The heroes of Qatar 2022, according to Juan Pablo Varsky 1:31
(CNN) --
When young rising stars like Pelé, in 1958;
Michael Owen, in 1998, or Kilian Mbappé himself in 2018 played their first soccer World Cups, they had one characteristic in common: they were, each at their time, some of the youngest soccer players in the World Cups of those years.
Now, a new generation of new players could shine in Qatar 2022, which will be the ideal window to become international players and shine in one of the most important events in international football.
These are some of the youngest players who will be at the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Youssoufa Moukoko, Germany — 17 years old
Dortmund's Youssoufa Moukoko scores his team's third goal during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and VfL Bochum 1848 at Signal Iduna Park on November 5, 2022 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
When the FIFA World Cup kicks off on November 20, Youssoufa Moukoko will celebrate his 18th birthday in Qatar.
The center forward, who was born in Cameroon, was called up at just 17 years old to be part of the German team in FIFA's top competition.
Moukoko began his football career at the age of 12 with the youth club FC St. Pauli Youth and has been in the youth ranks of Borussia Dortmund since the 2017 season until now.
He has played 14 Bundesliga games and 6 Champions League games, where he has scored five goals.
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Gavi, Spain — 18 years old
Gavi of Spain during the UEFA Nations League Group 2 match between Spain and Switzerland at La Romareda on September 24, 2022 in Zaragoza, Spain. (Credit: Alex Caparrós/Getty Images)
The Spanish midfielder, who currently plays for Barcelona, is perhaps one of the youngest to come to Qatar to make his FIFA World Cup debut.
If he makes his debut in Qatar, he will surpass Cesc Fábregas and become the youngest player to represent Spain in the World Cup.
Gavi already has 12 games accumulated with the Spanish senior team, has scored one goal, and is the current winner of the Kopa Ballon d'Or Award for best young player.
"With extrasensory vision, impeccable control, an exorbitant football IQ and exceptional passing and dribbling, he is an attacking dream, but the ferocious tackler also amazes with his defensive performance," FIFA says of the Spanish midfielder.
In October 2021, at just 17 years old, the Spaniard was the youngest player to participate in the Clásico in 80 years, according to TransferMarkt figures.
In February 2022, he became the second youngest player to score in La Liga, against Atlético Madrid.
Garang Kuol, Australia — 18 years old
Garang Kuol of the Socceroos takes a break during the international friendly match between the All Whites of New Zealand and the Socceroos of Australia at Eden Park on September 25, 2022 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Garang Kuol, 18, was selected as one of Australia's Qatar 2022 squad forwards.
Kuol, who will join Newcastle United in January, has only one cap for Australia and recently made his senior debut: on September 25, 2022, when he made his 17-minute debut against New Zealand .
The player was born in Khartoum, the capital of South Sudan, in September 2004. He began his professional life at the Goulburn Valley Suns in Victoria in Australia and will now come to English football after the World Cup.
Issahaku Fatawu, Ghana — 18 years old
Abdul Fatawu Issahaku of Ghana shoots on goal during the international friendly match between Chile and Ghana at Panasonic Stadium Suita on June 14, 2022 in Suita, Osaka, Japan. (Credit: Kenta Harada/Getty Images)
Another striker to watch will be the youngster Issahaku Fatawu, who currently plays for Sporting CP in Portugal.
He will now come to Qatar 2022 with the hope of debuting in the World Cup.
Fatawu made his debut for the Ghana senior team at the age of 17, and has already accumulated 13 caps and one goal.
With the under 20 team he accumulated 6 games and two goals, according to TransferMarkt.
Here's a fun fact about Fatawu: He has more caps for Ghana than club level appearances at this point in his career, according to FIFA.
The striker earned the trust of coach Otto Addo and was in the starting lineup for two play-off games against Nigeria at the World Cup.
In addition, FIFA highlights the six goals in the first half of the season with Dreams FC in the Ghana Premiere League, with 17 goals.
He then went to Sporting de Portugal where he made his debut in the under-23 team.
