Top 10 Youngest Champions League Players In The World 2025

The UEFA Champions League, in which the finest talents compete under the watchful eye of the public, is considered to be the highest level in European club football. Throughout the years, a small number of prodigies have shown to be exceptions to the rule by making their debuts at extremely young ages, demonstrating their abilities on one of the sport’s most prestigious platforms. The following is an in-depth examination of the ten youngest players to have ever participated in the Champions League as of the year 2025. It is based on the ages at which they made their debuts and includes information on their careers and the influence they have had.

List Of Top 10 Youngest Champions League Players In The World 2025

1. Youssoufa Moukoko

Youssoufa Moukoko is the youngest player to ever play in the UEFA Champions League. The German attacker, who was born in Cameroon, played his first game for Borussia Dortmund against Zenit St. Petersburg on December 8, 2020, just 18 days after his 16th birthday. Moukoko’s path to this point was amazing. He was very successful with St. Pauli’s Under-13s at age 10, and he joined Dortmund in 2016, playing for their U17s at 13 and U19s at 14. By January 2020, he was practicing with Dortmund’s first squad. A month before his first Champions League game, he became the youngest player in Bundesliga history to play against Hertha Berlin. He was a generational talent since he competed against the best players when he was young, but he is still working on being consistent at the senior level.

2. Lamine Yamal

When Lamine Yamal made his Champions League debut against Royal Antwerp on September 19, 2023, he was only 16 years and 68 days old, making him the second-youngest player in the tournament. Yamal was already the youngest player in La Liga for Barcelona. He made history by being the youngest player to start a Champions League match against Porto (16 years, 83 days) and the youngest player to play in the knockout stages against Napoli (16 years, 223 days). He broke another record in the 2024/25 season by being the second-youngest player to score in the Champions League (17 years, 68 days) against Monaco. Yamal is a key part of Barcelona’s assault and a rising star for Spain because he is courageous when he dribbles and stays calm.

3. Celestine Babayaro

From his first game for Anderlecht against Steaua București on November 23, 1994, until Moukoko broke the record in 2020, Nigerian left-back Céléstine Babayaro was the youngest player in the Champions League. Sadly, Babayaro’s historic debut was ruined when he got a red card just 37 minutes into the game, making him the youngest player to be sent off in the tournament. Babayaro had a great career following this rough start. He joined Chelsea in 1997 and won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and the FA Cup with them. His early Champions League performance showed off his early skill, which he used to have a great career.

4. Rayan Cherki

On November 27, 2019, at the age of 16 years and 102 days, French attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki made his Champions League debut for Lyon against Zenit St. Petersburg. Cherki had previously made a name for himself in the UEFA Youth League, when he scored four goals in three games. This got him a call-up to Lyon’s senior team. He was an unused substitute in a previous game where he may have broken Babayaro’s record, but his debut made him one of the youngest players to ever participate in the competition. Cherki is a great potential because of his flare and imagination, but he still needs to work on being consistent at the top level.

5. Alen Halilovic

When Croatian midfielder Alen Halilović made his debut for Dinamo Zagreb against Paris Saint-Germain on October 24, 2012, he was only 16 years and 128 days old. Halilović was called a prodigy because of his technical skill and vision, which were compared to Luka Modrić’s. But even though he showed a lot of promise early on, his career hasn’t reached the heights that were expected. He has played for several clubs in Europe. Even though his career hasn’t gone as quickly as expected, his first Champions League game is nonetheless a sign of his early talent.

6. Youri Tielemans

Youri Tielemans, a Belgian midfielder, played in his first Champions League game for Anderlecht against Olympiacos on October 2, 2013. He was 16 years and 148 days old at the time. Tielemans rapidly became an important player for Anderlecht because of his calmness and ability to distribute the ball. He then moved to Monaco and then Leicester City, where he won the FA Cup in 2021. His early experience in the Champions League showed how mature he was, and he has since become a key player for Belgium’s national team and a consistent player in the Premier League.

7. Francesco Camarda

Francesco Camarda, an Italian striker, made his Champions League debut for AC Milan on September 17, 2024, at the age of 16 years and 183 days. He was the youngest player in the league’s history. Camarda, who came from Milan’s development academy, made news when he became the youngest player to play in Serie A at the age of 15 years and 260 days. His presence in the Champions League only added to his reputation as one of Italy’s best young players, thanks to his goal-scoring instincts and aggressiveness.

8. Warren Zaire-Emery

At 16 years and 247 days old, Warren Zaïre-Emery made his Champions League debut for Paris Saint-Germain against Juventus on November 2, 2022. Since then, he has played in 26 games in the competition, showing how mature and flexible he is. In December 2023, Zaïre-Emery scored against Borussia Dortmund when he was just 17 years and 280 days old. This made him one of the youngest Champions League goalscorers. His quick rise has made him an important player for both PSG and the French national team.

9. Charalampos Mavrias

On August 22, 2012, Greek winger Charalampos Mavrias made his first appearance for Panathinaikos in a Champions League qualifier against Málaga. He was 17 years and 260 days old at the time. Mavrias’s first game showed how good he could be, but he had trouble living up to that promise. His moves to Sunderland and other teams didn’t always go well. His time in the Champions League is still one of the best things he’s done in his career, showing how good he was as a teenager.

10. Kenneth Zohore

Kenneth Zohore, a Danish striker, is the last player on the list. He made his debut for FC Copenhagen against Chelsea on February 22, 2011, at the age of 17 years and 283 days. Zohore was a great potential because of his size and ability to score goals, but his career has been all over the place, with stints at different clubs in England and Europe. His early experience in the Champions League is still a big issue in his career.