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The end of 2025 calls for a look into the individual stars that dominated the year. From record-breaking college stars to youth soccer phenoms who made global waves, this list identifies the 25 amateur men who left a large footprint. The only exclusions are players who did most of their work in the professional ranks or overseas, regardless of age. With that said, here we go.

Peter Baah, Florida United

Baah came out of nowhere to dominate the ECNL this summer, joining Florida United for their playoff run and scoring goals for fun en route to a U16 championship. The well-rounded forward is now one of the most feared prospects in the country.

Brooks Barker, Utah Celtic

On the list for a second straight year, Barker led the Utah Celtic 08 squad to their third consecutive USYS national title. The latest championship saw the Georgetown(m) commit score in his third straight final, cementing his status as one of the best players in USYS history. Before that, Barker set the Salem Hills High School single-game (5) and season (26) records for goals as one of the best in Utah.

Harrison Bertos, Washington(m)

There is no more deserving inclusion than the player who just won the NCAA DI national final in overtime. Wherever he played, Bertos was synonymous with winning, as he also helped Ballard FC to the USL League Two final over the summer. That success was fueled by a combative center-back style that made the All-American one of the year's stars.

Henry Blake, Crossfire Premier

The Crossfire 08 boys won their second ECNL title in three seasons, and Blake was crucial as one of the top two-way center-back prospects in the country. For context on his qualities, consider the four goals, yes FOUR, he scored in the final group stage game at the playoffs. The Oregon State(m) commit then starred as an All-League linebacker for Gig Harbor High School in Washington. Whether as an ECNL champion center back, a League MVP forward at Gig Harbor, or a highly touted linebacker, Blake made the most of his 2025.

Junior Diouf, Grand Canyon(m)

Words can hardly do justice to the incredible 12-month run Diouf just completed. The pinnacle was becoming the first freshman to win the TDS College Player of the Year trophy after a record-breaking season with Grand Canyon. Before that, he was instrumental in helping CSA Bergen reach the MLS Next Cup U19 final. Now all that is left is deciding whether to join the professional ranks amid links to European clubs or stay in college soccer for another season.

Braden Dunham, Furman(m)

The physically imposing center back dominated all levels this year. Before leading Furman to its first College Cup semi-final as one of the best freshman defenders in NCAA history, Dunham also starred at the Generation Adidas and MLS Cups with Atlanta United. It did not matter who the competition was; the Georgia native was firmly among the youth soccer stars of 2025.

Justin Ellis, Orlando City

2025 was the year of Ellis, who pulled off several incredible feats, such as leading the Orlando City academy to the Generation Adidas Cup as the tournament’s top scorer, achieving an MLS NEXT Cup semi-final berth, and scoring several goals for the USYNT throughout the year. That incredible 12-month period has vaulted the dynamic playmaker into discussions among the best prospects in the world.

Makhi Francis, Jahbat FC

Ordinarily a member of the Sporting KC academy, Francis went on a mission to win the USYS U19 national championship with Jahbat FC, his childhood club. His best performance came in the final, where he dispatched a world-class free kick, then added another long-range curler. The Illinois native also signed an amateur contract with Sporting KC II in the spring, then committed to Kansas City(m) in the winter, adding to his impressive campaign.

Timoni Gbalajobi, Philadelphia Union

Emerging as the leading striker for the 2028 class, Gbalajobi scored at the U15 MLS Next Cup, leading the Union to the championship by scoring two in the final. The Nigerian-American forward has since become a staple with the U15 national team, making him one of the breakout stars of 2025.

Amadou Aly Hann, Cedar Stars Bergen

Hann had quite the year, emerging as arguably the best striker in American youth soccer. Despite playing against older competition as a high school sophomore, Hann led the U19 MLS Cup field in goals to lift CSA Bergen to the final. He then dominated his junior soccer campaign with St. Benedict’s Prep, leading the Grey Bees to another New Jersey title.

Rylan Hashimoto, Real Salt Lake

Hashimoto was one of the youth soccer stars of 2025. The unpredictable winger first caught the eye with one match-winning performance after another to lead the squad to the Generation Adidas Cup as tournament MVP. The California native then helped Real Salt Lake become the first team to win both the GA and MLS Cups in the same season, etching their name in history.

Brady Hauser, Sockers FC

After his time at the Chicago Fire ended, many wondered what would come next for Hauser, a versatile prospect who was among the best in the academy. Then he emerged as a box-to-box midfielder with Sockers FC, captaining the MLS Next side into Generation Adidas Cup qualification at the Fest in December. In between, Hauser and his squad dominated their opponents, winning game after game.

