THE U-20 World Cup has been a stage where future legends can announce their arrival to the world.
As the 2025 tournament comes to an end this weekend, there could be more players who are on course for global stardom.
From Maradona and Messi to the great Dominic Solanke, who are the best to have won the award?
We ranked the top 10:
10th – Paulo Silas – 1985
Silas was the key to Brazil’s success in the Soviet Union. The hardworking midfielder was rewarded with his first senior appearance a year after the win and went on to make 34 appearances for the Seleção. He spent most of his club career in South America but also enjoyed years at Sporting CP and Sampdoria.
9th – Lee Kang-in – 2019
The current PSG forward helped provide a shock run for South Korea during their campaign as he contributed to two goals and four assists. He led the team to the final and scored the only goal in the final in their 3-1 defeat to Ukraine. Following a successful spell at Mallorca, Lee got his move to the French champions for €22m. He also has now featured for the senior national team 42 times.
8th – Dominic Solanke – 2017
A slightly more known figure in modern football, Solanke, led England to the countries only ever U-20 World Cup triumph as he headlined the tournament with four goals which included a brace in the semi-finals against Italy. The striker now plays his football for Tottenham Hotspur after six successful seasons for Bournemouth. He also has three senior team appearances for the Three Lions.
7th – Robert Prosinečki – 1987
Prosinečki was part of an incredibly strong Yuogslavia squad who won the tournament in Chile. He beat the likes of David Šuker to the award. The midfielder went on to make 15 appearances for Yugoslavia including playing at the 1990 World Cup. Although the country dissolved, Prosinečki went on to play 49 times for Croatia. He also enjoyed a great club career, the Croatian featured for Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. Unfortunately, he also played for Portsmouth.
6th – Javier Saviola – 2001
Saviola scored the record number of goals in a tournament which was 11 for Argentina – a record that even still stands today. El Conejo scored two hat-tricks and got a goal in the 3-0 thrashing of Ghana in the final. Off the back of the tournament, he got a move to Barcelona for £15m from River Plate and spent six good years at the Catalan club before moving to rivals Real Madrid. The forward only ended up playing 39 times for senior national team and retired just before the age of 28 as he wanted to concentrate on club football.
5th – Seydou Keita – 1999
Keita was the first African player to win the golden ball as he guided Mali to third place. The midfielder played every minute of Mali’s run and even scored a stunning long range free-kick in the third place play-off. Keita went on to make over 100 hundred appearances for his country and is still the record holder to this day. The Malian, enjoyed a successful club career with spells at clubs like Lens and Barcelona. He was apart of the historic Barcelona team which won the sextuple in 2009.
4th – Paul Pogba – 2013
Unlike most, Pogba was already an established player known by the world before he travelled to this tournament as he was starting consistently for Juventus. The midfielder was by far the best player at the tournament as he guided France to victory. Pogba then became one of the best players in the senior team and won the World Cup in 2018 and made 91 appearances for his country. His club career has been relatively up and down but enjoyed his best time at Juventus between 2012-2016 before his move to Manchester United. The World Cup winner is still playing but has just come back following a 18-month ban for doping.
3rd – Sergio Aguero – 2007
Aguero won both the golden boot and golden ball during the tournament in Canada after his six goals, including one in the final against Czechia. The Argentine went on to make over hundred appearances for his country and was apart of the 2021 Copa America winning squad. His club career was very successful as he became a Manchester City legend with his 184 goals for the club – including you know the one. The striker unfortunately had to stop his career early due to a heart condition.
2nd – Diego Maradona – 1979
There is probably not many lists where Maradona is second but there is certain alien ahead of him. El Pibe de Oro scored in every knockout stage game as well as three in the group to lead the Young Albiceleste to glory just a year after the senior team had done it. Maradona became the first youth World Cup final goalscorer to appear in a World Cup final when he once again led Argentina to victory in 1986. He played 91 times for the national team and played at four World Cups. The footballing legend spent his best years in Italy with Napoli as he led them to two historic Scudetto’s.
1st – Lionel Messi – 2005
Who else? Lionel Messi also picked up the golden boot and golden ball like his fellow country men which helped lead Argentina to victory. Messi became the second player ever to win the golden ball at both the youth and senior World Cup’s in 2014. La Pulga then replicated his performances in the 2022 World Cup as he scored in all knockout games and lifted the trophy for the first ever time. He also picked up two Copa America wins with his country in 2021 and 2023 respectively. As everyone knows, he is a Barcelona legend and has just the eight Ballon D’or’s to his name. Arguably the greatest footballer to ever live.
Who is next to join this list of greats?
