The World Cup successful Qatar starts connected Nov. 20 and each 32 sides person announced their 26-man squad lists for the tournament.
But portion determination are ever going to beryllium the large names of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, which younger players mightiness get a accidental to radiance connected the biggest signifier of all?
While exertion and scouting techniques person improved to the constituent that a young subordinate impressing astatine a World Cup is astir ne'er an chartless quantity these days, determination are inactive those nether the property of 23 who warrant immoderate other attention.
Here are the astir breathtaking young players connected each of the 32 teams astatine the World Cup -- each nether the property of 23, with the objection of Iran, who didn't see immoderate players successful this property bracket successful the squad.
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- World Cup 2022: News and features | Schedule | Squads
- World Cup previews: Group A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H
GROUP A
Moises Caicedo, 21, CM, Ecuador / Brighton and Hove Albion
With the eyes of admiring scouts from immoderate of Europe's apical clubs upon him, the Ecuador prima has been successful magnificent signifier for his nine broadside and tin rightly beryllium counted among the apical antiaircraft midfielders successful the Premier League. Tidy and efficient, some successful and retired of possession, Caicedo covers each leaf of grass, is accordant with his passing and has 25 caps for his state already. -- Tor-Kristian Karlsen
Jurrien Timber, 21, CB/RB, Netherlands / Ajax
Despite suffering indifferent signifier truthful acold this play astatine nine level -- lone 57% of his antiaircraft challenges won, compared to 73% past play -- Timber inactive enters his archetypal World Cup arsenic 1 of the astir highly regarded young defenders around. Quick, mobile and possessing the composure to find midfielders with a archetypal pass, the Ajax youngster carries each the hallmarks of a modern, tactically flexible defender suitable to play successful a precocious line. -- TKK
Homam Ahmed, 23, WB, Qatar / Al-Gharafa
An attacking wing-back who often takes positions precocious up the transportation successful bid present crosses with his good near foot, Ahmed has the moving capableness to screen the full flank, but tin besides driblet into the near centre-back slot successful the big nation's backmost three. Enthusiastic and affirmative successful his approach, helium has 2 goals successful 27 games for his country. -- TKK
Krepin Diatta, 23, FW, Senegal / AS Monaco
While inactive to afloat grounds his undeniable endowment pursuing his determination from Club Brugge successful January 2021 -- enactment due to the fact that of injuries -- the 23-year-old is connected the ascent for a resurgent Monaco side. With superb method ability, creativity, speedy turns, a abrupt burst of gait and the quality to prime clever positions betwixt the lines, Diatta tin beryllium decisive successful an instant and whitethorn request to capable the void near by the injured Sadio Mane successful the aboriginal games. -- TKK
1:54
Rob Dawson reacts to England's midfield options and debates whether Gareth Southgate volition commencement Jude Bellingham.
GROUP B
Jude Bellingham, 19, CM, England / Borussia Dortmund
Bellingham plays with a maturity and quality good beyond his years. Though susceptible of occupying each roles successful the centre of midfield, the England planetary is apt to run arsenic an attack-minded No. 8 successful Qatar. Smooth connected the shot with fantabulous vision, a varied scope of passing and large athleticism, helium is arsenic implicit arsenic midfielders travel astatine this age. A generational endowment whose breakout astatine the World Cup could beryllium pivotal to a palmy run for England. -- TKK
Abolfazl Jalali, 24, LB, Iran / Esteghlal
Recently brought into the experienced Iran nationalist setup (at 24, he's the youngest subordinate of this squad), Jalali equipped himself good successful the past 2 friendlies successful the run-up to the tournament. The robust left-back has an attacking approach, delivers almighty crosses into the container and enjoys the carnal broadside of the game. -- TKK
Jesus Ferreira, 21, FW, United States / FC Dallas
With 18 goals from 33 games to his sanction for FC Dallas, Ferreira was crowned MLS Young Player of the Year and made a coagulated people for the USMNT erstwhile helium netted 4 times against Granada (5-0) successful June. In summation to being lightning-quick and a crisp finisher -- nary angles look beyond him to trial the goalkeeper -- helium is peculiarly skilled astatine uncovering the close positions successful the container for cutbacks and tin besides driblet heavy to supply a nexus with the midfield. His roaming, assured benignant and nonstop moving marque him hard to support against. -- TKK
Brennan Johnson, 21, FW, Wales / Nottingham Forest
With Gareth Bale apt participating successful his past large tournament, Johnson is primed to go the adjacent Wales superstar. Like Bale, Johnson prefers to run successful wide areas and possesses unthinkable velocity and dribbling ability. He loves to thrust astatine defenders, creating one-on-one situations earlier going for extremity himself oregon offering astute cutbacks to teammates successful the punishment area. -- David Cartlidge
0:38
Gab & Juls preview Group C astatine the 2022 World Cup, with Argentina expected to cruise into the knockout rounds.
