Neymar, Podolski & Co – Which players have made most international caps before turning 24?

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Ronaldo & Messi in top 20 

©TM/IMAGO

The March international break is now upon us, before the club season’s run-in in Europe’s top leagues. It’s a more exciting break than usual too, with the World Cup qualifiers beginning and Thomas Tuchel set to take charge of England for the first time vs Albania and Latvia at Wembley. Older heads such as Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford were included for the Three Lions, as well as younger stars such as Myles Lewis-Skelly and Morgan Rogers. Many players have made a huge impact on the international stage as youngsters, but which stars have been the most capped internationals in their early years.

At Transfermarkt, we have amalgamated the players who have been most useful for their nations as youngsters. To do this, we have calculated the players to have made the most international caps before turning 24 years old in the modern era. All players who made their international debut after the turn of the century in 2000 have been included.

Leading the way is Iranian defender Hossein Kaebi, who made as many as 89 caps for Iran before turning 24 years old. He made his debut in 2002. In second place is a name slightly more familiar to Premier League fans in American Landon Donovan. The former Everton attacker made 77 caps for USA whilst aged 23 or under, making his debut in 2000. In third is Brazilian legend Neymar. The silky winger made 69 caps before turning 24 years old in the famous yellow of Brazil, making his debut in 2010. He has now made as many 128 caps for his country, and has been included in their latest squad this month. Fourth places goes to Neymar’s former PSG teammate Kylian Mbappé, who played 66 times for France aged 23 years or younger after making his debut in 2017. He won the World Cup aged 19 in 2018.

Sharing fifth place is former German forward Lukas Podolski, who played 64 times for Germany aged U23, and former USA striker Jozy Altidore – also with 64 caps. In seventh is Costa Rican winger Joel Campbell, who achieved 63 caps before turning 24 for the Central American nation. In joint eighth is Mexican duo Andrés Guardado and Giovani Dos Santos – who each played 62 times for Mexico aged 23 or under. Completing the top 10 is Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo, who had played 61 times before turning 24. He now has as many as 216 caps for Portugal and won the Euros in 2016. Other notable names in the top 10 include, Cesc Fàbregas (58), Romelu Lukaku (58), Sergio Ramos (57), and Lionel Messi (57).

No England players are included in the top 20, but if we go back through the archives, as listed in the graphic above, we can see which stars shone at a young age for the Three Lions. In first place is Wayne Rooney who made his debut in 2003, and played 56 times for England before his 24th birthday. His best major tournament for England came in Euro 2004 when he was a teenager. In second is Michael Owen with 53 caps before turning 24. Third goes to Raheem Sterling, with 47 caps aged 23 or under. Marcus Rashford is fourth with 46 caps. Bukayo Saka completes the top five with 43, and still doesn’t turn 24 in September so could add to that tally.