soccer stars. 

Mainoo impressed during pre-season for United and he finally got his chance to show what he can do in the Premier League recently. Erik Ten Hag’s men have missed a calm and composed presence in midfield now for some time and the youngster could be the man to provide them with that guile they so desperately need. 

Although he has made just seven senior appearances for United, there is clearly a lot of hype surrounding him. He won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award for the 2022/23 campaign, which is awarded to the club’s best young talent. Names such as Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Marcus Rashford have previously won the award so he looks set to follow in the right footsteps.