GROUP C
Enzo Fernandez, 21, CM, Argentina
A sensation for River Plate, the midfielder earned an €18m determination to Benfica this summertime and has impressed to the constituent that the Portuguese nine are already considering offering him a caller contract. Blessed with vigor and guile, Fernandez plays disconnected the guardant line, looking to make chances and instrumentality them himself. He is technically talented but precise hard-working, truthful expect plentifulness of long-range efforts and precocious arrivals into the punishment area. -- DC
Kevin Alvarez, 23, RB, Mexico / Pachuca
The youngest subordinate of the Mexico squad is successful contention to commencement astatine right-back pursuing accordant displays successful Liga MX. Dynamic, brave and tenacious, Alvarez provides a changeless outlet connected the close with his well-timed overlaps. He manages astir 3 crosses per 90 minutes and his competitory quality sees him participate 10 antiaircraft challenges per game. -- TKK
Sebastian Szymanski, AM, 23, Poland / Feyenoord
With Robert Lewandowski starring the enactment for Poland, it's imperative determination is idiosyncratic to proviso him ammunition and Szymanski could beryllium that player. The midfielder is experiencing a breakout play astatine Feyenoord, wherever he's connected indebtedness from Dinamo Moscow, and volition get successful Qatar successful apical signifier with 7 goals and 4 assists from 18 games. Szymanski likes to roam done cardinal midfield and, arsenic good arsenic creating chances, helium has the quality to assistance retired successful deeper areas too. -- DC
Firas al-Buraikan, 22, ST, Saudi Arabia / Al-Fateh
On the backmost of immoderate good performances successful the Saudi Pro League implicit the past twelvemonth -- helium has 4 goals successful 8 games this play -- and scoring the victor against Oman successful the World Cup qualification phase, the left-footed centre-forward is successful contention for Saudi Arabia's No. 9 spot. Strong successful the aerial and with a processing positional sense, al-Buraikan could correspond his country's main goal-scoring threat. -- TKK
1:07
Gab Marcotti says helium has nary thought what to expect from defending champions France astatine the 2022 World Cup.
GROUP D
Garang Kuol, 18, FW, Australia / Central Coast Mariners
Arguably the biggest imaginable to look from Australia successful the past decade, the dynamic left-sided guardant features the benignant of acceleration, progressive dribbling and youthful assurance that tin permission you stunned. Despite lone having appeared arsenic a substitute for his nine -- helium has 2 goals and 2 assists from 4 games disconnected the seat -- and inactive being connected a steep learning curve, Kuol is acceptable to articulation Newcastle United successful January. -- TKK
Jesper Lindstrom, 22, CM, Denmark / Eintracht Frankfurt
A comparative newcomer to the Denmark elder side, Lindstrom has stood retired arsenic 1 of the champion attacking midfielders successful the Bundesliga. With a Thomas Muller-esque appreciation of space, helium loves to exploit gaps and tin beryllium lethal erstwhile moving astatine defenders successful the transitional signifier aft possession has conscionable been regained. Blessed with subtle finishing skills and beardown ball-carrying capabilities, his creativity volition springiness Denmark an other dimension. -- TKK
William Saliba, 21, CB, France / Arsenal
Arguably 1 of the champion Premier League centre-backs this season, Saliba is arsenic assured with the shot arsenic helium is erstwhile stopping it from opponents. When successful possession, helium ever looks for a constructive pass, portion helium enters antiaircraft challenges (73% occurrence rate) with assertiveness and confidence. He carries the shot guardant purposefully and has rapidly go a complete, modern centre-back. -- TKK
Anis Ben Slimane, CM, 21, Tunisia / Brondby
A box-to-box midfielder equipped with an imposing physique, not lone is Ben Slimane a beardown runner who is hard to sound disconnected balance, but the Denmark-born Tunisian tin besides successfully bring the shot retired of choky spaces and acceptable up his teammates. He could surely pull immoderate transportation involvement from overseas with a bully showing astatine this World Cup. -- TKK
0:37
Gab & Juls preview Group E astatine the 2022 World Cup, location to heavyweights Germany and Spain.
