The following list is a ranking established by us, the order of which is not necessarily fixed, but in order to try to arrange a certain hierarchy, we thought it would be interesting to draw it up this way. The criteria are very simple: potential, then the level of play since the beginning of the season.
8th: Josko Gvardiol (Croatia)
Born on 23 January 2002, Gvardiol is one of the world's most promising centre-backs. Selected by Zlatko Dalic for the World Cup with Croatia, the RB Leipzig player has made great progress since his arrival in the Bundesliga.
This season, he is not necessarily indisputable, but plays more and more week after week. Marco Rose seems to like his profile. Gvardiol is a rock, he is powerful, but he is also fast and enduring. He has above-average technique compared to other central defenders, especially because of his passing ability. All this, coupled with his high volume of play, makes him a perfect representative of the modern central defender, as much at ease with the ball as without. With Croatia, he should be able to compete for a starting place and show even more of his talent.
7th: Nuno Mendes (Portugal)
Like his Croatian counterpart, Nuno Mendes was born in 2002, on 19 June, and he occupies the defence, but the left flank. Like Hakimi at PSG, the Portuguese has not been in the limelight since the start of the season, but has been performing in the same vein as the previous one.
Fast, enduring, physically complete, he too has the profile of a modern player, who fulfils all the expectations of his position. With a large volume of play, Nuno Mendes is able to multiply both defensive and offensive runs. Technical, good passer and good crosser, the Parisian has the qualities to shine during this World Cup. Nevertheless, the competition could take some playing time away from him. If he manages to play matches, there is no doubt that he should be a great added value to Fernando Santos' team.
6th: Enzo Fernandez (Argentina)
One of the sensations of this early season in Europe, Enzo Fernandez arrived at Benfica last summer and has already established himself in the Portuguese midfield. He is a complete and versatile midfielder. Like the other players on this list, Enzo Fernandez has all the qualities of a modern midfielder. The 21-year-old, born on 17 January 2001, made his international debut in September and has only two caps to his name.
This World Cup is the perfect springboard for him to convince those who don't know him yet. He doesn't seem to be a starter under Lionel Scaloni, but he should have a role to play in the rotation. If Leo Messi and his team-mates do manage to go all the way, it would not be surprising to see Enzo Fernandez responsible, in his own way, for the side's success.
5th: Eduardo Camavinga (France)
Like others in this article, Eduardo Camavinga is no longer in the limelight. He came close to winning France Football's Kopa Trophy 2022 for the best player under the age of 21. The Real Madrid midfielder is one of the most promising talents of his generation.
After rising through the ranks and winning the Champions League last June, Camavinga, at the age of 20 is about to play in his first major international tournament and even though he has shown signs of irregularity and immaturity in the game since the start of the season, the Rennes-trained player already has a great deal of experience, the kind of experience needed to be one of the greatest international stars. Like Enzo Fernandez, the Real Madrid midfielder is not expected to be a starter, but he has a role to play in the rotation.
4th: Gavi (Spain)
He is surely one of the sensations of the 2021-2022 season and without being sparkling since the beginning of the current campaign, he is nevertheless one of the most beautiful promises of world football, Gavi is going to know his first big international competition. The 18-year-old, born on 5 August 2004, should he manage to emulate his teammate and compatriot Pedri, he should be able to make even more history in Spanish football in the coming weeks.
Although he is not a permanent fixture in Xavi's Barcelona team, Gavi still plays the vast majority of games. With La Roja, his role is likely to be relatively similar and Luis Enrique seems to like his profile. A rather complete number 8, Gavi has shown more defensive rigour this season. However, he is also very good in front of goal and could be one of Spain's supersub players in Qatar.
3rd: Rodrygo (Brazil)
Like his French team-mate at club level, Rodrygo has shown that he can be decisive in the most beautiful of ways by not being a starter. This is good news, because with Brazil, he is likely to have the same role. However, at club level he has improved and is playing more and more games. It is a sign that he is confirming his great talent.
His call-up to the World Cup by Tite is a just reward for the man born on 9 January 2001 and who is therefore the oldest in this ranking. His versatility as a winger and a striker should help Brazil's collective play. However, he is not the only one who can play in different positions and for the moment it is difficult to see him playing many minutes during the competition.
2nd: Jamal Musiala (Germany)
Jamal Musiala is perhaps one of the best players in the world at the moment and has taken on a new dimension at Bayern Munich since the start of the season. The winger, who has become the number 10 under Julian Nagelsmann, has scored 12 goals and provided eight assists in 21 matches in all competitions and could be the best young player at the 2022 World Cup.
He has the potential to be the best young player at the 2022 World Cup, even though he was born on 26 February 2003, and there is a chance that Hansi Flick will put him in the starting line-up. Musiala has the talent to do what his compatriot and team-mate Thomas Muller did at the 2010 World Cup. The 19-year-old is surprisingly mature and capable in front of goal, and there is probably only one player who is in a better position to shine even more brightly.
1st: Jude Bellingham (England)
Jude Bellingham, who is also off to a flying start in the 2022-2023 season. He too was born in 2003, on 29 June, and even though he is the youngest in this ranking, that does not prevent him from being in the top position. The midfielder is Borussia Dortmund's technical leader and in recent weeks, despite his position as a number 8, he has proved that he is capable of scoring goals. With England, others will be able to do it better, but Bellingham is a complete player.
The former Birmingham City man will be playing in his second major international tournament and unlike Euro 2020, there is a good chance he will be playing in the 2022 World Cup as a starter. With him, the Three Lions can believe in their second star.
