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The 2026 World Cup is just a year away and attention is already turning to those stars who will light up the first 48-team tournament.
We are all familiar with names like Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, and Ousmane Dembele, and understand that they are players to keep an eye on. But who are the lesser-known talents on the rise that you should really be aware of?
Here, we’ve cast our eye over the best young talents ready to break through for their country in North America next summer.
Rodrigo Mora, Portugal
Club: Porto Position: Attacking midfielder Age: 18
When questioned about his decision to invite the young prodigy Rodrigo Mora to the squad for this month’s Nations League finals, Roberto Martinez remarked: ‘I believe he is poised to define a new era in Portuguese football.’
Standing at 5ft 6in, Mora, who just turned 18, possesses all the qualities needed to excel on a grand stage. His incredible close control, seamless one-touch passing, knack for finding space, and remarkable vision, all complemented by a low center of gravity, make him a standout.
Rodrigo Mora was called into the Portugal senior squad for their victorious Nations League campaign
The 5ft 6in Mora, who turned 18 last month, has all the attributes to shine on the big stage
He was named player of the tournament in last year’s Under 17s Euros and went on to score 10 goals and provide four assists in the Portuguese league this season from just 16 starts.
He is yet to make his debut for the senior team but it will not be far away. Portugal face Hungary, Ireland and Armenia in their qualifying group, and as Nations League winners, have already guaranteed a minimum of a play-off for the World Cup.
As Porto coach Martin Anselmi said after Mora scored twice against Famalicao: ‘Enjoy him while you can.’
Nico Paz, Argentina
Club: Como Position: Attacking midfielder Age: 20
When Lionel Messi says you ‘understand the game perfectly’, you probably have what it takes to be a star. Paz said he was too starstruck to speak to Messi when he made his Argentina debut in October but still managed to a lay on an assist for the all-time great in a 6-0 thrashing of Bolivia.
Real Madrid academy graduate Paz joined Como last summer for just £5million and learned under another midfield great in Cesc Fabregas, the Serie A side’s manager.
Like Messi, Paz has a wand of a left foot and a balance on the ball that makes him incredibly difficult to stop when he attacks a defender one-on-one.
Paz completed more dribbles than any other player in Serie A while Lamine Yamal was the only player under the age of 20 to provide more assists in Europe’s big five leagues. He was named Serie A’s Under-23 player of the year.
Argentina cruised through qualifying as the first South American team (of a likely seven, from just 10 countries vying for a place) to reach the World Cup.
When Lionel Messi says you ‘understand the game perfectly’ as he did of Nico Paz, you probably have what it takes to be a star
He came through the Real Madrid youth academy, scoring for the first team against Napoli in the Champions League in November 2023
Rayan Cherki, France
Club: Manchester City Position: Winger, attacking midfielder Age: 21
We’re going to know a lot more about Cherki by the time the World Cup comes around now that he has joined Manchester City from Lyon.
Cherki has been on Pep Guardiola’s radar for a while but it’s been a running joke inside the Lyon camp that it’s taken so long for European clubs to spot one of the game’s geniuses.
His incredible goal during France’s 5-4 defeat by Spain on Thursday night helped raise the profile, but not his transfer fee, just £34m for a huge talent – though concerns raised by his coaches over his attitude, and Lyon’s weak financial position, may have dropped the price.
The questions about his attitude and application can often be the case with such mercurial talents, but 12 goals and 20 assists in all competitions prompted Guardiola to make his move.
Of his 44 shots in Ligue 1, 22 came with his left and 22 with his right. Talk about two-footed.
France are the bookies’ favourites to lift a third World Cup crown next summer, and face Ukraine, Iceland and Azerbaijan in qualifying. They too have secured a minimum of a play-off through their Nations League performance.
We’re going to know a lot more about Rayan Cherki by the time the World Cup comes around now that he is set to join Manchester City
The questions about his attitude and application can often be the case with mercurial talents, but 12 goals and 20 assists in all competitions prompted Pep Guardiola to make his move
Andrey Santos, Brazil
Club: Chelsea Position: Central midfielder Age: 21
When we think of Brazilian wonder kids, we usually picture those little magicians doing 100 stepovers, tricks and flicks to bamboozle every defender in their path.