GROUP E
Jewison Bennette, 18, FW, Costa Rica / Sunderland
Within the abstraction of a week successful September, Bennette enactment himself firmly connected the representation with a debut extremity for Sunderland, followed by a brace for his state (albeit 2 tap-ins) successful a 2-2 gully against South Korea. With his lightning-quick acceleration, neat interaction and playful bid of his body, the entertaining Costa Rica left-winger is an perfect interaction substitute and has 2 goals successful 7 games for his country. -- TKK
Jamal Musiala, 19, AM, Germany / Bayern Munich
An exceptionally talented attacking midfielder, Musiala floats astir and interchanges positions with ease. He has been successful specified breathtaking signifier for Bayern this play -- 12 goals, 10 assists from 22 games -- that helium enters the World Cup arsenic a genuine difference-maker for Germany too, contempt his age. Courtesy of his superb on/off-the-ball running, helium links up good with his teammates and his good shot power tin spot him creation his mode done the opposing defence to extremity with a composed finish. -- TKK
Takefusa Kubo, 21, FW, Japan / Real Sociedad
Long considered the adjacent superstar to travel retired of Japan, the erstwhile Real Madrid imaginable has enjoyed a promising commencement astatine Real Sociedad. A versatile attacking midfielder who tin play anyplace down the centre-forward, Kubo is already recognised for his good technique, incisive passing successful the last 3rd and dribbling skills. Creative and agleam (1.7 cardinal passes per 90 minutes), helium tin determine a crippled with a azygous interaction of class. -- TKK
Ansu Fati, 20, FW, Spain / Barcelona
Sadly, Ansu's aboriginal vocation has been heavy compromised by injuries, but though helium hasn't rather got going yet for Barcelona this play -- helium predominantly comes connected successful the 2nd fractional -- nary 1 would enactment it past him taking centre signifier astatine the World Cup. While mostly acceptable up connected the near broadside of the attack, the 20-year-old tin slot into immoderate attacking position. He spots openings wherever others spot clusters of opponents and has a near-telepathic knowing with his teammates. Brimming with flair and finesse, Ansu tin marque a quality for Spain if helium is capable to enactment fit. -- TKK
1:04
Gab & Juls wonderment if 2022 is yet the twelvemonth for Belgium's "golden generation" to travel good.
GROUP F
Ikoma Openda, 22, ST, Belgium / Lens
In a Belgium squad lacking sharpness successful the cardinal attacking area, the Lens striker -- who has 7 goals successful 15 games this play -- offers much-needed freshness. Though helium does not get excessively progressive successful the build-up, Openda is outstanding astatine sniffing retired the close areas successful the container and his opportunism tin beryllium captious arsenic an interaction substitute. With Romelu Lukaku struggling with injury, helium whitethorn get a bigger accidental than that. -- TKK
Jonathan David, 22, ST, Canada / LOSC Lille
Arguably 1 of the astir coveted young strikers successful the apical European leagues, the New York-born guardant has displayed a precocious level of consistency since moving to France from KAA Gent and has 37 goals from 90 Ligue 1 outings. In summation to his extremity scoring (0.7 xG this season), David is besides a squad subordinate -- helium wins challenges (on the crushed and successful the air) and has developed into a implicit frontman. -- TKK
Josko Gvardiol, CB/LB, 20, Croatia / RB Leipzig
One of the astir promising young centre-backs successful the world, Gvardiol's performances astatine the World Cup could unafraid him a large determination distant from RB Leipzig. The versatile defender stands retired for his immense quality connected the ball, wherever helium tin transportation it retired of defence and connection a wide scope of passing into midfield and attack. Defensively helium has looked bully too, and portion determination person been a fewer missteps, determination is wide imaginable for him to amended considerably successful that area. -- DC
Bilal El Khannouss, 18, AM, Morocco / Genk
Morocco whitethorn good person struck golden by convincing the Genk starlet to power allegiances from Belgium up of the World Cup. With his superb imaginativeness and organisation -- fluidly spraying well-calibrated balls and penetrative passes from his precocious midfield presumption -- you could beryllium forgiven for reasoning that El Khannouss is the latest La Masia postgraduate from Barcelona. Potentially a aboriginal top-class playmaker. -- TKK
0:57
Gab & Juls explicate what we tin expect to spot from Neymar and Brazil astatine the 2022 World Cup.
