“You can’t win anything with kids!” Those were the infamous words of Alan Hansen about the Manchester United team in 1995. He lived to regret them then and, if this World Cup is anything to go by, that statement has been proved wrong time and time again. For this tournament has been the competition for several break-out stars. From Linda Caicedo to Esmee Brugts, from Hinata Miyazawa to Lauren James, the world’s emerging young talents have taken to this stage with remarkable ease, putting in stellar performances where perhaps some of their more experienced counterparts have not.
Spain’s Salma Paralluelo is one of them. The talented 19-year-old winger has announced herself at senior level in this competition, scoring the quarter-final winner against the Netherlands and firing her team ahead in their semi-final victory over Sweden. She is now preparing for a World Cup final, despite making her international debut only in November. It is the kind of impact many teenagers could only dream of, catapulting her into the headlines as one of the most talked-about players of the competition.