That’s not what makes Andrey Santos, who only turned 21 last month, special. Santos is a serial, tenacious blood-and-thunder ball-winner.
No other Under 21 midfielder made as many combined tackles and interceptions in Europe’s big five leagues. He’s a strong runner and ball-striker, too, with 10 goals to his name in Ligue 1 this season.
Carlo Ancelotti, the new Brazil boss, recently called Santos a ‘complete midfielder’ – and he’s worked with a few. Fans will likely get a glimpse at him when he features for Chelsea at the Club World Cup.
And as he told Mail Sport last month, he’s desperate to make an impression.
Brazil have barely got going in World Cup qualification – hence the sacking of Dorival Junior to make way for Ancelotti, the Selecao’s first foreign boss – but racking up just 22 points from 15 qualifiers is still enough to be comfortable in the expanded 48-team format, where the top six South American sides qualify.
Chelsea youngster Andrey Santos is a serial, tenacious blood-and-thunder ball-winner
Carlo Ancelotti, the new Brazil boss, recently called Santos a ‘complete midfielder’ – and he’s worked with a few
Antonio Nusa, Norway
Club: RB Leipzig Position: Winger Age: 20
Nusa showed everyone just what he was capable of with a goal and an assist in his country’s 3-0 demolition of Italy in World Cup qualification last week.
He picked up the ball on the left wing, cut inside past two Italy defenders and, a few stepovers later, had the back of the net bulging. No wonder one talent scout dubbed him the ‘Norwegian Mbappe’.
It has helped Norway to make the fastest start to World Cup qualifying of any European team, winning all four matches so far to top a group with the slumping Italians, Israel, Estonia and Moldova. Erling Haaland’s first international tournament finally looks to be on the horizon.
Nusa had five goals and seven assists to his name for RB Leipzig before injury curtailed the back end of his season.
He worked with coach Gaute Larsen at Norwegian club Stabaek, who had helped to develop countryman Haaland at Bryne. Norwegian fans will hope the two can combine to great effect next summer.
Antonio Nusa showed everyone just what he was capable of with a goal and an assist in his country’s 3-0 demolition of Italy in World Cup qualification last week
He had five goals and seven assists to his name for RB Leipzig before injury curtailed the back end of his season
Mika Biereth, Denmark
Club: Monaco Position: Striker Age: 22
For a while, it might have been England for whom lethal finisher Mika Biereth lit up the World Cup.
The former Arsenal striker, born in London to a Bosnian mum and German-Danish dad and who came through the Fulham academy, could have represented the Three Lions (or Germany) but decided in April to commit his future to Denmark, who he had represented at junior level.
He has yet to find the net in three appearances for Denmark, having made his debut in March, and will go up against Greece, Scotland and Belarus in qualifying.
Biereth left the Gunners without making a senior appearance, joining Sturm Graz for £4m, and went on to fire them to their first Austrian title in 13 years with 23 goals in 47 appearances in all competitions.
Biereth joined Monaco in January where he scored 13 goals in 16 league starts, including three hat-tricks.
He describes himself as an ‘old-school striker’, and admits that a lot of his goals ‘aren’t the prettiest – not goals you’ll see in YouTube video highlights’.
But he doesn’t care. And neither does his mentor, Arsenal legend Ian Wright. ‘He always had that instinct,’ said Wright.
‘He reminded me of myself with his obsession for scoring goals. He doesn’t care how they go in, he just wants to score.’
And he does. A lot.
For a while, it may have been England for whom lethal finisher Mika Biereth lit up the World Cup
He has yet to find the net in three appearances for Denmark, having made his debut in March
Pau Cubarsi, Spain
Club: Barcelona Position: Central defender Age: 18
While everyone talks about Barcelona team-mate Yamal as the club’s teenage sensation, 18-year-old Pau Cubarsi goes about his business at the heart of defence.
Cubarsi featured in 35 of Barcelona’s 38 league games en route to the La Liga title and shows maturity and game-reading ability way beyond his years.
He’s key to Barcelona’s build-up play, completing more passes than anyone else in La Liga – more even than metronomic Spain team-mate Pedri – while also carrying the ball up the pitch regularly.
