Standing out as a South American footballer is no mean feat, especially when you are just starting out. In these scenarios, finding the right coach or set-up that truly brings out the best in you is paramount.
Even so, the continent has been renowned for developing major talents for several decades. The region lives and breathes ‘The Beautiful Game’ and, while individual circumstances may play their part, it remains an ideal breeding ground for a youngster hoping to take the sport by storm.
Several figures who had shown promise in their clubs’ youth teams for some time have burst on to the senior scene in 2025. FIFA takes a look at some of the up-and-comers stars of the year.
Allan – Palmeiras
Anyone who witnessed the second leg of the CONMEBOL Libertadores semi-final between Palmeiras and LDU Quito will never forget Allan. The 21-year-old tore the Ecuadorian side to shreds with his exploits down the right, his impressive performance paying dividends as Palmeiras reached the final by overturning a 3-0 first-leg deficit with a 4-0 win on home soil.
While his team ended up empty-handed after losing 1-0 to Flamengo in the trophy decider, the campaign overall can only be considered a triumph for Allan, who demonstrated what he is made of throughout the competition. The Florianopolis native’s attacking versatility, which enables him to play out wide or as a second striker, saw him remain part of the squad rotation and provide a couple of decisive goal contributions.
This is the year in which Allan has stopped being just one of Brazil’s biggest prospects and emerged as one of the country’s most exciting young players.
Franco Mastantuono – River Plate / Real Madrid / Argentina
The young Argentinian right winger had long been slated as one to watch, but had yet to fully shoot to prominence; for example, he did not even command a starting berth for the Albiceleste at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023™, where Diego Placente’s side suffered shoot-out heartbreak at the hands of Germany in the semi-finals. However, all that has changed this year, in which the 18-year-old has truly come into his own.
While playing for River Plate – until the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup™ came to a close – he was the team’s unpredictable source of inspiration. His free-kick goal against Boca Juniors has gone down in history as one of the most spectacular Superclásico strikes ever scored.
The teenager’s rise brought forward his inevitable transfer to a European powerhouse. He started strongly at Real Madrid, before suffering a setback in the form of a groin injury, which resulted in him missing four matches in November.
The left-footed midfielder became the youngest-ever player to line up in a senior competitive match for Argentina when he made his debut off the bench against Chile in June’s CONMEBOL qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup™.
Miguel Terceros – Santos / America Mineiro / Bolivia
The attacking midfielder was one of the driving forces behind Bolivia’s qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Play-Off Tournament, where they will be looking to get the better of Suriname and then Iraq in March to book their place at the global showpiece.
Terceros delivered some outstanding performances for Bolivia in the qualifiers, chipping in with crucial goals and transforming the team’s competitive edge. Despite his tender years, his personality and sense of responsibility set him apart as a natural leader on the pitch.
At club level, his search for regular playing time took him from his parent club, Santos, to America Mineiro in Belo Horizonte. However, it was for his country that he made the biggest impact, ending the year as one of the most influential young players in international football on the continent.
Valentin Barco – Strasbourg
A cornerstone of the Boca side that reached the CONMEBOL Libertadores final in 2023 (the Argentines ultimately fell short after a 2-1 extra-time loss to Fluminense), Barco failed to gain a foothold in Europe last year after being snapped up by Brighton, struggling both at the Seagulls and during an underwhelming spell as a loanee at Sevilla.
However, he has seen his career reinvigorated this year at Strasbourg, who made his loan deal permanent in July. He swiftly settled in as a wing-back, providing width and energy down the flank and repeatedly driving forward with the ball to create goalscoring opportunities. His defensive development, meanwhile, has been key to maintaining consistency in Ligue 1.
This purple patch has kept Barco on Scaloni’s radar, concluding a year that proves that his move to Europe was not premature and he is still on an upward trajectory.
Dario Osorio – FC Midtjylland
Osorio has had his strongest year yet since arriving in Europe. At club level, he has been instrumental in both Denmark’s top flight – the Superliga – and the UEFA Europa League, scoring long-range goals and taking on opponents with ease. His left foot and match-changing ability have earned him a place at the heart of the team.
The winger’s performances have also helped him secure a more important role in the Chilean national squad and reignited interest from clubs in stronger leagues – a great way to cap off an incredible year for one of Chile’s standout young players.
Justin Lerma – Independiente del Valle / Ecuador U-20
Justin Lerma has really established himself this year. Despite being only 17 years old, he has made regular appearances for Independiente del Valle as a central midfielder, impressing with his discipline, intensity and well-timed runs into the box. This has not been a matter of giving a youngster the odd run-out; rather, the Guayaquil-born ace has been fully integrated into the team’s set-up and provided with a platform to follow in the footsteps of a string of other Ecuadorian starlets, with Kendry Paez at the forefront.
The anchorman possesses tactical wisdom beyond his years and an aptitude for competing at the highest level and that helps explain why he is viewed as one of South America’s biggest revelations. Lerma was signed by Borussia Dortmund last year and is expected to link up with the first-team squad next year.
Pedro Morisco – Coritiba
Perhaps lesser-known to a wider audience but nonetheless just as influential has been 21-year-old Pedro Morisco, one of Brazil’s most promising young goalkeepers. He cemented his position as Coritiba’s first-choice shot-stopper quite a while ago, enabling him to gain experience at an age when it is difficult to find consistent playing time, particularly as a goalkeeper.
His key attributes include point-blank reflexes, a sharp reading of one-on-one situations and a strong personality – not to mention his tall stature of 1.91m (6’3), which serves him well when commanding his penalty area.
