The World Cup is hypnotic, that’s why business doesn’t stop growing. For a month the eyes of almost all the inhabitants of the planet rest on him. Most of the flashes will go to Lionel Messi and rightly so. There will also be discoveries, of course. In the World Cup, tactical systems appear that prevail for years or decades and footballers break in and then jump to the greats of Europe and build unexpected careers. They also amaze some young people who, for the moment, are not very well known.

Here clarion puts the magnifying glass on five players under 20 who can be talked about during the World Cup in Qatar 2022.

Pedro González, Spain

It has great virtue the 19-year-old midfielder born Tegueste, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, November 25, 2002 and who dazzled for a couple of seasons in Barcelona: plays like a veteran.

He understands all aspects of the game and that’s why He can play in any midfield position.

The figure of his brother Fernando, two years older, was fundamental in his adaptation: he always tried to play with him, which is why he got used to competing with the older ones. After shining in neighborhood teams, Las Palmas tempted him to join their ranks. At the age of 16 he made his debut in the First Division, when the team was in the Second category. At that time he had a test at Real Madrid and they didn’t sign him due to his physical appearance. Barcelona did not hesitate and shelled out 5 million euros in July 2020.

To understand how Pedri plays, it must be said that as a child his father showed him videos of Michael Laudrup and that His idol is Andrés Iniesta.

Pedri arrives in Qatar with 93 appearances for Barcelona and 12 goals; He defended the Spain shirt 14 times.

“There is no greater talent in the world than Pedri. That’s why we have to pamper him. Mark the differences. That’s what we asked him and he’s doing it. He’s a superlative player,” praised Xavi Hernández. And they haven’t slept in the culé cast: he has a contract until June 30, 2026 with a 1,000 million euro release clause, the highest in history for any player, including Messi.

Jamal Musiala, Germany

Musiala adapts in the same way as his compatriot Thomas Müller: it is unsightly and it is even difficult to determine what you play, but breaks it He was born in Fulda on February 23, 2003, but at the age of 7 he moved with his family to England. He trained at Chelsea’s academy, although at the age of 16, in July 2020, he decided to return to Germany to play for Bayern Munich.

At 17 years and 115 days old, Musiala became the Bavarian club’s youngest debutant in the Bundesliga. He is an attacking midfielder with long legs and awkward movements, but lethal in the definition and in the final passage. He can play as a second striker or as an inside midfielder.

Musiala is so good that England and Germany competed until the end. And it is that during his youth phase he defended both shirts, almost simultaneously. “It was a difficult decision. I thought about it for a long time. In the end I chose what I think is best for me; Germany is the place where I feel most comfortable.”explained the midfielder.

Musiala amassed 94 appearances for Bayern Munich with 23 goals; in Germany he celebrated once in 17 games.

“Jamal is a magician. He goes out on the pitch, has fun and does whatever he wants. Maybe the rest of us should go back to that interpretation of what the game was for all of us when we started out. We play football because it is You can learn enough from his youthful nonchalance”, Thomas Müller spoiled him. “He has everything to become the next Neymar”added Lothar Matthäus.

Jude Bellingham, England

Of Bellingham, born in Stourbridge on 29 June 2003, it is enough to say two things: is Real Madrid’s main goal for 2023 and is the only footballer mentioned by manager Gareth Southgate who is not a member of the Premier League.

Like Pedri and Musiala, Bellingham was transferred to a big club in July 2020. Borussia Dortmund shelled out €25m for the 17-year-old who was marveling at Birmingham City. In the English cast, a club he joined at the age of 8, He made his debut at just 16 years and 38 days and set a record.

In England, in the Championship, he played 44 games and scored 4 goals. He emigrated when he was only 17, leaving a mark, to such an extent that the club has decided to retire the number 22 shirt. Yes, the one worn by Bellingham. “The number 22 has become synonymous with Jude and his promotion to the first team at just 16. Therefore, the club has decided to withdraw his number to remember one of ours and inspire the rest, ”they warned.

Bellingham also played in all the English youth teams and met Jamal Musiala there: they became inseparable friends. Qatar will now face them. But what is Jude playing? He is a mixed midfielder with an imposing build thanks to his 186 centimeters. He is aggressive to attack and smart to occupy defensive spaces. He bears a resemblance to former German player Michael Ballack.