"Since then, he has been in the squad for all the Portuguese League and Champions League matches and has already made his first appearances as a substitute, mainly on the right wing," says FIFA.
Jude Bellingham, England — 18 years old
Bellingham looks on take part in Borussia Dortmund's Bundesliga match against FC Bayern München at Allianz Arena on April 23, 2022 in Munich, Germany.
Jude Bellingham is another rising star who can shine in Qatar.
The Englishman has had a meteoric rise in his short career, which he began at the age of 13 playing in the minor divisions of the England soccer team.
In 2020 he made his debut at just 17 years old in the senior team, with which he added, before the World Cup, 17 games, according to TransferMarkt figures.
The central midfield currently plays for Bundesliga side Borusia Dortmund, following spells at Birmingham in England.
Bellingham became the second-youngest player to appear at Euro 2020 when he represented England in their match against Croatia, during the tournament's group stage, according to UEFA's official website.
The team triumphantly reached the final of the prestigious European tournament, after winning a series of exciting matches against favorites Denmark and Germany.
Bellingham was born and raised in Stourbridge, England and joined Birmingham City FC's academy at age seven, according to the club's website.
His parents, Denise Bellingham and Mark Bellingham, took him to training about five times a week, but it was only when he was selected for the England Under-15 squad that they realized the potential he had.
Throughout his meteoric rise on the world stage, Bellingham has remained confident and collected, something he says would not be possible without the support of his family, especially his mother.
Jamal Musiala, Germany — 19 years old
This 19-year-old has become one of the most exciting talents in Europe in recent years.
The attacking midfielder had a breakout season in 2021/22, scoring five goals in 29 appearances for Bayern Munich and making his senior debut for Germany in March 2021. He has now made 17 appearances for the German national team.
And beware, he also played for the under 21 team with the England national team for years, as it was there that he had his football education.
Having moved away from Germany as a youth, Musiala went through the academy at Chelsea while attending Whitgift, an independent school in south London that has a track record of helping develop players who have become outstanding professionals, particularly the international England Callum Hudson-Odoi and former Nigeria international Victor Moses.
Then moving on to German football, aged just 17, he became Bayern's youngest-ever goalscorer in the Champions League early last season and is very comfortable playing at home alongside world-class talent. like Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller.
Now he was called up by Hansi Flick for Qatar 2022.
Other young talents that will participate:
Zeno Debast — Belgium — 19 years
Pedri, Spain — 19 years old
Eduardo Camavinga, France — 20 years old.
Yunus Musah, United States — 19 years old.
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The oldest players in Qatar 2022
On the other hand, there are the older players who will take their experience to the courts and probably look for their last chance to win the World Cup.
Among the oldest stars that we will see in this World Cup are the Portuguese Pepe, Dani Alves, from Brazil, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who is not having a good time at Manchester United.
Alfredo Talavera, Mexico — 40 years
FC Juarez goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera during the first round match between Chivas and FC Juarez as part of the 2022 Liga MX Apertura Tournament at Akron Stadium on July 2, 2022 in Zapopan, Mexico. (Credit: Refugio Ruiz/Getty Images)
The Mexican goalkeeper is perhaps the oldest player to go to Qatar 2022. The FC Juárez goalkeeper was chosen by Gerardo el 'Tata' Marino as part of Mexico's roster to go to the World Cup.
With the Mexican senior team, Talavera has accumulated 40 games, of which he has played, above all, international friendlies and guarded the Mexican goal in the 2013 Gold Cup, with 11 games.
Talavera was part of Mexico's starting 11 against Iraq on November 9 before Mexico's World Cup debut.
The match was 4-0 in favor of Mexico.
Atiba Hutchinson, Canada — 39 years old
Alfredo Mejia (R) of Honduras and Atiba Hutchinson of Canada (in red) vie for the ball during their Concacaf qualifying match for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, on May 27. January 2022. (Wendell ESCOTO / AFP)
Central defender Atiba Hutchinson will lead the Canadian team to that country's first World Cup in 36 years, which they qualified for in March this year after defeating Jamaica 4-0, leading the CONCACAF standings.
