List of Cadet, Junior, and Espoir World Champions in men's freestyle wrestling

The age limitations for many of the Cadet and Junior World Championships are no longer easily ascertainable, and in many cases the ages listed below are unverified estimates. There were two Junior World Championships held in 1979 and 1980.

In the lists below, champions whose names are colored in gold, silver, or bronze, represent the highest placing medal they would win later on at the corresponding senior level World Championships or Olympic Games in freestyle wrestling. Champions colored in blue, are those who did not medal but would later represent their country at the senior level in the World Championships or Olympic Games in freestyle wrestling.