Which current youngsters are set to star in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar…
There has been plenty of talk about the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in recent days, mostly over the logistics of the tournament itself – but in the list below we’ve attempted to focus on the players, who should of course remain the most integral part of any football on the world stage.
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Here are ten players we’re tipping to star in the Middle East in seven years time:
10) Keita Balde Diao (Spain)
19-year-old Keita Balde Diao has already been linked with a move to Liverpool, but is currently starring for Italian side Lazio. Diao started life with Barcelona, and was part of their academy between 2004 and 2011 before making the move to Serie A.
9) Andrija Zivkovic (Serbia)
The 18-year-old is the youngest player to ever make his debut for Serbia, while he is also the youngest player to ever captain his club, Partizan Belgrade. An exciting winger, he has already chipped in with six goals in his first 36 senior appearances.
8) Martin Odegaard (Norway)
After one of the most drawn-out transfer sagas of the modern era, which saw the teenager visit almost every major club on the planet, 16-year-old Martin Odegaard opted to join Real Madrid. He’s already impressing for the reserve team, Castilla, and will no doubt be starring for club and country in the coming years.
7) Zakaria Bakkali (Belgium)
The 19-year-old already has his first international cap under his belt, and will be hoping for plenty more in the future. He’s currently stuck on the sidelines at PSV Eindhoven, having fallen out with the clubs management over a proposed move away, but his exile won’t last forever.
6) Jordon Ibe (England)
Jordon Ibe has been sensational since his introduction to the Liverpool first-team, and surely it won’t be long before the 19 year-old follows in Raheem Sterling’s footsteps into the international set-up. Both players are likely to star in Qatar.
5) Tonny Vilhena (Netherlands)
The 20-year-old midfielder has massively impressed at youth team level, playing for every Netherlands team up to and including the Under-21’s. He’s also impressed with his club side, Feyenoord, making 79 league appearances and scoring ten goals since his debut in 2012.
4) Alen Halilovic (Croatia)
Croatian 18-year-old Alen Halilovic is yet to make his debut for the Barcelona first-team, but already has seven caps for his country. Halilovic began his career with Dinamo Zagreb before joining the Catalans in 2014, impressing with their reserve team so far this year.
3) Simone Scuffet (Italy)
Gianluigi Buffon is not going to stick around forever, and his eventual successor might be an impressive 18-year-old currently starring for Udinese. After winning a first-team place earlier this season, Scuffet continues to impress.
2) Aymeric Laporte (France)
The young defender has attracted transfer interest from Manchester United in the past, and you have to wonder how long Athletic Bilbao will be able to hold onto him. There is plenty of competition for defensive places in the French team, but Laporte has to be in the argument.
1) Max Meyer (Germany)
Max Meyer, 19, is among a host of young players in the Schalke squad. Meyer has already made 53 first-team appearances for the Bundesliga side and made his Germany debut late last year. An attacking midfielder by trade, he’s already scored nine league goals, and is only going to get better in the years to come.