A few numbers: in Borussia Dortmund he has 112 appearances with 12 goals, while in the English team he has accumulated 17 appearances without goals. Now we have to add what he did to Iran on his World Cup debut.

“Bellingham is a fantastic player. But he’s a liar: it can’t be that he’s that young. I saw how he asked for the ball when he didn’t have it, how hard he did it. Such a young guy can’t do that” Pep Guardiola praised, who also intends it for Manchester City.

Eduardo Camavinga, France

Eduardo Camavinga is the son of a refugee center. And it is that he was born on November 10, 2022 in Miconge, a municipality located in the province of Cabinda, in Angola. His parents, Celestino and Sofía, of Congolese origin, arrived there, fleeing the war. At the age of two, the family emigrated to France and there Camavinga fell in love with football after flirting with judo.

“My family fled the war, so I was born in a refugee camp in Angola. My mother and father took me to France in search of a new life.. I appreciate the opportunity to play football and am proud to do so as a former refugee. I hope the millions of refugees who also love football know that we walk together.”Camavinga was able to explain.

And he added: “I had to escape from a war and this could have helped me. But most of all my family helped me. When I play, I play for them. All these problems have made me stronger.”

The ball was the language that Eduardo spoke in his early days in Fougeres, just 40 kilometers from Rennes, the hometown of the club -Stade Rennes Football Club- that signed him in 2003. It would be a year that would mark Eduardo’s life .

The French midfielder was able to tell that one afternoon his father went to look for him at school and took him home. I was completely burned out. “You are the hope of the family. You will build the new house”Celestino told him. And he encouraged him to devote himself completely to football.

The rest is more or less known history: he is the youngest player to sign a professional contract in the institute, at 16; He is the youngest to make his First Division debut; he is the earliest goalscorer; and is the youngest international player with the French national team in the past 50 years.

For all this and many other things, Real Madrid paid nearly €45m to hire him in August 2021. His numbers are mind-boggling: at the age of just 20 he accumulates 148 games in the First Division with 4 goals; in France, meanwhile, he scored a goal in 4 duels.

What does Camavinga play? He is a left-footed midfielder who moves in the center of the field and tends to loosen up to get in tune with attacking players. He is 182 centimeters tall and has good speed; it is graceful in handling and intense in pressing.

Antonio Silva, Portugal

If we talk about lightning-fast careers, António Silva’s should be well considered. It happens that due to multiple injuries to his teammates, the central scorer made his debut in the first team of Benfica on August 27 of this year and dazzled. He partnered Nicolás Otamendi and the accolades have not stopped piling up for the 19-year-old defender born on 31 October 2003 in Viseu. Since then he has been the undisputed starter and that is why the coach of the Portuguese team, Fernando Manuel Costa Santos, did not hesitate to take it to Qatar even if he has just made his debut in the pre-world friendly, against Nigeria.

He is a great center scorer, 187cm tall, and a remarkable game with his feet. Plus, it has a lot of personality. Its market value is close to 60 million euros; Real Madrid and Barcelona have their eyes on him. He has already completed 18 matches and scored 3 goals for Benfica.

“The truth is that six months ago I didn’t expect to be here, many things have changed in my life, but Staying here I’ll try to make the most of it”Silva explained a week after the start of the World Cup.

And he added: “I don’t know if I’ll play as a starter, but being among the 26 chosen, I’m an option. The national team has high quality players. Pepe has a great history in football; Rúben Dias and Danilo are players with a lot of experience. I try to learn as much as possible from them, I’m very young and what I keep will be very important for me in the future”.

Coach Santos also referred to the young talent. “If he’s been called up, it’s because I believe in him and I have full faith. When it came to choosing four central defenders, three were practically safe: Danilo, Pepe and Rúben Dias, barring problems. And I’ve watched a lot of other matches in competitions and the main ones in the league. In technical and strategic terms I studied the options and I also paid particular attention to those who play in back four. From what I have seen in the most demanding matches, my choice fell on António, he could to bring another one, but it was my choice. Now it’s up to him to prove it.”condemned the DT.

dd