Neglect Lionel Messi. Ignore Kylian Mbappe. By no means thoughts Jude Bellingham or Erling Haaland.
Gianni Infantino and FIFA’s advertising bods have promoted the Membership World Cup as the last word duel between soccer’s best – however that may occur in a yr’s time, at the actual World Cup.
As an alternative of watching exhausted gamers undergo the motions, this match would be the platform for children to take a decisive step of their careers.
The soccer neighborhood will nonetheless tune in. And that’s the place gamers like Obed Vargas, Petar Sucic and Siyabonga Mabena are available.
Right here Mail Sport seems to be at a few of the most proficient kids getting ready for this competitors. You could not have heard of them now but when they carry out as they will, you’ll actually know them by the beginning of subsequent season.
Argentine nice Lionel Messi can be enjoying for Inter Miami on the Membership World Cup
Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland may even be in motion, however who’re the subsequent wonderkids?
Federico Redondo
Age: 22 Membership: Inter Miami Nation: Argentina Place: Defensive midfielder
Be careful for the Argentine at Inter Miami. No, not that one, although the surname is almost as well-known as Lionel Messi’s.
Redondo’s father Fernando was probably the greatest midfielders of contemporary instances and was the fulcrum of the Actual Madrid facet who received the Champions League in 2000. Whereas Federico has but to emulate his father – and let’s be frank, he could by no means achieve this – there’s loads of curiosity in him nonetheless.
Like his dad, Federico is happiest setting the tempo within the center, in what is called the ‘No 5 function’ in Argentina. At 6ft 3in he’s a commanding presence within the centre of the pitch, in a position to dominate that space along with his physicality.
He’s additionally an instance of contemporary MLS pondering: purchase high skills from South America within the hope of promoting them to Europe for a sizeable revenue.
Damage has hindered Redondo’s progress in current instances but when he has inherited his father’s love of the largest phases, this would possibly simply be the match for him.
Like his dad, Federico Redondo is happiest setting the tempo within the center, in what is called the ‘No 5 function’ in Argentina
He has been capped at Below 23 stage by Argentina and isn’t distant from the senior squad
Tom Bischof
Age: 19 Membership: Bayern Munich Nation: Germany Place: Central midfielder
Sink or swim. When high German skills be a part of Bayern Munich, titles are just about assured. How lengthy they cling round is sort of one other matter.
There’s a world of distinction between Bayern and just about each different German membership – not more than Hoffenheim, who’ve bought Bischof to Bayern for simply £250,000.
In addition to making an attempt to earn his spot within the staff, the midfielder should attempt to discover his area of interest in a squad stuffed with superstars with egos to match.
That’s the reason this match might work in Bischof’s favour. Whereas Bayern’s established stars can be drained from an extended 2024-25 marketing campaign, Bischof has a golden probability to put down his credentials for subsequent season.
The left-footer needs to be at residence in Vincent Kompany’s versatile tactical type and it is going to be fascinating to see how he performs.
Tom Bischof received his first Germany cap final week within the Nations League third-place play-off in opposition to France
The 19-year-old impressed with Hoffenheim this season and was snapped up by Bayern Munich
Estevao
Age: 18 Membership: Palmeiras (becoming a member of Chelsea) Nation: Brazil Place: Winger
The Chelsea-bound teenager could be the breakout star of the Premier League subsequent season however earlier than he strikes to London, Estevao will attempt to depart Palmeiras on the very best observe potential.
International competitions have traditionally been way more important to South American golf equipment than European ones and Palmeiras can be determined to make an impression in america. With Estevao on high kind, they’ve each probability.
It’s unattainable to say how Estevao, who will transfer to Stamford Bridge for £29million, will adapt to life in England however his expertise is past query. The winger, who may also play as an attacking midfielder, already has 5 senior caps for Brazil and may have a watch on subsequent summer season’s World Cup, too.
First, there’s a Membership World Cup to win. And after that, perhaps a Premier League title.
Estevao, a winger who may also play as an attacking midfielder, already has 5 senior caps for Brazil and may have a watch on subsequent summer season’s World Cup
The Chelsea-bound teenager could be the breakout star of the Premier League subsequent season
Rodrigo Mora
Age: 18 Membership: Porto Nation: Portugal Place: Attacking midfielder
First the excellent news: When Mora made his first-team debut for Porto in a Europa League tie at Bodo/Glimt final September, he grew to become the second-youngest participant to seem for the storied membership in European competitors.
Now the unhealthy information: the youngest is Fabio Silva, who might be the largest switch flop in Wolves’ historical past and is now making an attempt to get his profession going at Spanish membership Las Palmas – with some success, it needs to be stated.
