Breakout Stars to Watch For the 2025-26 Season

Yahoo

a day ago

In preparation for another jam-packed season of football, we highlight a few names that could fully break out into the spotlight.
As many teams across the world of football are well into their preseason preparation for the 2025-26 season, it's the most opportune time to provide an update to our list of potential breakout stars who you should be keeping your eye on this season.
The proof is in the pudding. Last year, our list consisted of Amad, Morgan Rogers, and Pau Cubarsi, three players who had phenomenal campaigns in 2024-25 and look set to continue their upward trajectory.
The parameters of inclusion remain the same — any players who were under the age of 23 at the start of the season are eligible. However, this time we've added a couple of women as well. That's enough for the preamble, we'll kick off this year's list with some of the brightest up-and-coming stars in world football.
Poised For a Big Leap
Gonzalo García
Despite their humbling loss to PSG at the end of the FIFA Club World Cup, there were several positives for Real Madrid to take from the tournament. While Arda Guler's emergence as a certified option in central midfield for Xabi Alonso was a bright spot, it's impossible to look past Gonzalo Garcia.
With Kylian Mbappe missing the entirety of the group stage, the 21-year-old was given his opportunity to lead the line, and he grabbed it with both hands. In his six CWC appearances, he bagged four goals and an assist, and showed impressive predatory instincts throughout. He feels like a proper old school No. 9, and his off-ball movement combined with ruthless finishing means he's an immediate challenger to Mbappe for the starting striker role.
With Rodrygo's future still up in the air and the seemingly ever-changing dynamic of Real Madrid's front line, we could be in for a proper breakout year from Madrid's new gem. If you'll be betting on La Liga this year, García might be a good place to start.
Michelle Agyemang
A couple of months ago, very few people knew about Arsenal's teenage striker Michelle Agyemang. Still, a lightning-quick goal less than a minute into her debut for the England senior team meant she put herself in contention for a place at the summer's Women's European Championships.
Much like Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo two summers prior, Agyemang massively made her mark and has become a darling of the nation, with her goals being absolutely vital to England's campaign and eventual triumph over Spain in the final. Her performances at the EUROs earned her the Young Player of the Tournament award and instantly made her a household name in women's football.
She spent the 2024-25 season on loan at Brighton, gaining valuable first-team experience, but her return to the defending UWCL champions in 2025 could be the catalyst for a signature season from the young Lioness.
Lily Yohannes
One of the United States women's national team's crown jewels, Lily Yohannes recently confirmed her transfer to OL Lyonnes in the French top flight. Her stellar season for Ajax in 2024-25 was the best campaign she's had so far, where she bagged six goals and three assists in 19 games from central midfield. Her unreal ability on the ball means she is an immense attacking threat and can create both for herself and others almost at will.
At just 18 years old, she joins the eight-time European champions and the dominant force in French football, and in a young career that has already seen her become the youngest ever starter in the UEFA Women's Champions League, she is set to shatter more records for club and country going forward.
Marc Bernal
With the rate at which La Masia churns out new ballers, it feels like we'll have a Barcelona representative on every iteration of this list. Last year, it was Pau Cubarsi who was a fixture at the heart of the Blaugrana defense that went on to secure a domestic treble. This time, it's Marc Bernal who's next up.
Bernal burst onto the scene at the beginning of last season, aged only 17, and his first few appearances had Barcelona fans in awe. He showed composure and maturity far beyond his years, and the fact that so many immediately drew comparisons to Barça legend Sergio Busquets should tell you all you need to know about his play style.
Football is often a cruel game, and Bernal's potential breakout season was halted by an ACL injury that saw him miss the majority of that campaign. He only recently began training again, but should his fitness hold up, he stands a real chance at breaking into the stacked Barcelona midfield.
The Next Generation
Gilberto Mora
Mexico's Gilberto Mora became the youngest player to ever win a senior international trophy when he started in Mexico's 2-1 Gold Cup victory over the United States this summer. He assisted Raul Jimenez for the winning goal that booked their spot in the final, before an assured performance in the big game helped his nation to another triumph over their old foes.
He plays in Liga MX for Xolos de Tijuana, and he made his professional debut when he was still only 15 during the 2024-25 season before becoming the youngest ever goalscorer in the league's history.
With confirmed interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs, including Barcelona, we could be seeing Mora make the switch sooner rather than later.
Max Dowman
His performances for Arsenal in their opening two preseason fixtures have sent fans into delirium, but the hidden gem section is still where Max Downman belongs (for now). At just 15 years old, his inclusion in Mikel Arteta's traveling squad ahead of what is a potential make-or-break season for the Spaniard tells you everything you need to know about this talented teen.
He's a dynamic attacking midfielder, and his obscene combination of technical ability and eye for goal at his age is frightening. Many across social media have begun to tout him as England's answer to Lamine Yamal, and while we won't go that far yet, it's an interesting conversation to have.
Dowman turns 16 at the end of this calendar year and will subsequently be able to see first-team minutes in the second half of the season. While he will start the season playing U18 football once again, you should definitely keep an eye on Dowman, because, as we saw with Miles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri last season, despite their age, players are sometimes too good to deny.