Rajashri Venkatesh
India is extremely excited to host the biggest sporting event it has ever hosted - FIFA U-17 World Cup. Not only is it the first time hosting the event, this will also be the first time a team representing India will be playing this this event. It will also behave as a huge talent pool with some super amazing teen players who will leave you amazed at their game. Here is a small list of those amazing players to look out for this football season.
Even though he is still so young, and so small (he's presently 5'5" and weighs 128 lbs), Lainez isn't intimidated by the fact that he's a boy in a man's world. Indeed, he says that America's biggest stars have helped him adapt to life in the professional game.
After six goals for the U16s, Sancho then notched 13 in 16 matches for the U17s (as well as providing seven assists) and inspired the team to this summer’s UEFA EURO 2017 final in Croatia. England were beaten on penalties by Spain but Sancho’s five goals and assists apiece earned him the Player of the Tournament award, an accolade bestowed on superstars such as Mario Götze, Toni Kroos, Cesc Fabregas and Wayne Rooney before him.
Josh Sargent has been turning heads on the U.S. youth national team circuit for some time. Though he boosted his stock even more with his two-goal performance in the U.S. Under-20 national team's World Cup-opening draw with Ecuador, his first professional club has been decided already.
Abel Ruiz, 17, is one of those players that has to be looked after on his way to the top. He has all the qualities (not just in terms of football, but also mentally) to be a success. Barcelona are aware of his potential and, despite his youth, there's a lot of hope pinned on him.
The Kolhapur-born youngster is undisputedly one of the stars in the team with an unquenchable thirst for goals. The star striker, who can also play on the either wings, was among the 10 Indians selected by former Germany and Bayern Munich great Paul Brietner to represent the nation at the prestigious FC Bayern Munich Youth Cup in 2014.
It may be early days but it seems Ghana have unearthed another scoring sensation with the stellar display of Eric Ayiah so far at the Total U-17 African Cup of Nations Gabon 2017. Ayiah has scored an impressive five goals in two matches after grabbing a hat trick in Black Starlets’ 4-0 win against Cameroon last Sunday as well as a brace in the 5-0 defeat of Gabon on Wednesday.
Gouiri has been on everyone's radar after scoring nine goals in five games in the recently-concluded Euros. The Olympique Lyonnais striker has proved his worth by scoring in every match he has played in — three goals in two games against Hungary, a double against Scotland, a hat-trick against the Faroe Islands, not to forget a sweet left-footed strike against eventual champions Spain in the quarter-finals.
17-year-old Arp, who became the first Bundesliga player to be born after 2000, is one the most talked about young talents in Germany. He scored two hat-tricks in UEFA European Under-17 Championship in May and the team will revolve around him to win the title.
Torres was the top-scorer in the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championships and his team will be highly dependent on him in this tournament. The two times FIFA U17 Champions Mexico are the hot favourites in Group F and they would be looking to win their third title along with Brazil, Ghana and France.
The 16-year-old shot into prominence at Flamengo and formed a deadly pair up front with Vinicius. But it was the Brazilian U-17 team that reaped the benefits of the combo. While Vinicius pumped in seven goals to become the top scorer in the South American U-17 Football Championship, Lincoln emerged second with five goals.
