5️⃣ of the best young players to watch out for at the World Cup 👶 | OneFootball

The World Cup is nearly upon us.

But who could be the breakout stars in Qatar? We’ve given you five youngsters it will be be worth keeping an eye out over the next month.

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Jamal Musiala (Germany)

If his early season form is anything to go by, Jamal Musiala could be about to explode at this tournament.

The 19-year-old already had his breakout season last campaign, and so far in 2022/23 the Bundesliga has been his playground with the attacking midfielder scoring nine goals and assisting another seven in his 14 appearances.

The Bayern Munich star will be fighting with Kai Havertz and Jonas Hofmann for his place in Hansi Flick’s starting line-up but there will be no looking back once he does get the nod.

Musiala’ ability to weave through the opposition’s lines is beautiful to watch at times but there’s end product to go with the dribbling.

A lot of Germany is already talking about Musiala. Over the next month, the rest of the world could be as well.

Gavi (Spain)

There will be a lot of focus on his club and country teammate, Pedri, who did win the Best Young Player award at Euro 2020 but this could be the competition where Gavi makes the world sit up and take notice.

Don’t be fooled by him wearing the number nine shirt, the 18-year-old is anything but a centre-forward, but his national team head coach Luis Enrique has done everything to show he has the utmost faith in him.

He defied criticism from pundits and supports to make Gavi the youngest ever player to earn a senior cap for La Roja in October 2021, and he rewarded him by becoming the youngest ever player to score for the country as well.

“He’s like an erupting volcano,” Enrique told Diario AS in June. “It’s very difficult not to fall in love with Gavi.”

The 2022 Golden Boy winner could be about to erupt in Qatar as well.

William Saliba (France)

France are well stocked at centre back with the likes of Wesley Fofana, Ibrahima Konaté and Jules Koundé all with years ahead of them.

But the Arsenal man maybe the one who rises out above amongst the rest.

Saliba has had a phenomenal start to his debut season in the Premier League, playing his part in the Gunners’ descent to the top of the league.

Didier Deschamps awarded the 21-year-old his first cap in March and he’s played a part in almost every game since. Powerful, dominant and boasting a rapid recovery speed, good luck to any striker trying to get past Saliba in Qatar.

Jude Bellingham (England)

It’s amazing to think that Jude Bellingham is still only 19 but the Borussia Dortmund midfielder has experience in abundance for someone his age with 76 Bundesliga appearances to his name.

The one burning question about Bellingham’s career so far is what type of midfielder is he going to turn out to be as right now he has dominated pitches in Germany as a complete all-rounder.

He is just as adept as tackling as he is at carrying the ball through midfield and picking a pass.

Now the lad from Birmingham gets to showcase his skills on the world stage, and he has the potential to make it a memorable tournament for the Three Lions.

Aurelien Tchouaméni (France)

We know that we shouldn’t really have two players from the same country on this list but indulge us because Tchouaméni is worth his place on this list.

The 22-year-old completed a huge €80m move to Real Madrid in the summer with the unenviable task of replacing Casemiro as the fulcrum of the midfield – and he has more than stepped up to the plate, so much so that the Brazilian has barely been missed.

Tchouaméni is comfortable with screening the back four in the way Casemiro used to do but also has shown his quality in bringing the ball through the lines in the early months of the LaLiga season.

With Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté both out injured the reigning champions need the next generation midfield to step up.

Tchouaméni’s time is now.