A plethora of young talents will debut in the World Cup 2026. The fans’ expectations are enormous to see the emergence of the new heirs of the idols who are already on the verge of retirement. The pressure on these prospects who are not older than 20 years of age is increasing.
The most notable case is that of the Spanish Lamine Yamalwho at only 18 years of age already wears the crowns of the national team with his country’s team. Euro Cup and the European Nations League and with Barcelona the title of the Spanish League.
Now the “Fury” fans demand at least the World Cup.
These demands are not only limited to Yamal. There are other young people with extraordinary talent and perhaps less fame who also have similar demands to the Barça star, who, due to the fact of being the supposed heir of Lionel Messi grabs attention.
Such are the cases of the Ecuadorian Kendry Paezwho plays as number 10 and who in his own country claims that he has a left foot like that of Diego Maradona.
Likewise, the Mexican Gilberto Morawho comes to his team with great hopes and possibilities that have rarely been seen in El Tri. He is the youngest player in the history of the Aztec team.
There are also French names Warren Zaire-Emerywho waits his turn in the Paris Saint Germainand from the Ivorian Yan Diomandewho shines in the Bundesliga German.
great pressure
Now, the pressure on prospects is enormous and those kids who show skills early are immediately coveted by scouts.
It wasn’t like that before. The young man was given more time for his training, he was not removed from his natural environment until he had reached a certain maturity. On the other hand, these days, as soon as a young person shows talent, they take him abroad and no money is spared to overcome all the barriers that arise.
When Pele debuted in the World Cup in Sweden 1958 He was only 17 years old and no one had their eyes on him. The star even made his debut only in the third and last game in the group stage of Brazil.
At no time did the man who would become the “King of Soccer” by popular acclaim have media pressure like that which awaits Yamal from all over the world.
Times have changed and in this era everything happens faster, many things are just a click away. Patience and waiting are situations that no one tolerates willingly.
That does not mean that these prospects are paper tigers and that they still have a long way to go to prove that they are authentic stars.
Yamal, for example, has shown on countless occasions that he is an outstanding player on the entire field, with a formidable capacity for imbalance, with the ability not only to score and assist but also to provide a show of the purest football to the fans.
And Mora, Páez, Diomande and Zaire-Emery are also on that path, all of them with enormous potential, although with less media power due to the fact of not playing for a club the size of the Barcelona.
Name Country Age Birth League
Gilberto Mora Mexico 17 10-14-2008 Mexico
Lamine Yamal Spain 18 07-13-2007 Spain
Kendry Páez Ecuador 19 05-04-2007 Argentina
Yan Diomande Ivory Coast 19 14-11-2006 Bundesliga
Warren Zaire-Emery France 20 08-03-2006 France
