The sophistication of modern-day scouting means that the days of the World Cup providing a genuine breakout star out of the blue may be in the past, but the tournament still provides an incredible opportunity for young players. After all, Kylian Mbappé was already a French Ligue 1 title-winner when he became the first teenager since Pelé to score in a World Cup final. Mbappé was already known in 2018, but World Cup success took him to another stratosphere.
The 2022 World Cup offers another class of rising talent. This list contains the brightest talents at the tournament under age 22 (all eligible players must be under 22 at the start of the competition). Some have not yet played in any of Europe’s top five leagues, while others have already won the Champions League. But what they all share in common—aside from mouth-watering talent—is the desire to make their mark over the next month in the world’s biggest sporting event. This is their moment, their time to shine. Remember their names.
Illustration by Bryce Wood
