The FIFA World Cup 2022 began on Sunday with the opening match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador. With modern day greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo nearing the end of their careers and a vacuum bound to be created, the World Cup will be the testing ground for young talents. Here we take a look at 5 young players who could make it big at the event.

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Vinicius Jr (Brazil) – Brazil’s 20-year-old striker Vinicius can be distinguished for his speed and remarkable dribbling skills. With 22 goals, he was Real Madrid’s second highest scorer in all competitions in the 2021-22 season and played a crucial role in the team’s double success (La Liga and Champions Trophy victories). Despite having made his mark already, the World Cup could be his chance to announce his arrival on the big stage.

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Pedri (Spain) – Spain’s talented central midfielder first made a mark when he became the youngest player to play for them in the UEFA Euro Cup 2020 (held in 2021) at the age of 18 years, 6 months and 18 days and was also adjudged as the Young Player of the Tournament. He is also Spain’s most valuable player, with a market value of 100 million Euros.

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Bukayo Saka (England) – Twenty-one-year-old midfielder Bukayo Saka is the oldest on this list and it speaks volumes of the quality of young talent in the World Cup. He scored 11 goals in the 2021-22 and ended up as Arsenal’s highest scorer for the season. With very acute attacking skills and good ball control, Saka’s performances will be keenly watched.

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Jamal Musiala (Germany) – The 19-year-old sensation though born in Germany, was raised in England and it was ambiguous till 2021 as to which path his future career would tread. He chose Germany in the 2020 Euro cup. He played a pivotal role in his club Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga triumph in 2020-21 and is another talent with abundant potential.

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Jude Bellingham (England) – The youngest and also the second British player in this list, Bellingham has an enviable record of firsts that includes being the youngest goal scorer for Borussia Dortmund and also the youngest player to play at a European championship. The midfielder is well appreciated for his technical skills and calmness and will play a crucial role in England’s campaign.