The FIFA Under-20 World Cup kicks off in Chile on Saturday night with the stars of tomorrow ready to break into the spotlight.
Thanks to shifts in global football in recent years – not least inflation and restrictive financial rules – youngsters with potential are must-have players for the world’s biggest clubs, and spotting them early is the trick.
A run through of the names that have announced themselves to the world at the tournament is a who’s who of the greatest footballing prodigies of the last 50 years. Diego Maradona (1979), Lionel Messi (2005), Sergio Aguero (2007) and Paul Pogba (2013) to name but a few.
Because clubs are not obliged to release players for their Under-20 national teams, we won’t be seeing the likes of Real Madrid’s Endrick or Chelsea’s Estevao turn out for Brazil. But we will see the next wave of hidden gems and world-class talents.
Among the 24 teams battling it out over the next three weeks are six-time winners Argentina, five-time champions Brazil… and New Caledonia, making their tournament debut. The Oceania minnows’ senior team might be ranked 150th by FIFA, but their age-group sides are worth keeping an eye on – as we’ll find out later in this piece. Sadly, England failed to qualify.
Here, we’ve picked out the eight biggest talents who you haven’t heard of yet – but are on course to become global superstars…
1. Alvaro Montoro
Age: 18 Country: Argentina Club: Botafogo Position: Attacking midfielder
The Argentinian is already a star at Botafogo, the reigning champions of both Brazil and South America.
Recruited for £6.5million from his boyhood club Velez Sarsfield in June, Botafogo already value him at around £25m.
He pleaded with his club to release him for the Under-20 World Cup as it was his dream to emulate the likes of Messi, Maradona, Aguero and Javier Saviola, all of whom won the Golden Ball for player of the tournament.
The Argentina Under 17s international has 18 games under his belt this season and has scored three goals, with Botafogo – whose links with Nottingham Forest were used to bring Igor Jesus, Jair Cunha and Cuiabano to the City Ground this summer – already eyeing their next big sale.
If they did get their desired £25m, Montoro would become the club’s second-biggest sale, just ahead of the player whose style he most resembles – Thiago Almada, his compatriot who left the club for Atletico Madrid this summer.
Attacking midfielder Alvaro Montoro of Botafogo is already valued at £25m by his club
2. Pablo Garcia
Age: 19 Country: Spain Club: Real Betis Position: Winger
Garcia joined Betis aged six and has now broken through into the first team, making his senior debut in January and becoming a regular in Manuel Pellegrini’s matchday squads.
He is yet to score this season, but his club feel the goals will come – and they have good reason to believe so after the Under-19 Euros this summer.
Garcia hit four in one of the most chaotic games in recent memory – Spain’s 6-5 win over Germany in the semi-final. Garca scored twice in stoppage time, and bagged a 119th-minute winner, so clearly has a good sense of timing.
Pablo Garcia is already a regular in Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis first team
Garcia with the match ball after scoring four for Spain against Germany in the Under-19 Euros semi-final this summer
3. Kutlwano Lethlaku
Age: 19 Country: South Africa Club: Mamelodi Sundowns Position: Winger
At just 19, Lethlaku is already one of the stars of African football, first announcing himself on a global stage with an assist for Mamelodi Sundowns against Borussia Dortmund at this summer’s Club World Cup, in a thrilling 4-3 win for the German side.
Lethlaku, who was part of the South Africa side that won the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in May, is keen on a move to Europe but his club rejected approaches from multiple clubs this summer.
South Africa have been handed a group draw that includes New Caledonia, so there could be plenty of chances for Lethlaku to show off his talents in Chile.
Winger Kutlwano Lethlaku (left) helped South Africa win the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in May
4. Othmane Maamma
Age: 19 Country: Morocco Club: Watford Position: Winger
Watford winger Maamma was born in France, but has decided to represent Morocco -much to their delight.
He played his first professional game in May 2024, for Montpellier against Monaco in Ligue 1, and became the club’s third-youngest ever goalscorer in a draw against Lens the following week.
Last season, he played 12 league games, scoring one goal. In July, Watford made their move, signing him up on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee. He has yet to play for the Hornets but if he shines in Chile, as many expect, he will be wowing the Vicarage Road crowd before long.
Maamma Othmane of Morocco has joined Watford on a four-year deal
5. Lucas Michal
Age: 20 Country: France Club: Monaco Position: Winger
One of the most promising prospects to come out of the vaunted Monaco academy, Michal made his senior debut in May 2024 and played in eight Ligue 1 games last season.
His usual position is on the left wing, and while he has yet to find the net for his club, he has five goals in 12 Under-20 games for his country and will have plenty of eyes on him in Chile.
France’s Lucas Michal is a product of the highly-respected Monaco academy
6. Pedrinho
Age: 19 Country: Brazil Club: Zenit St Petersburg Position: Striker
Pedro Henrique Silva dos Santos, to give him his full name, is one of the key players in the Brazil squad.
Born in Sao Paulo, he joined Corinthians at the age of nine and went on to represent Brazil at Under-15 and Under-17 level.
After playing just one season for Corinthians, scoring once in 21 appearances, he was signed by Zenit St Petersburg in the summer of 2024. He played 36 times for them during the following season, scoring five goals and chipping in with five assists. It was a remarkable debut season for such a young player. He has featured in a further 12 games this season, with one assist.
The youngster is already attracting admiring glances, notably from Saudi Arabia, with Al Ittihad offering £30m this summer. However, Zenit held firm, believing they have on their hands a real gem whose price will only go up.
Real Madrid and Lyon have also shown interest in the Brazilian.
Brazil star Pedrinho has already been the subject of a £30m bid from the Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad
7. Joao Cruz
Age: 19 Country: Brazil Club: Athletico Paranaense Position: Midfielder
Joao Cruz is a clever midfielder and seen as the jewel of the Athletico Paranaense side.
He joined the club in 2018, aged 11, and came up through their youth sides. He has now played more than 50 games for the first team, scoring four goals and registering four assists.
Even though the club are now in the Second Division of Brazilian football, they have slapped a £50m price tag on the 19-year-old.
Athletico Paranaense’s midfielder Joao Cruz (left) celebrates scoring during the Copa Sudamericana last year
8. Jytrhim Upa
Age: 18 Country: New Caledonia Club: AS Tiga Sport Position: Midfielder
The New Caledonia star has all the potential to be a star of the tournament in Chile despite being in a daunting group with South Africa, USA and France.
The midfielder plays for AS Tiga Sport on the archipelago with a population of under 300,000, but has been part of the national set-up for a while. He played in the U17 World Cup in Indonesia, in 2023, at just 15 and is a quick decision-maker who finds the right pass under pressure.
Even though New Caledonia will do well to get out of their group, Upa could cause a stir.
The New Caledonia star Jytrhim Upa is in a tough group with South Africa, USA and France