He’s proof, nonetheless, that teenage success doesn’t all the time result in an elite profession. With Mora, although, it certainly will.
Participant of the match finally yr’s Below 17s European Championship, Mora has been so good for Porto this season (10 objectives, 4 assists) that he made the total Portugal squad for his or her triumphant Nations League marketing campaign. So long as he stays wholesome, Mora will be a part of an elite membership in a yr.
Rodrigo Mora is the second-youngest participant to seem for Porto in European competitors
Mora has been so good for Porto this season (10 objectives, 4 assists) that he made the total Portugal squad for his or her triumphant Nations League marketing campaign
Obed Vargas
Age: 19 Membership: Seattle Sounders Nation: Mexico Place: Central midfielder
Like Estevao, Vargas could begin the summer season with one Membership World Cup staff and finish it with one other. Atletico Madrid are strongly within the Mexican and this match could show his farewell to Main League Soccer. Both method, Diego Simeone is just not his solely admirer.
‘For anybody who’s acquired analytics, he’s triggered the crimson alarms,’ stated Sounders normal supervisor Craig Waibel. ‘Each membership on the planet might be conscious of him.’
Vargas has an uncommon again story. He was born in Anchorage, Alaska, however has chosen to play for Mexico, the place his father was born.
He’s vastly efficient transferring ahead from deep midfield, however doesn’t shirk his defensive tasks.
With solely six months left on his contract and one of many world’s strongest companies in his nook, Vargas is definitely destined for Europe and may very well be in a high 5 league by August.
Obed Vargas (left) was born in Anchorage, Alaska, however has chosen to play for Mexico
Julien Duranville
Age: 19 Membership: Borussia Dortmund Nation: Belgium Place: Winger
Regardless of qualifying for the Champions League as soon as extra, Dortmund have misplaced their method somewhat in current instances. Fortunately, their capacity to identify and appeal to the perfect younger skills within the sport has not suffered.
Duranville has not but damaged into the Dortmund beginning lineup but when Englishman Jamie Gittens leaves this summer season, the Belgian may have extra alternatives. He made 22 appearances final time period, together with 9 in Dortmund’s run to the Champions League quarter-finals.
Although the celebs of the worldwide sport have been used to market this competitors, it isn’t actually about them. It’s a probability for gamers with potential to indicate precisely that they will do, with the eyes of the world on them.
A winger who can play on both flank, Duranville falls into this class completely and a great yr might take him all the best way into Belgium’s World Cup squad.
Julien Duranville made 22 appearances final time period, together with 9 in Borussia Dortmund’s run to the Champions League quarter-finals
The Belgian might drive his method into Belgium’s World Cup squad with a robust marketing campaign
Siyabonga Mabena
Age: 18 Membership: Mamelodi Sundowns Nation: South Africa Place: Ahead
The brightest expertise to emerge in South Africa for a few years is so assured in his capacity that he has taken basketball nice Steph Curry’s celebration as his personal. Mabena performs the ‘fall asleep’ gesture after scoring and goals to showcase it in Curry’s homeland within the coming weeks.
‘If I’ve executed my job proper, the opposition’s acquired nothing left to say,’ Mabena has stated.
It might be unrealistic to assume Sundowns could make critical progress on this competitors however it’s the largest stage for South African soccer since they hosted the 2010 World Cup. If gamers like Mabena carry out nicely, it is going to generate wider curiosity.
‘I dream of going abroad,’ he admits. ‘Spain, England, France — these are the leagues I feel I might develop in. However first, I’ve acquired work to do right here.’
Aged simply 18, Siyabonga Mabena is already considered probably the greatest skills to return out of South Africa in years
Petar Sucic
Age: 21 Membership: Inter Milan Nation: Croatia Place: Central miidfielder
It should take a while for Inter’s wounds to heal after they have been thrashed 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain within the Champions League remaining, however signings like this could begin the method.
Inter are extremely enthusiastic about Sucic, purchased for £12m from Dinamo Zagreb. Within the blue half of Milan, they’ve fond reminiscences of Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic and they’re quietly assured Sucic can comply with of their footsteps.
Like Kovacic and Brozovic, Sucic is equally adept as a No 6 or No 8. And with Hakan Calhanoglu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan each within the autumn of their careers, Sucic is precisely the form of participant and age profile that Inter are searching for below new boss Cristian Chivu, who was employed after Simone Inzaghi departed for Al Hilal.
The following few weeks might set the sample for Sucic’s Inter profession and there’s each probability he’ll step on top of things. As a facet observe, preserve a watch out for 19-year-old ahead Francesco Pio Esposito.
