5 best U-25 players in every position 

Footballers usually hit their prime after crossing 25 years of age. This is not a rule and we've seen plenty of exceptions throughout the history of the beautiful game. There are early bloomers, the regular ones and there are late bloomers.

So every time a very young player starts tearing it up, the world does take notice. It's always difficult to navigate the world of professional football at a tender age. To reach the top as a youngster, not only do you need to have exceptional ability but also the mental fortitude to stay focused amid the overwhelming scrutiny.

There are plenty of young superstars in football right now. But today, we are going to be looking at the cream of the crop. Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the best u-25 players in every position.

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Goalkeeper - Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy/Paris Saint-Germain)

Paris Saint-Germain v Manchester City: Group A - UEFA Champions League

Gianluigi Donnarumma is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Standing at 1.96 meters, he is a giant of a goalkeeper and is a nightmare to come up against in one-on-one situations.

Even though he is just 22 years of age, Donnarumma has been playing professional football for six years now. So despite being quite young, he is a seasoned customer.

Donnarumma was named the Best Player of the Tournament at Euro 2020 this summer. He was the Azzurri's hero in the semi-finals and final, making crucial saves in the penalty shootouts.

The Paris Saint-Germain shot stopper is justifably viewed as the successor to the legendary Gianluigi Buffon and it'd be fair to say he's earned his stars. The Italian international is yet to lose a single penalty shootout in his career and has won five of five so far.

Defender - Trent Alexander-Arnold (England/Liverpool)

Liverpool FC v Atletico Madrid: Group B - UEFA Champions League

Trent Alexander-Arnold is a right-back whose playmaking qualities are pretty much on par with some of the best midfielders in the business. The Liverpool man orchestrates play from deep and his passing range is simply astounding.

He is only 23-years-old and has already played a crucial role in his side's Champions League and Premier League triumphs. While the defensive side of his game could use a bit of improvement, Alexander-Arnold is a technically adept player capable of winning games all by himself.

He has scored seven goals and provided an assist in 12 appearances across all competitions so far this season for Liverpool.

Midfielder - Frenkie De Jong (Netherlands/Barcelona)

FC Barcelona v Real Madrid CF - La Liga Santander

This is a tough one. Frenkie De Jong hasn't been in great form in recent times but we're all well aware of the world-class quality he possesses. The Dutchman did start the season on a promising note but his contributions have dwindled since.

There are also players like Mason Mount and Phil Foden who have a very strong case to replace De Jong on this list. However, both Mount and Foden are more attack-minded and are not exactly into the business of controlling the tempo of proceedings from the center of the park.

That is not to say that the duo are incapable of doing it but it's that De Jong has proved that he can do it better. He is a technically proficient campaigner whose tactical intelligence, spatial awareness, vision and passing are all exemplary.

Now that Xavi has been appointed as the head coach of Barcelona, we're expecting to see the very best of the Dutch midfielder.

Winger/Inside forward - Kylian Mbappe (France/Paris Saint-Germain)

RB Leipzig v Paris Saint-Germain: Group A - UEFA Champions League

Gone are the days when the norm was that a team's primary goalscorer would be playing down the middle. There are plenty of teams these days with attackers who start out wide but offer a direct threat to goal. Mohamed Salah is a prime example.

But Kylian Mbappe is arguably the best winger/inside forward in the game right now. It's almost unbelievable how much Mbappe has already achieved in the world of football at the age of 22. He has won the World Cup, UEFA Nations League and four Ligue 1 titles among several other trophies.

Mbappe has blistering pace and incredible dribbling ability. He is as elusive a forward as any in the game right now. The Frenchman is also a prolific goalscorer. He scored 42 goals and provided 11 assists in 47 appearances across all competitions in the 2020-21 season.

He has been in great form for PSG this term as well and has scored seven goals and provided 11 assists in 16 appearances across all competitions for the Parisians. Mbappe recently became the first French player to score four goals in an international game as Les Bleus thrashed Kazakhstan 8-0.

Striker - Erling Haaland (Norway/Borussia Dortmund)

Borussia Dortmund v 1. FSV Mainz 05 - Bundesliga

Erling Haaland is the most coveted striker in the world right now. The Norwegian international has been phenomenal ever since he broke onto the professional circuit. After an incredibly impressive run with RB Salzburg, Haaland was signed by Borussia Dortmund, where he has blossomed into one of the finest marksmen on the planet.

He is an aggressive, athletic and pacy forward whose movement in and around the final third is simply elite. Haaland can also produce some spectacular finishes. His skillset is replete with volleys, thunderous strikes and grounded shots.

In the 2020-21 season, Haaland scored 41 goals and provided 12 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions for Borussia Dortmund. He is currently out injured with a hip muscle injury but was in great form up until then.

Haaland has 13 goals and four assists to his name in just 10 appearances across all competitions in the 2021-22 season so far. The 21-year-old is the best u-25 striker in the world by a countrymile.