As custom dictates, Christmas can be a time for assessments and judgments, and so, proper on schedule as yearly, the OneFootball editorial workforce pauses to look again at what occurred in Serie A in 2025.
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It is time to make our selections and rejoice those that actually made a distinction, by awarding the distinguished OneFootball Awards. We conclude with the perfect younger participant.
1️⃣ Francesco Pio Esposito (Alessandro De Felice)
2025 was undoubtedly the 12 months of Pio Esposito. The 2005-born striker, at simply 20 years previous, first discovered himself main Spezia in direction of a near-promotion to Serie A, solely to overlook out on the last stretch, after which withstanding the massive leap to San Siro, between Inter and the Nationwide Workforce. However the younger striker proved himself prepared and demonstrated technical, bodily, and psychological qualities, however above all, a terrific intuition for scoring objectives.
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In succession, his first objectives got here with Inter and on the Membership World Cup (in opposition to River Plate), in Serie A (in opposition to Cagliari), within the Champions League (with Union SG), for the Nationwide Workforce (in opposition to Estonia), at San Siro (in opposition to Norway with Italy and with Inter in opposition to Venezia), and within the Coppa Italia (once more in opposition to Venezia). A pure-bred striker, with a daunting nostril for aim and a powerful, decided character: 2025 was undoubtedly the 12 months of Pio Esposito’s dazzling expertise.
2️⃣ Nico Paz (Alessio D’Errico)
Nico Paz might be one of many few gamers on this Serie A on whom you may actually pin hopes for a vivid future on the high of world soccer. Crystal-clear class mixed with spectacular tactical development, the Argentine is the beacon of an formidable workforce like Como. With numbers worthy of a European high participant, the Actual Madrid academy graduate has proven himself to be far more than only a “easy” quantity 10 with class.
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Paz is an entire footballer, bodily outfitted to resist the tempo of the nice European groups and a pleasure to look at. His stats for objectives and assists place him firmly among the many finest in Serie A, and the sensation is that in a European big, even now, he would make his mark carrying the quantity 10. From Actual Madrid, not simply to fill out his resume, however to play.
3️⃣ Marco Palestra (Diego D’Avanzo)
Positive, Nico Paz and Kenan Yildiz or Pio Esposito are by far essentially the most decisive younger gamers in Serie A, however let’s give credit score to the true revelation of this Serie A: Marco Palestra. The Cagliari winger—owned by Atalanta—arrived with a superb pedigree and nice references from youth sector insiders (picked in Fantasy at 1, I am final), however nobody anticipated this sort of influence.
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His performances have been spectacular and the numbers verify it: solely 2% of gamers in his place in Europe have accomplished extra dribbles and “progressive ball carries.” In each respect, Palestra is already a European-level participant, as Pisacane additionally confirms: “Palestra is a boy of the best high quality”. If he is not but the best possible younger participant, he’s definitely the shock of 2025 in Serie A.
4️⃣ Kenan Yildiz (Emanuele Garbato)
In a Serie A the place there are fixed complaints in regards to the lack of expertise, Kenan Yildiz is an excellent exception. The 2005-born is the brightest product of the profitable mix of youth sector and Subsequent Gen carried out by Juventus lately, the one nice expertise the membership has determined to maintain. He’s repaying them with objectives, assists, and rising consistency all through matches.
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He will not be essentially the most prepared younger participant within the league, additionally as a result of the competitors is fierce, however he’s definitely the one who can pull off crucial performs even in a membership like Juventus, the place the stress is in contrast to wherever else. Within the hardest potential context in Italy, the Turk is already the workforce’s undisputed high participant. Now he must be secured with a contract renewal.
5️⃣ Francesco Pio Esposito (Marco Alessandri)
The selection was between Esposito and Bartesaghi, however for the reason that Rossonero solely broke out on this final a part of 2025… I am going to go along with Francesco Pio Esposito.
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The Inter striker’s 12 months is one to recollect: 17 objectives in Serie B with Spezia, then the Membership World Cup with Inter and his debut with the Nationwide Workforce, with a aim.
The time period “predestined” is usually overused, however maybe this time it is acceptable.
Credit score to Inter for growing such a powerful participant and bringing him into the workforce on the proper time, when behind Thuram and Lautaro they wanted hungry gamers able to do something to honor the shirt. The longer term is assured, however even the current isn’t dangerous in any respect.
6️⃣ Kenan Yildiz (Matteo Rimoldi)
Taking over the legacy of Alessandro Del Piero at simply 19 years previous was no straightforward feat, however Kenan Yildiz has lengthy lived with the label of destined for greatness. He did not come up by way of the Juventus youth academy, but his arrival on a free switch in 2017 was sufficient for him to soak up and absolutely embody the values of the Bianconeri, which he now represents with pleasure.
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The captain’s armband, worn on a number of events, isn’t any coincidence: Yildiz, regardless of his younger age, is already a acknowledged chief within the locker room. A standing constructed above all because of a 2025 as an absolute protagonist. With Thiago Motta he secured a beginning spot and by no means let it go, stringing collectively a collection of high-level performances even in a context that was something however easy, marked by three teaching modifications in a season and a half.
Now, with the arrival of Luciano Spalletti, the Turkish expertise has the prospect to make the definitive leap in high quality. “He does not know the way good he’s,” stated the Tuscan coach to reward him. However in reality, Yildiz, deep down, is absolutely conscious of it. He earns far too little to be the face of Juventus. The renewal may very well be the cherry on high of a 2025 to border or one of the best ways to kick off a 2026 as a proclaimed protagonist.
7️⃣ Kenan Yildiz (Vincenzo Visco)
For Kenan Yildiz, this was the 12 months of his consecration, not solely at Juventus however in world soccer. The Turkish expertise made the definitive leap in high quality, turning into a technical and emotional reference level for the Bianconeri. Targets, assists, and decisive performs marked a season typically lived on his instinct, even throughout essentially the most complicated moments of a Juve with ups and downs. Yildiz took on accountability, made an influence in essential matches, and raised his stage when wanted. Constant in efficiency, decisive in key video games, he confirmed himself among the many finest within the group and, at occasions, merely indispensable.
8️⃣ Nico Paz (Damiano Benzoni)
It is simple, Nico Paz has reconciled us with soccer and Serie A: an thrilling expertise who has forcefully grabbed the soccer world’s consideration, fueling fixed switch rumors about when he’ll return to his mother or father membership Actual Madrid, who watch from Spain and rub their arms, regardless of having loads of gamers in his place. What is for certain is that the Como starlet has given us footballing magic in abundance, with that cultured left foot and a imaginative and prescient of the sport that leaves us speechless.
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Above all, although, he has proven the maturity of a participant already grown past his years, the power to hold the workforce on his shoulders, and a tenacity that sees him play all around the pitch, struggle for each ball, and all the time be decisive. Whether or not this can be sufficient to earn him a beginning spot at Actual (and who is aware of, possibly the Argentina quantity 10 shirt in the future), stays to be seen. What is for certain is that Paz has discovered the right stage to develop and shine.
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence.
📸 PABLO PORCIUNCULA – AFP or licensors