10 rising stars to look out for at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Argentina
Maximo Perrone - Argentina
With six titles, Argentina are the most successful team in the history of the Under-20 World Cup. Playing on home turf and having witnessed the success of the seniors at the World Cup in December, Javier Mascherano's team will be hugely motivated to become world champions themselves.
The leader of the team will be Manchester City's Perrone. The more defensive-minded midfielder is a product of Velez Sarsfield, whom he played 22 league games for until his January departure.
He made his debut for City in February, and was included in the senior Argentina squad for the first time a few days later, but hasn't picked up his first cap yet.
Luka Romero - Argentina
Romero was born to Argentine parents in Mexico and, at the age of three, moved to Andalusia, Spain. Subsequently, the family moved to the tiny island of Formentera, near Ibiza, where he took his first footballing steps with PE Sant Jordi.
There he was noticed by Mallorca. The attacking midfielder also had a trial at Barcelona, but as he was not yet 10 years old and not from Catalonia, he couldn't join La Masia, so instead signed an eight-year contract with Mallorca.
He subsequently scored 230 goals in 108 games over four seasons at youth level and was just 15 years and 229 days old when he first played in a La Liga match, becoming the youngest player in the competition's history - no one younger had played in the top five European leagues.
In 2021, he transferred to Lazio and became the youngest player in the history of the Roman club, gradually gaining a place in the squad, despite being only 18 years old. In March, Lionel Scaloni called him up to the senior Argentina squad, but he didn't play.
Matias Soule - Argentina
In the absence of Alejandro Garnacho, the biggest offensive weapon for Argentina will be Juventus' Soule, another Velez product.
The Italian giants signed him on a free transfer, and he spent a year in the youth team before breaking into the senior squad. He's since scored one goal in fifteen Serie A appearances and has also made his Champions League debut.
The winger, who many compare to Angel Di Maria, was called up by Scaloni in November. Although he was not in the final World Cup squad, he was given the opportunity to train alongside his role model, Lionel Messi.
Gabriel Slonina - USA
It is a well-known fact that football in the USA has been gaining popularity for a long time and that the work with youth has improved immensely. One of the biggest talents in the pipeline is goalkeeper Slonina.
He was just 17 years and 81 days old in August 2021 when Chicago Fire put him in goal for the first time in the MLS - he became the youngest goalkeeper in the history of the league and established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper. Both Real Madrid and Chelsea were impressed by his performances and the latter ultimately signed him.
Thanks to his parents, he also had the chance to play for Poland, but in May last year, he turned down the offer and decided to commit to the USA. In January, he made his senior debut as the youngest goalkeeper in the history of the national team.
Simone Pafundi - Italy
One of the youngest and most talented players at the tournament, Pafundi made his Serie A debut at the end of last season, at the age of 16.
Udinese discovered him in 2014 and nurtured him through their youth system - he's since developed into a forward with excellent speed, passing and decision-making and is often compared to Antonio Di Natale.
Italy manager Roberto Mancini first called him up last May and he became the youngest player in a century to play for the Azzuri when he made his debut in November.
Tommaso Baldanzi - Italy
Empoli know very well what a gem they have in this attacker, hence why they gave him a contract that lasts until 2027.
In October 2020, he made his senior debut while also helping the youth team win their league, and has since established himself as an important first-team player. Recently, he scored the winning goal in a 1-0 win against Inter.
Baldanzi is a typical example of a creative number 10 and takes inspiration from Paulo Dybala. Mancini has already taken a look at him at the national team's training camp, and while he has never played for the Under-20s, he will immediately be one of their leaders.
Andrey Santos - Brazil
Brazil's leader and conductor, Santos is the prototype of the modern midfielder, with excellent technique, passing, and defensive abilities.
This caught the eye of Chelsea, who bought him from boyhood club Vasco da Gama, but have kept him on loan there until the summer.
He made his senior debut at the age of 16, and at this year's South American Under-20 Championship, was joint top scorer with six goals. Moreover, in March against Morocco, he made his debut for Brazil's senior national team.
Marcos Leonardo - Brazil
Leonardo is only 20 years old and has already played more than 100 games for Santos in the top Brazilian league, scoring 31 league goals. He made his debut in senior football shortly after his seventeenth birthday.
For the Brazilian Under-20 team, he has played eight games and is the favourite for the golden boot at the World Cup. They'll rely on him heavily up front due to the fact that 18-year-old Vitor Roque, who has already played for Brazil's national team, and 16-year-old super talent Endrick will not be travelling to the tournament.
Among others, winger Savio is also expected to play a significant role in Brazil's attack.
Matheus Nascimento - Brazil
Nascimento, the third Brazilian in our selection, is being watched closely by Real Madrid. He has been playing senior football since 2020 when he was only sixteen.
Botafogo saw and still sees huge potential in the forward, as well as a lot of money, as he certainly won't cost suitors little.
He has played three games for the national under-20 team and scored the same number of goals. On his day, he will be a huge problem for any opponent.
Fabricio Diaz - Uruguay
Uruguayan midfielder Diaz is a huge talent and will definitely be coming to Europe in the summer. Barcelona are the most interested, but other clubs, such as Atletico, are monitoring the situation.
He has been a mainstay of his parent club Liverpool Montevideo since 2020, playing over a hundred games. He's fast growing into a great footballer at both ends of the pitch and soon he will be the talk of Europe.
With all due respect to the other stars in Argentina, he probably has the best chance of making it to the highest level of the game.