Pau Cubarsi featured in 35 of Barcelona’s 38 league games en route to the La Liga title and shows maturity and game-reading ability way beyond his years
It’s no surprise that defender Cubarsi is already being touted as a future Barcelona captain
It’s no surprise he’s already being touted as a future Barcelona captain. He has six caps already and while he didn’t make the Euro 2024 squad, after this breakout campaign and with another season of experience under his belt he’ll be ready to take the World Cup stage by storm.
Spain’s path to the States runs through Turkey, Georgia and Belarus, with the European champions among the favourites to lift their second World Cup.
Francesco Camarda, Italy
Club: AC Milan Position: Striker Age: 17
Next year’s World Cup might come a little too early for 17-year-old AC Milan striker Camarda, but there are a few reasons that make him worthy of an outside bet.
Firstly, former Italy coach Luciano Spalletti described Camarda as the ‘future of Italian football’.
Secondly, his goalscoring record for Milan at youth level was so good it sounds made up, with claims he scored 485 goals in 89 games. He became Serie A’s youngest ever player when he made his debut aged just 15 in 2023.
Thirdly, and most importantly, Italy have been desperate for a ruthless reliable striker for years. However, it is the desperate state of the national team that might end up being his biggest barrier to playing in next summer’s showpiece. Italy have not played a World Cup knockout match in Camarda’s lifetime, dating back to glory in Berlin in 2006, and have not even qualified for a finals since 2014.
Next year’s World Cup might come a little too early for 17-year-old AC Milan striker Francesco Camarda, but there are a few reasons that make him worthy of an outside bet
His goalscoring record for Milan at youth level was so good it sounds made up, with claims he scored 485 goals in 89 games
They already face a daunting task in qualification this time around. The 3-0 defeat in Norway puts them nine points behind the Group I leaders, albeit with two games in hand and second place gaining a play-off.
Camarda knows what it takes to score in the big games on the international stage, netting twice in the final of last year’s triumphant Under 17 Euros.
He thought he’d become the youngest ever goalscorer in the Champions League when he came on against Club Brugge in 2024… only to have his effort ruled out for offside.
He’ll take the mantle one day, whether it’s in time for next year’s World Cup or whether Italian football has to wait a little longer.
Jorrel Hato, Netherlands
Club: Ajax Position: Left back, centre back Age: 19
Jorrel Hato is the next rising star from one of the most famous football academies
His composure on the ball as well as his physical stature has helped him develop into one of the best teenage talents in the world
The next rising star from one of the most famous football academies. Not yet beyond his teenage years and already Jorrel Hato has racked up more than 100 games for Ajax, featuring all across the back line, and even captained the club.
His composure on the ball as well as his physical stature has helped him develop into one of the best teenage talents in the world. He’s already been linked with Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.
Hato has settled into a role at left back for Ajax this season but the feeling is he will at some point establish himself as a world-beating centre back alongside another in Virgil van Dijk.
The Dutch, for whom Hato has six caps under his belt, must overcome Poland in their qualifying group, as well as Finland, Lithuania and Malta.
Estevao, Brazil
Club: Palmeiras, then Chelsea Position: Attacking midfielder, winger Age: 18
Estevao will join Chelsea this summer once his Club World Cup duties with Palmeiras are complete
The hype surrounding Brazilian wonderkid Estevao has been huge for a while
Called a ‘genius’ by Neymar. Nicknamed ‘Messinho’, meaning ‘Little Messi’. The hype surrounding Estevao has been huge for a while. It’ll likely get even bigger now he’s set to his long-awaited, pre-agreed move to Chelsea, once his Club World Cup duties with Palmeiras are complete.
Ancelotti handed Estevao his full international debut for the Italian’s first game in charge earlier this month, his fifth cap in all, and admitted: ‘I see what everyone sees: a player with extraordinary, special talent.’
A stunning dribbler and fine goalscorer, Estevao bagged 13 goals – many of them screamers – in his first full season in the Brazilian leagues, becoming the first player to combine for 30 goals and assists before they turned 18 since Neymar, and added another 11 in all competitions this term.
Estevao, snapped up by Nike at the age of 10, isn’t too keen on the Messi nickname, though, declaring: ‘Me being Estevao is very good.’