Inter Milan are extremely enthusiastic about Petar Sucic, purchased for £12m from Dinamo Zagreb
Sucic (left) might ultimately be legendary midfielder Luka Modric’s successor
Marcos Leonardo
Age: 22 Membership: Al Hilal Nation: Brazil Place: Ahead
With 17 objectives in 24 Saudi Professional League matches, these in command of the competitors would really like Marcos Leonardo to spend the remainder of his profession right here. Whether or not Leonardo agrees is one other matter.
When he moved from Santos to Benfica in January 2024, Leonardo was considered probably the greatest forwards to go away Brazil in a long time. His enjoying type is just like that of Radamel Falcao, the Colombian ahead who had a number of fruitful seasons in Europe. But lower than a yr later, Leonardo had headed east.
Leonardo will already be a really rich man however is the competitors sufficient for him? Maybe the Membership World Cup will persuade Leonardo that to take advantage of his potential, he must be again in Europe.
Those that have watched Leonardo carefully consider he’s ok to guide the assault for Brazil at some point. And with a World Cup only a yr away, the day would possibly come even ahead of they thought.
Marcos Leonardo fired 15 objectives in 13 caps for Brazil’s Below 20s
Simply eight months after becoming a member of Benfica in January 2024, Leonardo was off to Saudi facet Al Hilal
Kenan Yildiz
Age: 20 Membership: Juventus Nation: Turkey Place: Attacking midfielder/winger
Within the post-Cristiano Ronaldo period, Juventus determined to and focus closely on youthful gamers.
They’d attempt to signal the perfect expertise round, develop these gamers of their Subsequent Gen squad – which competes in Italy’s third tier – and transfer the perfect ones into the first-team group.
The profit was apparent: by having these gamers early, Juve might coach them precisely how they wished.
They received’t get each one proper and bought Matias Soule and Dean Huijsen on a budget, however Yildiz is the poster boy for the brand new coverage.
Although he has flickered quite than shone this season, the expertise is plain and if Yildiz fulfils it, Juve have a £100m participant.
Kenan Yildiz may very well be a £100million participant for Juventus if he fulfils his potential
Yildiz was a key tenet of the NextGen mission at Juve and has already received 21 caps for Turkey
Antonio Silva
Age: 21 Membership: Benfica Nation: Portugal Place: Centre again
Manufacturing continues apace on the Portuguese centre again manufacturing facility.
No sooner had Pepe lastly left the stage on the age of 41, than his would-be heirs have been jockeying for place.
Pepe was a controversial character however had an impressive profession at membership and worldwide stage.
Antonio Silva can be a feisty character and has the credentials to do the identical, having already racked up 17 Portugal caps and solely simply turned 21.
Silva is great on the ball and robust within the deal with. Stable sufficient within the air and spectacular in one-on-ones.
A look at his heatmap over his enjoying profession reveals a telling crimson splodge simply contained in the opposition half, indicating a defender comfy enjoying in a excessive line – abilities he can be eager to show over the subsequent few weeks.
Antonio Silva is one in every of Europe’s finest younger centre backs and has 17 Portugal caps
He’s recognized to idolise his compatriots Cristiano Ronaldo and fellow Benfica centre again Luisao
Franco Mastantuono
Age: 17 Membership: River Plate (becoming a member of Actual Madrid) Nation: Argentina Place: Midfield
Any participant who’s the linchpin of their staff aged 16 is price a more in-depth look. When that membership is River Plate, the place the gang is without doubt one of the most demanding on the planet, it truly is time to take a seat up and take discover.
Positive sufficient, Actual Madrid have executed precisely that, reaching an settlement in precept with River to signal their jewel.
Franco Mastantuono has been snapped up for £39m by Actual Madrid
Mastantuono made his senior Argentina debut final week in opposition to Chile in a World Cup qualifier, turning into his nation’s youngest ever participant at 17 years, 296 days
His rise to fame was capped by a glowing free-kick to beat fierce rivals Boca Juniors in April
‘I noticed Franco for the primary time when he was eight or 9, however I couldn’t take him on the time as a result of he was a promising tennis participant,’ Daniel Brizuela, River’s former director of recruitment, has stated.
‘I noticed he had an excellent thoughts. He had the ball glued to his foot and was deadly in one-on-one conditions.’
The economics of Argentine soccer imply the perfect younger gamers don’t stick round lengthy and Mastantuono’s launch clause of about £39m was no drawback for Europe’s wealthiest golf equipment. He received his first senior cap for Argentina earlier in June.
At 15, Mastantuono described enjoying at River’s Monumental Stadium as ‘my dream’, and that got here true when he curled an impressive free-kick for River within the derby to finish all derbies – the Superclasico in opposition to Boca Juniors – in April, in the midst of his faculty exams. European soccer’s grandest phases are his subsequent vacation spot.
