Wonderkids in the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Thirty-two teams. Eight hundred thirty-two players. Twenty-nine days. It’s finally time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It’s the moment players have waited for their whole lives. In each World Cup, there are certain young stars who break out and perform at a high level for their nations. Oftentimes, these players can make the difference in advancing through rounds of the tournament. Each team has its fair share of wonderkids, who dazzle the fans with their creativity and ingenuity. Here are some talented young players to look out for in this edition of the tournament:

Jude Bellingham (19 years old, England)

It’s no surprise that Borussia Dortmund’s young star Jude Bellingham makes the list. As soon as he earned a move from Birmingham City to Borussia Dortmund in 2020, his development has been off the charts. The English midfielder is the definition of balanced and has been stellar throughout this season. At just 19 years old, he has contributed to nine goals and three assists this season in a box-to-box midfield role. Bellingham is going to be pivotal for England’s midfield this tournament, with an average of 1.4 interceptions, 3.2 tackles, and 0.3 dribbles past him per game.

It’s been known for some time now that English manager Gareth Southgate prefers to play a double pivot in midfield with a slightly attacking midfielder and a defensive anchorman. Usually, a pivot of Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips would be in Southgate’s setup. However, due to Phillips’s lack of match fitness, it is unlikely that we will see the duo feature together in midfield. This situation leaves Jordan Henderson and Bellingham as the only two options to fit that role in Southgate’s team, but with Liverpool’s shaky form and Bellingham’s stellar performances, it’s obvious that Southgate would choose the latter. On paper, a midfield pivot of Rice and Bellingham looks exquisite. With Rice playing a deeper role and providing cover for the defense, Bellingham has the freedom to attack when needed, which is exactly the type of role he thrives in. The young star is going to flourish this World Cup, so don’t be surprised if he is a crucial part of England’s success.

Jamal Musiala (19 years old, Germany)

In many people’s eyes, Germany is a dark horse for this year’s World Cup, despite their defeat to Japan. Regardless of what happens, Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala is destined for success in that team. Since he became Bayern’s youngest ever Bundesliga debutant at 17 years of age, he has been absolutely incredible for them. Deemed by many as a “saucy” player, the 19-year-old has delivered 12 goals and 10 assists across 22 matches this season. In addition, as attacker Thomas Müller gets older, Germany may look to ease Musiala into that CAM spot, just as Bayern is doing. This season, Musiala has been averaging 1.6 dribbles per game, which is almost a 50 percent conversion rate. Furthermore, out of his nine goals, six came with his right foot, while three came with his left foot. Not only does this split prove his attacking impetus, but it also proves that he is able to use both feet to dribble out of tricky situations and create magic.

Musiala faces quite a lot of competition within the squad, but based on his current form, he is one of the first names in that team sheet. İlkay Gündoğan, Julian Brandt, and Kai Havertz are notable names who might provide competition for Musiala. However, as we’ve seen with manager Hansi Flick’s previous team selection, he prefers to deploy Gündoğan in a deeper role and Havertz as a number nine in attack for Germany, leaving the attacking midfield spot for Musiala. With Germany looking to go far in this tournament, it is vital that they break their opponents down in various ways, and Musiala is going to do just that. He provides a different sort of outlet for the team, so don’t be shocked with his stellar performances in this World Cup.

Rodrygo Silva de Goes (21 years old, Brazil)

For many, Brazil is a favorite for this World Cup. In attack, it has the likes of Neymar da Silva Santos Jr., Vinícius José Paixão de Oliveira Jr., Gabriel Martinelli, Antony Matheus dos Santos, and Raphinha Dias Belloli. However, a wonderkid who is often underlooked in the Brazil squad is Rodrygo Silva de Goes. At 21 years of age, he has produced magic during moments that will go down in Real Madrid history, and he brings consistency to the table. Take, for example, his brace in Madrid’s second leg against Manchester City in the Champions League semifinals last season, or his performance in Madrid’s second leg against Paris Saint-Germain in the Round of 16. Since he started his career in Santos in Brazil, his development has increased exponentially. This season, he has notched seven goals and five assists in 19 appearances for Madrid, many games of which he came on from the bench. The ability to come on as a substitute and make an impact on the match is an excellent quality to have for such a young player, and it is understated how important it can be for Brazil during this World Cup.

For Tite’s Brazil, selecting a starting 11 comes down to trust at the end of the day. However, player form will also be taken into consideration, since Brazil is such a strong contender and fosters a strong squad. Rodrygo has created 1.8 successful dribbles a game (putting his success rate at 50 percent), six big chances total, and 1.6 key passes per game this campaign. It’s clear for many fans that his decisiveness and quality in the final third are his best trait. Teams playing against Brazil will most likely look to hit the team on the counter attack, which means that it might be hard to stop the opposition’s fast breaks. This situation would be the perfect time to bring on a tricky winger to defend like Rodrygo, who pounces on any opportunity he is given through his pivotal quality in attack. Eventually, he may even be a starter for Tite over Antony and Raphinha. Look out for Rodrygo this tournament, as he will thrive in intense games that need the deadlock to be broken.

With the World Cup already in action, be sure to closely look at the performances of these three individuals. In the end, these players could be the difference between qualifying for the knockout rounds, advancing from the quarterfinals, and even winning the World Cup. The opportunity is there for them to take, and it’s clear that each one of them will flourish under his current setup in their respective national teams.