The 2026-2027 La Liga season kicked off on the weekend of August 16 following an exciting World Cup in July, and attention is now shifting back to domestic action, with several players capturing the attention of many supporters.
La Liga has long been a league where exciting young players have had the chance to showcase their talent, and this upcoming season is set to be no different.
Striver.Football sought to profile 10 of the league’s most exciting youngsters. Here is the definitive ranking of the top young players aged 23 and under to watch.
10. Jorge Salinas (Racing Santander)
Age: 19
Position: Left-Back/Left-Sided Centre-Back
A pivotal component in Racing Santander's emotional return to the top flight as Segunda Division champions, Jorge Salinas enters the 2026-27 season as one of the most heavily scouted under-the-radar defensive prospects in Spain.
Fresh from winning the 2026 UEFA European Under-19 Championship with Spain in July, Salinas made his official La Liga debut on August 16 against Villarreal, immediately showing his top-flight readiness with eight clearances and a 100% tackle success rate in a 2-2 draw.
Salinas combines modern athletic recovery with mature positioning. Naturally capable of operating as either an inverted left-back or the left-sided stopper in a back three, he provides Racing with exceptional defensive stability.
His line-breaking passing from deep build-up phases makes him a prime candidate for a big-money move if Santander can retain their La Liga status.
9. Alejandro Balde (FC Barcelona)
Age: 22
Position: Left-Back
Fully recovered from previous hamstring injuries, which hindered his availability for Spain before the 2026 World Cup, Alejandro Balde has spent the last two seasons refining his tactical understanding of the game under Hansi Flick.
While his early career relied almost purely on raw velocity, the 22-year-old has developed into a far more complete full-back, timing his overlaps to perfection and developing sharp combination play with Barcelona's inverted left wingers.
Balde provides critical width on Barcelona's left flank, allowing the front line to tilt heavily inward. His recovery pace acts as a vital safety net against opposition counter-attacks, making him one of Europe's premier dynamic full-backs as he enters his prime developmental years.
8. Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid)
Age: 21
Position: Centre-Back
Now firmly integrated into the capital after completing his high-profile €59.5 million move to Real Madrid from Bournemouth, Dean Huijsen's market value sits comfortably north of €60 million.
The Spain international brings a rare combination of physical stature (1.97m) and elegant, two-footed ball progression that perfectly suits Real Madrid's transition-heavy, dominant style of play.
Huijsen offers elite aerial coverage inside both penalty boxes, but his defining trait remains his willingness to step out from the backline and play progressive passes directly into attacking areas.
As Los Blancos navigate a heavy domestic and Champions League slate under new coach Jose Mourinho, who actually worked with him at Roma, Huijsen is positioned to lock down a permanent starting berth in the heart of Madrid's defence.
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7. Alberto Moleiro (Villarreal CF)
Age: 22
Position: Left Winger/Attacking Midfielder
Following a standout individual year that solidified his reputation as one of Spain's most technical playmakers, Alberto Moleiro's prominent presence at Villarreal CF makes him one of La Liga's most exciting creative players.
Capable of playing as a classic number 10 or cutting inside from the left wing, Moleiro thrives in chaotic central pockets where his quick feet can unbalance structured low blocks.
His agility and ability to generate numerical overloads in the half-spaces will dictate Villarreal’s push for European qualification.
If Moleiro can continue adding goals and assists to his impressive creative output metrics after scoring 10 league goals in his debut season for Villareal, a maiden senior cap for Spain appears imminent.
6. Jon Martin (Real Sociedad)
Age: 20
Position: Centre-Back
Now boasting two seasons of consistent senior football under his belt at San Sebastian, Jon Martin is widely considered the most composed young defensive anchor in La Liga outside of the traditional heavyweights.
Molded in Real Sociedad’s famed Zubieta academy, the 20-year-old plays with a level of composure and authority that belies his age.
Martin excels at stepping up ahead of his backline to break up opposition counter-attacks before they develop.
His high football IQ, combined with polished short-passing mechanics, ensures Real Sociedad can build cleanly through central midfield under intense pressing.
5. Pablo Barrios (Atletico Madrid)
Age: 23
Position: Central Midfielder/Box-to-Box/Deep-Lying Pivot
No longer just a promising academy graduate, Pablo Barrios is now the absolute engine room of Diego Simeone's squad.
Having seamlessly grown into a key figure in Atletico Madrid's midfield, Barrios provides the physical grit and tactical discipline required in a Simeone midfield while offering vastly superior ball progression.
His masterful transitional play and press-resistance make him a complete, modern midfielder. Whether breaking up play on the edge of his own box or driving driving 40 yards downfield to set up an attack, Barrios represents the heartbeat of Atlético Madrid's title ambitions.
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4. Yan Diomande (Real Madrid)
Age: 19
Position: Right-Winger/Second Striker/Center-Forward
Real Madrid's major summer signing, Yan Diomande arrives in Spain following a record-breaking €140 million transfer from RB Leipzig, beating out PSG for his signature.
After winning Rookie of the Season in the Bundesliga and turning heads with his explosive performances for Ivory Coast at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 19-year-old arrives in Madrid to form a formidable frontline alongside Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.
Diomande gives Los Blancos a direct, vertical wing option capable of exploiting high defensive lines. His arrival provides Real Madrid with unprecedented tactical flexibility, allowing them to shift fluidly between a 4-3-3 and a narrow 4-3-1-2 without sacrificing width or firepower.
3. Pau Cubarsi (FC Barcelona)
Age: 19
Position: Centre-Back
Pau Cubarsi's market valuation has soared to €100 million after two seasons of world-class consistency at the heart of Barcelona's defense.
Still only 19 years old, he has established himself as Barcelona's key organiser in defence, trusted entirely by Hansi Flick to dictate structural build-up from the backline.
Cubarsí's ability to execute accurate long passes through multiple defensive lines under high pressure is unmatched among central defenders in his age bracket.
Combined with his rapidly improving physical strength and aerial timing, Cubarsi, who was named the 2026 World Cup young player of the tournament, is on track to anchor Barcelona and Spain for the next decade.
2. Arda Guler (Real Madrid)
Age: 21
Position: Attacking Midfielder/Inverted Right-Winger
Valued at €90 million, Arda Guler has completed his transition from a highly-rated impact bench option into a key creative figure for Los Blancos.
The 21-year-old Turkish international possesses a rare technical profile: his ability to operate in tight half-spaces and execute inventive reverse passes gives Real Madrid the key to unlocking stubborn low defensive blocks.
With his physical development now catching up to his elite technical vision, Guler has become an irreplaceable figure in Madrid's tactical setup.
Whether starting from the right flank or operating as a true number 10, his goals, assists and creativity in the final third make him one of the most dangerous players in Europe. Jose Mourinho might use him the way he used Mesut Ozil during his first stint as Madrid coach.
1. Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona)
Age: 19
Position: Right-Winger
The standout young player in world football. After helping Spain claim victory at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Lamine Yamal kicks off the 2026-27 season as La Liga’s most valuable player at an astronomical €220 million—outstripping every other player in the league.
Yamal is already a world-class winger who turns the tides of elite matches at will. Opponents routinely double up on him and sometimes use multiple players to limit his influence to stop his cutting runs onto his left foot, yet his decision-making and creative vision allow him to dissect defenses regardless.
As Barcelona chase domestic and European glory, Yamal stands atop La Liga as the league's flagship talent.
