Another edition of the FIFA World Cup culminated and with it, many images, data and anecdotes to remember for posterity, highlighting the consecration of Lionel Messi with the Argentine team after winning the championship. However, something that the contest also gives us every four years is the fact of following new figures and young talents who did the same and shone with their respective team during the tournament.
From legends like Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, Michael Owen, to the present with Kylian Mbappé, they are part of the footballers who became important players for their national team and who, since their first appearance in a World Cup, have captured the attention of various reflectors for their stupendous performance with less than 22 years of age, which is why they were able to win the award given by FIFA to the best young player in the tournament.
In Qatar 2022, the Argentine Enzo Fernández was the one who received the aforementioned distinction after his good level and performance with the “Albiceleste” team, but without a doubt, there were several revelation athletes who managed to surprise more than one with their level and dedication during some matches with their respective team; although there were also one or the other who only reconfirmed his potential but now at the national team level and during the greatest football celebration.
Next, we leave the list of five young players who left a good impression for their level during Qatar 2022:
Enzo Fernandez
The young 21-year-old footballer arrived almost at the last moment at Lionel Scaloni’s final call to attend the World Cup. Coming from River Plate, the native of San Martín arrived in European football in the last semester to defend the colors of Benfica and quickly achieved a position in the starting lineup both in the Portuguese League, as well as in the Champions League. It is worth mentioning that the Lusitanian team managed to reach the round of 16 as first place in their group, above PSG.
Already in the World Cup, Enzo started the first two matches of the group stage of the “Albiceleste” from the bench (in the 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia and the 2-0 win against Mexico), although in both matches he was able to enter exchange and played more than 30 minutes in each one. In fact, it was against the “Aztec team” where he managed to score his first and only goal in the tournament, which was nominated by FIFA as one of the best in the entire World Cup.
Subsequently, Fernández finished filling the Argentine helmsman’s eye and won ownership in the midfield. Despite the enormous pressure on the national team and practically playing “a final” in each match, the “Millionaire” youth squad did not shrink and proved to be up to the task. After being world champion, many clubs that are world powers asked about his file, but Benfica shielded him with a clause of 120 million euros.
buyako saka
Another of the athletes who had a good performance during Qatar 2022 and who, in turn, finished consolidating with his team, was the English midfielder Buyako Saka, who emerged from the Arsenal youth ranks and who, since 2019, established himself as a starter. of the “Gunners”. Today, he is one of the pillars in the London team and has been a fundamental piece for the club to march in first place in the Premier League.
At 21 years of age, he can already boast of being a national team since 2020 and having been part of the team that reached the final of Euro 2020, which they lost to Italy in a penalty shootout; It should be remembered that Saka was one of the footballers who missed his charge on that occasion. During that tournament, the young man failed to win the title; however, he saw action in four of the seven matches that “The Three Lions” played.
Already at the biggest football party, the Arsenal youth squad earned the trust of strategist Gareth Southgate and despite having a team with many stars, he started four of the five games they played, being a substitute only in the last of the phase of groups against Wales. His performance was more than remarkable, as he managed to score three goals (two against Iran and one against Senegal in the round of 16) and distribute an assist (in the 2-1 elimination against France).
Goncalo Ramos
For many, Goncalo Ramos was one of the biggest surprises and one of the names that gave the most talk during the contest, since at 21 years of age, Qatar arrived with just one match played with the senior team of Portugal, a friendly match against Nigeria in which he scored his first goal and which was just a few days before traveling to the World Cup. Being a natural striker, he seemed unlikely to see any minutes in the tournament, as he was in the same position as Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, the helmsman Fernando Santos would have other plans and for the round of 16 against Switzerland, he surprised the world after leaving CR7 on the bench and giving his place to the Benfica youth; all this added to the supposed differences that the strategist had with the Lusitanian star. With many questions, Goncalo assumed the responsibility of taking the place of the “Commander” and to the surprise of many, he gave one of the best matches of his short career.
Despite the fact that the match seemed quite even, the Lusitanos had a real day in the field and ended up beating “Las cruces rojas” 6-1 with a hat-trick from the young athlete from Olhao and thus sentencing their title over “ Bug”. Already in the round of the quarterfinals, Ramos could not do much to overcome Morocco, a team that ended up being the surprise of the tournament and was left with fourth place.
Julian Alvarez
Next, we have another athlete who ended up being world champion with the “Albiceleste” and who also ended up being an important part of the team so that the South Americans could lift the trophy. At just 22 years old, the River Plate youth squad was considered by Lionel Scaloni to be one of his options in attack and to be the natural change for Lautaro Martínez.
After starting as a substitute in the first two games against Saudi Arabia and Mexico, the “Spider-Man” received the confidence of the Argentine helmsman and took over the South American forward and managed to seat the striker for Inter Milan. The bet paid off for the albiceleste strategist and in his first two games as a starter, he scored against Poland (group stage) and Australia (round of 16).
In the semifinals against Croatia, the current Manchester City footballer shone again and got a double so that the team could seal their pass to the grand final. Despite his young age, Álvarez did not show nervousness or insecurity and earned the admiration of all the Argentine people. Currently, he has a contract with Manchester City until 2027 and according to Pep Guardiola, he is considering him to be one of the most important men in the club in the short term.
Pedro
Finally, we have one of the greatest jewels of Spanish football and Barcelona, who in turn is classified as the new Xavi Hernández. Unlike most other athletes, Pedri arrived in Qatar as a footballer already consolidated in world football both at the club level and with his national team, since he is already an indisputable starter with the culé team and was previously considered by Luis Enrique to attend the commitments with “La Roja” since 2020.
During the greatest football festival, the native of Tenerife played the four games that Spain played and was a starter in each of them. Despite the fact that the European team failed to transcend and fell in the round of 16, the Barca midfielder shone again and left no room for doubt about his potential. It should be remembered that in 2021, he was considered to play the Tokyo Olympics and the Eurocup, seeing action in all the matches of each contest.
