South American clubs dominate CIES global youth academy ranking

A study by the CIES Football Observatory has identified the world's top 30 youth academies, highlighting a strong presence from South American clubs. Out of the top 30, 17 clubs are from South America, with Argentina leading the count with seven representatives, including River Plate (2nd) and Boca Juniors (3rd).

Brazil follows with five clubs featured in the ranking: Palmeiras (13th), São Paulo (15th), Flamengo (19th), Fluminense (28th), and Santos (29th). Benfica from Portugal holds the top position globally.

The CIES methodology evaluates players who spent at least three years at a club between the ages of 15 and 21. The ranking considers factors such as the level of competition across 49 different first-division leagues, the number of players produced, their age, and total minutes played.