This study investigates the predictive validity of lower extremity strength, strength asymmetry, and soccer-specific fitness in talent identification among elite male youth soccer players. Employing a Retrospective Cohort design, we established a cohort consisting of K-League registered youth players, totaling 219 individuals (all males, aged 16 [approximately] 17 years, in grade 2 of high school; equivalent to grade 11 in the US), with 38 progressing to the professional level and 181 not. Results from t-tests revealed significant differences between professional and nonprofessional groups for countermovement jump (CMJ; t = -2.423, "Cohen's d" = -0.448, p = 0.019) and change of direction with a ball (CODB; t = 2.202, "Cohen's d" = 0.398, p = 0.032). CMJ demonstrated a significant correlation with the 30 m sprint (r = -0.53, p < 0.001), and change of direction without a ball (COD) correlated with CODB (r = 0.52, p < 0.001). The robust Poisson regression, encompassing the interaction term of COD and CODB, produced an AUC of 0.73 (95% CI: 0.65 [approximately] 0.82).