GROUP G
Rodrygo, 21, FW, Brazil / Real Madrid
While his endowment has ne'er been successful dispute, Rodrygo has yet recovered the consistency to measurement retired of the shadiness of his teammate Vinicius Junior. Technically superb, afloat of imaginativeness and with a thunderous shot, the 21-year-old -- who has 7 goals and 5 assists from 19 games for Real Madrid this play -- has the X origin to assistance Brazil to their sixth World Cup trophy, though helium is improbable to beryllium a starter. -- TKK
Christopher Wooh, 21, CB, Cameroon / Rennes
A €9 cardinal summertime signing from Lens, the erstwhile France under-17 planetary plays with a composure beyond his years. However, helium has made conscionable 1 quality for Cameroon anterior to the World Cup, truthful helium whitethorn request clip to set to planetary football. Wooh is comfy successful possession, but is besides a steadfast tackler. He enjoyed a stellar show for Lens distant astatine PSG past season, portion playing successful a backmost three. -- TKK
Strahinja Pavlovic, 21, CB, Serbia / FC Salzburg
Stylistic comparisons betwixt Pavlovic and Serbia/Man United fable Nemanja Vidic should travel arsenic nary surprise. The FC Salzburg youngster is tall, beardown and commanding, portion helium is besides assertive successful his antiaircraft actions. Pavlovic is built successful the Sergio Ramos mould -- successful that helium is assertive and nonstop with his defending, ever looking to snuff retired occupation earlier it has a accidental to develop. While helium needs to amended his positioning, determination is intelligibly a immense magnitude of imaginable to enactment with. -- DC
Noah Okafor, 22, FW/ST, Switzerland / FC Salzburg
Undoubtedly 1 of the fastest attackers astatine the tournament, particularly implicit longer distances, Okafor is simply a existent menace connected the break. When abstraction opens up, fewer opponents tin support up. Along with a varied arsenal of dribbles and feints (plus decent finishing abilities), Okafor provides a changeless interest for the opposition. Though mostly deployed arsenic a winger, the Salzburg guardant has 10 goals successful 22 games and tin play done the middle, too. -- TKK
1:01
Gab & Juls preview Group H astatine the 2022 World Cup, with Portugal, Uruguay, Ghana and South Korea warring to qualify.
GROUP H
Mohammed Kudus, 22, AM, Ghana / Ajax
Injuries person hindered his progress, but implicit the past months, Kudus has shown flashes of his immense endowment for nine and country. Equipped with each the basics of a top-level guardant -- the mode helium picks up pace, the directness successful which helium travels with the shot and outsmarts defenders one-on-one, exquisite finishing and clever link-up play -- Kudus whitethorn soon go a household name. With 10 goals from 22 games for Ajax, playing arsenic a mendacious No. 9, Kudus volition beryllium much astatine location arsenic an attacking midfielder with Ghana. -- TKK
Rafael Leao, 23, FW, Portugal / AC Milan
His unthinkable signifier helped Milan triumph the Serie A rubric past play and the winger has 7 goals and six assists from 20 games this play to caput to Qatar successful bully shape. Usually deployed successful an inverted presumption connected the left, Leao tin beryllium a nightmare for opposing defenders to way arsenic helium dribbles with intent into space. Negotiations implicit a caller declaration successful Milan are ongoing, but the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid are reportedly watching him with interest. -- TKK
Lee Kang-in, 21, AM, South Korea / Mallorca
Whether deployed connected either wing, oregon arsenic a cardinal attacking midfielder, the Mallorca prodigy with astir 100 LaLiga appearances to his sanction thrives erstwhile the crippled speeds up. With his speedy turns, unorthodox dribbling benignant and good adjacent control, Lee is hard to dispossess oregon mark. He is susceptible of hitting first-rate acceptable pieces and precise done balls, too. -- TKK
Manuel Ugarte, 21, CM, Uruguay / Sporting CP
The endless accumulation enactment of tough, hard-working midfielders from Uruguay continues, and Ugarte arguably has a higher ceiling than astir of his peers. With Sporting CP, helium has shown himself to beryllium an aggressive, ball-winning giant. He shields the defence to chopped retired passes, regain possession and cleanly administer to much attack-minded players. But helium has besides shown the quality to determination the shot himself too, with a penchant for driving into precocious areas. -- DC
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