# CIES Football Observatory youth academy rankings

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/cies-football-observatory-youth-academy-rankings
> Updated: 2026-10-21T22:48:11.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2.

The CIES Football Observatory released a ranking of the world’s top football talent-producing academies based on players competing across 49 major leagues. The evaluation uses criteria including the number of players trained, competitive level, age, and total minutes played.

Benfica of Portugal holds the top global position. South American clubs show significant dominance in the rankings, particularly from Argentina, which features several clubs in the top tier including River Plate, Boca Juniors, and Vélez Sarsfield. Other notable regional performers include Defensor Sporting from Uruguay and Independiente del Valle from Ecuador.

## Claims

- The CIES Football Observatory released an annual ranking of the best football talent-producing clubs. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The ranking is based on players competing in 49 top-tier leagues. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Benfica is ranked first with a score of 101.3. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- River Plate is ranked second in the world. (single source)
- Boca Juniors is ranked third in the world. (single source)
- Vélez Sarsfield is ranked fourth in the world. (single source)
- Independiente del Valle is ranked 23rd globally. (single source)
- Defensor Sporting is ranked eighth in the world. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-21: CIES Football Observatory ranks top global talent developers

The CIES Football Observatory ranked Benfica as the world's top football talent producer, followed by Argentine clubs River Plate, Boca Juniors, and Vélez Sarsfield in the top four.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cies-football-observatory-ranks-top-global-talent-developers

### 2026-10-21: South American clubs dominate CIES global youth academy ranking

The CIES Football Observatory ranking places South American clubs at the forefront of global youth development, with 17 of the top 30 academies located on the continent.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-american-clubs-dominate-cies-global-youth-academy-ranking

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Cite as: CIES Football Observatory youth academy rankings. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/cies-football-observatory-youth-academy-rankings