Hutchinson is the player who has had the most appearances with the Canadian soccer team, with 97 international games, making his first national team debut in 2003 at the age of 19.
"The sky is the limit. I think we will keep getting better and better and we will keep getting better," said Hutchinson, the current player for Besiktas JK in the Turkish League, after qualifying for Qatar 2022.
“We're going to be ready to go to the World Cup and really put ourselves on the map,” added Hutchinson.
“We are very confident and we believe we can do well.”
And alongside the veteran player, for whom this may be his last World Cup, are promising youngsters like Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David and Tajón Buchanan, all of whom play club football in Europe.
Pepe, Portugal — 39 years
Pepe, Portuguese defender of FC Porto, lifts the Cándido de Oliveira trophy after the victory in the Cándido de Oliveira de Portugal Super Cup final against CD Tondela at the municipal stadium in Aveiro, on July 30, 2022. (Credit: MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images)
Qatar 2022 will be the fourth world cup for the Portuguese central defender, after passing through South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018. He is one of the oldest on the team, but also one of the most experienced, with 128 international appearances with the national team, among which he has played friendly matches, qualifying for the World Cup, as well as games in the Euro Cup and even the Confederations Cup with the Portuguese wine red wine.
The Portuguese, who was born in Maceió, Brazil, made his Portugal debut in 2007 at the age of 24 under the command of Luiz Felipe Scolari.
He currently plays for Porto in the Portuguese first division, a team with which he has a contract until 2023.
Eiji Kawishima, Japan — 39 years old
Eiji Kawashima appears during a Kirin Cup soccer match between Japan and Ghana at Noevir Stadium in Kobe on June 10, 2022. (Charly TRIBALLEAU/AFP)
Kawishima is another veteran who will come to Qatar to contribute his World Cup experience.
The 2022 will be his fourth World Cup after participating in South Africa, Brazil and Russia.
With Kawashima, who originally came on as a replacement for starter Seigo Narazaki, Japan put together outstanding performances at South Africa 2010 and even reached the round of 16 at the World Cup that year, the first time this team has reached the second round in a World Cup. World Cup, according to FIFA.
The goalkeeper took advantage of the confidence of coach Takeshi Okada and had a good performance in the group stage in which Japan qualified for the round of 16 in a close group with the Netherlands, Denmark and Cameroon.
In the round of 16, the Japanese team lost to Paraguay, after a close 120 minute match that led them to a penalty shootout, and the South American team won 5-3.
Dani Alves, Brazil — 39 years
Dani Alves of Brazil heads the ball during the international friendly soccer match between Japan and Brazil at the National Stadium in Tokyo on June 6, 2022. (Photo by Charly TRIBALLEAU/AFP) (Credit: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
One of the Brazil stars that is looking to lift the World Cup for the first time with the almighty 'canarinha' is Dani Alves, a veteran of European football who reaches his third World Cup after going through South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014. (In 2018 he did not called up due to injury).
However, with a brilliant record, Alves, who is the most decorated footballer in history, hopes to lead his team to the World Cup final to claim the sixth World Cup.
The Brazilian, who in 2019 was named the best player of the 2019 Copa América and was key for Brazil to lift the championship for the ninth time, will join other stars called up by Tite such as Alisson, Thiago Silva (another of Brazil's veterans), Neymar Jr. and rising stars like Antony, Rodrygo and Vinícius Jr.
Other older players in Qatar 2022 are:
Remko Pasveer, The Netherlands — 39 years old.
Aymen Balbouli, Tunisia — 38 years old.
Thiago Silva, Brazil — 38 years old.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal — 37 years
Danny Vukovic, Australia — 37 years old.
Steve Mandanda, France — 37 years
Guillermo Ochoa, Mexico — 37 years old
Luka Modric, Croatia, — 37 years old
World Cup Qatar 2022