One year ago today, the FIFA U-17 World Cup™ concluded in exhilarating fashion as Germany beat France on penalties in Surakarta to lift the title for the first time.

A year on, a host of the tournament’s stars have gone on to leave their imprint on the senior game. Here, we look at ten of those making waves across the globe.

Nimfasha Berchimas – USA

The youngest player in USA’s roster for the finals, Berchimas netted three times during a tournament to remember for the winger. While he couldn’t prevent the Stars and Stripes from knockout defeat to Germany, he certainly left his mark on Indonesia.

He returned to club side Charlotte FC and made his senior debut just two months later, going on to feature in three MLS fixtures in the 2024 campaign.

Paris Brunner – Germany

Brunner netted five goals, including one in the final, to join the likes of Toni Kroos and Phil Foden in securing the adidas Golden Ball from the U-17 World Cup.

He returned to Borussia Dortmund’s U-19 side following the tournament and ended the season with 31 goal contributions in just 33 games. The exploits of his 23/24 campaign caught the eye of French giants Monaco who signed him in August, before loaning him to Belgian outfit Cercle Brugge.

Pau Cubarsi – Spain

Another famed product of Barcelona’s La Masia academy, centre-back Cubarsi featured in all-but one of Spain’s matches in their run to the last eight, and has gone from strength to strength following the tournament.

He earned his senior Barça bow in January of this year, making 24 appearances across all competitions in 23/24. A senior international debut followed in March, and while he wasn’t able to make the final Spain squad for UEFA EURO 2024, he did take home gold from the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament.

Pape Diong – Senegal

Senegal impressed on their run to the knockout phase in Indonesia, with Diong among those to catch the eye. The midfielder, who stands at an imposing 1.90m, displayed his strength in one-v-one duels and showed his impressive passing range during the tournament.

He joined French side Strasbourg in June, where he made his Ligue 1 debut in his new side’s opening game of the 24/25 campaign. He went on to record a maiden senior goal away to Paris Saint-Germain, sneaking in at the far post to tap home in a 4-2 defeat.

Mamadou Doumbia – Mali

Mali enjoyed another successful U-17 World Cup campaign by placing third in Indonesia, thanks in no small part to forward Doumbia. He opened his tournament with a hat-trick against Uzbekistan, and closed it with a goal in their successful third-place play-off against Argentina.

He joined Championship club Watford in February and went on to make his league debut for the Hornets against Leeds United in October.

Claudio Echeverri – Argentina

Echeverri might not have departed Indonesia with a medal, but his dazzling performances across the tournament, in particular a hat-trick against Brazil, will live long in the memory.

A month after the tournament’s conclusion he was signed by Manchester City for a reported £۱۲٫۵m, but has remained with River Plate throughout 2024. He has played more than 40 games for River at the time of writing, while making the step up to Argentina’s U-23 side.

Estevao – Brazil

Despite Brazil’s crushing quarter-final defeat to Argentina, winger Estevao provided one of the shining lights from their campaign. He netted three times, with the highlight of his finals a match-defining brace against Ecuador in the last 16.

He made his professional debut for Palmeiras shortly after the tournament and has scored regularly in the Brasileiro. That form caught the eye of Chelsea, who agreed a deal to sign him following his 18th birthday in June 2025. In August of this year, he made his senior Brazil debut in a 1-0 win over Ecuador in FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifying.

Yang Minhyeok – Korea Republic

While Korea Republic endured their worst U-17 World Cup campaign by finishing bottom of Group E without a point, the form of Yang Minhyeok following the event has earned plenty of admiring glances.

The forward has set pulses racing in the K League, netting 11 goals and laying on six assists to help club side Gangwon to the play-offs. That form has attracted the interest of Tottenham, who signed him earlier this year on a deal from January 2025.

Chris Rigg – England

At just 15 years and 203 days, Rigg became the second-youngest player to feature for Sunderland a full ten months before heading for Indonesia. Once there, he impressed for Ryan Garry’s side despite their knockout defeat to Uzbekistan.

He has gone on to establish himself as a mainstay in the Black Cats’ midfield, with only Jude Bellingham and Ryan Sessegnon reaching 30 Championship appearances at a younger age than Rigg since 2004/05. He’s capped his breakthrough year with three goals so far, including a stunning back-heel against Middlesbrough.

Mathis Amougou – France
In Indonesia, Mathis Amougou was awarded with the adidas Bronze Ball for his relentless efforts on the pitch, characterised by both contributions at both ends of the pitch.

He earned his first professional appearance in Ligue 2 with Saint-Etienne upon his return from Asia. The versatile midfielder helped the club back to Ligue 1, where coach Olivier Dall’Oglio has made him one of his key players despite his youth.