The Next Generation: 10 Fútbol Players to Watch
Credit: Art by Stephany Torres
With Lionel Messi announcing his retirement from the Argentina national team—and with the sense that, even though he’s still playing at club level, his career is nearing its end—the question becomes: who are the next superstars from our communities? Brazilian Vini Jr. is ready to take up the mantle, but plenty of younger players are also pushing to cement their place in the game—names you might not know yet.
Messi defined an era, and perhaps none of these players will come close to him, Pelé, or Maradona. Still, we’ll likely hear these names a lot over the next few years—along with their positions and where you can watch them.
Kendry Páez (Ecuador), Chelsea
One of the standouts on Ecuador’s young team, Páez is a Chelsea winger with a bright future. He has already shown he can perform at a high level, appeared at the last World Cup, and looks set to be part of the team’s backbone.
Nico Paz (Argentina), Como
The heir apparent to Lionel Messi, Nico Paz helped take Como to the Champions League and also played in the World Cup. With his idol gone, Paz promised he would bring the Cup back to Argentina, and he’s sure to get plenty of chances.
Gilberto Mora (Mexico), Tijuana
Mexico’s wunderkind, Mora, became the subject of many memes when he made Mexico’s World Cup team at only 17. He also got minutes, becoming the second-youngest player ever to start a World Cup knockout-stage match (behind only Pelé). What comes next? The sky is the limit.
Joel Ordóñez (Ecuador), Club Brugge
Ordóñez has impressed with his club and has become an important part of Ecuador’s World Cup team. He played while injured, which kept him from performing at his best, but a healthy Ordóñez has a real chance to be decisive in the future.
Endrick (Brazil), Real Madrid
If any young player comes with hype, it’s Endrick. The Brazilian forward has huge expectations on him—and plenty of talent to back them up. He’s back at Real Madrid after spending time on loan at Lyon and is ready to make a difference.
Miguel Terceros (Bolivia), Santos
Bolivia might not have qualified for the FIFA 2026 World Cup, but they came close thanks in great part to Miguel Terceros, one of the most exciting players to come out of the country in a while. Can he take his team to the upcoming WC? Our bet is yes.
Giuliano Simeone (Argentina), Atlético Madrid
Argentina, like Brazil, has plenty of names who could be big. Simeone is one of them, and he comes with pedigree: his father, Diego Simeone, was a mainstay in the Argentina team. He now also coaches Giuliano at Atlético Madrid. Talk about following in your father’s footsteps.
Allan (Brazil), Manchester City
Allan might not have made Brazil’s World Cup team, but if his first few games with Manchester City are any indication, we’ll see a lot of him in the future. Brazil has many good wingers, but he still stands out.
Dario Osorio (Chile), Crystal Palace
Chile’s national team hasn’t had much luck in World Cup qualifying or regional tournaments lately, but Dario Osorio is looking to change that. Playing at Crystal Palace in the English Premier League is a strong first step.