Ryan Hunsucker, Indy Eleven

The year started with Hunsucker signing a USL Academy Contract with Indy Eleven, and it only got better from there. Hunsucker also committed to Indiana(m), then continued his reign as one of the best keepers in the USL system, winning MVP honors at the USL Academy Finals.

Da’vian Kimbrough, Sacramento United

The subject of an international battle between the U.S. and Mexico, Kimbrough stole the show at the U15 Concacaf tournament, leading Mexico to the title as the tournament’s top scorer, then accepted a U.S. youth national team callup shortly after. It is unclear which direction the California native will go; regardless, 2025 was his year on the youth national team stage.

Nikola Markovic, NC State(m)

The No. 1 pick in the MLS draft was always going to make the list. Especially after a record-breaking sophomore campaign where he captained NC State to the first College Cup final in program history. From winning ACC Defensive Player of the Year as a dominant center back to DC United selecting him with the first pick, 2025 was kind to the Canadian.

Walter Lazo Padilla, Sonny Guadarrama Academy

Padilla was unstoppable in the USYS scene to start the year, leading SGA to the U14 national title as the top scorer of the event. The highlight was a chipped finish to seal the final with a 2-0 win. His rare combination of size, speed, and technique has since led to an MLS Next roster spot with the Austin FC Academy.

Van Parker, Real Salt Lake

No player in the MLS Next dominated 2025 as much as Parker did. First, he was crucial in helping Real Salt Lake become the first club to do the Generation Adidas and MLS Next Cup double. That led to a call-up with the Canadian U17 national team World Cup roster, where he appeared in all four games. In between, he earned a spot in the MLS Next All-Star game and became one of the most sought-after forwards in youth soccer.

Donavan Phillips, NC State(m)

Goals. Goals. Goals. Goals. Phillips was brilliant this season, becoming the first to lead both the USL League Two and NCAA Division I soccer in goals scored. Those exploits earned him USL League Two MVP honors and a first College Cup final appearance for NC State. You cannot tell the story of 2025 without having Phillip at the center.

Lukas Robbins, Inter Miami

Robbins was a maestro at the MLS Next Cup, leading Inter Miami to the U19 trophy with one crucial goal after another, earning tournament MVP honors. That run alone was enough to make the UCLA(m) commit one of the standouts of 2025.

Kingston Rojas, Legends FC

“I came, I saw, I conquered” is an accurate way to describe what Rojas did in 2025. The U15 ECNL Player of the Year recorded a hat trick in the national final, capping off a legendary season in perfect fashion. The California native has since moved cross-country to join Orlando City's MLS academy as one of the club's prized prospects.

Vala Saghafi, Portland Timbers

Saghafi became a social media and MLS Next sensation this year, scoring one viral goal after another. Few at the highest level of youth soccer can make defenders look like cones, yet the Oregon native did that repeatedly, whether against MLS Next opposition with the Portland Timbers, dominating the USYS scene with Oregon Premier, or as one of the youngest players in the USL League Two with Portland Bangers FC.

Robert Turdean, Chicago Fire

The 15-year-old star, commonly regarded as one of the best prospects on the planet, had a stellar 2025 run. He captained the U15 USYNT to the Concacaf final, signed the second-most expensive Homegrown deal in MLS history, then capped it off by scoring a hat trick against the reigning U19 MLS Next Cup champion LA Galaxy at the Fest.

Dylan Vanney, LA Galaxy

The LA Galaxy Academy Player of the Year had an incredible 12-month run, culminating in his performances that earned him the MLS Next Cup as tournament MVP in the summer. He then became a regular fixture with the youth national team setup as a fast-rising prospect.

Owen White, Crossfire Premier

Standing at 6-foot-6 at just 14 years old, White was a cheat code for Crossfire Premier through the ECNL season, scoring plenty as the Seattle-based squad lifted the ECNL U14 trophy in undefeated fashion. The towering striker then joined the FC Cincinnati Academy, showcasing the same ruthless streak he had in the ECNL.

Zach Zengue, Georgetown(m)

Few in history have had a run as incredible as what Zengue just accomplished. It started when he captained Vermont Green to the USL League Two national title. That momentum carried into his senior season as he paced Georgetown to an Elite Eight finish while becoming a TDS Player of the Year finalist. The versatile midfielder finished his final campaign as the No. 1-ranked upperclassman in the country.