Ten Young Players to Watch at the Club World Cup including Desire Doue and Franco Mastantuono

The football world is turning its attention this month to the FIFA Club World Cup, which will be held in the United States from June 14 to July 13. The tournament is not only a novelty for viewers but also an important showcase for young talents, who gather from different parts of the world and may catch the eye of major clubs in search of the next star.

One such prospect is Estevao from Palmeiras. The fact is, the 18-year-old forward has already established himself as one of Brazil's top stars and will leave Alviverde to join Chelsea after the World Cup.

Beyond the obvious name from Palmeiras, Sports Mole has highlighted other rising gems aged 20 or under.

The Club World Cup Will Feature Prospects Looking to Make Their Mark

1. Desire Doue – PSG

Forward Desire Doue caught the attention of Paris Saint-Germain with his impressive performances at Rennes, the club that developed him. He moved to the French capital last August, and the transition to a big club could not have gone better. Highly skilled, he gave opposing defenders headaches throughout the season.

At 20, he played a key role in winning the 2024/25 French Championship and was one of the standout performers in PSG’s historic Champions League title run.

Granted, Doue is already quite well-known, especially after his stellar performance in the Champions League final. But he’s still an under-20 who deserves recognition as a rising star.

2. Franco Mastantuono – River Plate

River Plate also has a gem to watch closely at the World Cup. Franco Mastantuono, 17, is an attacking midfielder and is already all but set to join Real Madrid.

He stands out for his dribbling and cutting in from the right, as well as his strong finishing. Mastantuono has also received praise from coach Marcelo Gallardo for his “flashes of brilliance.” He already has 10 goals and seven assists in 60 appearances for the first team.

3. Julien Duranville – Borussia Dortmund

Julien Duranville is another young talent in the tournament worth keeping an eye on. The 19-year-old Belgian forward mainly plays on the left wing and featured in just 12 Bundesliga matches this season, but it’s only the beginning.

Duranville has already shown at the international level the speed, dribbling, and ball control that make him a promising prospect in German football.

4. Kenan Yildiz – Juventus

The left side of the attack has another representative on this list. Kenan Yildiz shone in Juve’s “Next Gen” after leaving Bayern Munich’s youth ranks and has reached a high level.

The Turkish prospect is versatile and can play as a winger or attacking midfielder, boasting excellent vision. In fact, this is one of his most notable attributes and has led to comparisons with Mesut Ozil in Europe.

5. Martim Fernandes – Porto

Young talents are not limited to the attack—far from it. Right-back Martim Fernandes, 19, is a rising name in defence and proved it over 34 games for Porto this season.

The new generation of Portuguese football promises an exciting future, and this young defender is part of that list.

He has six assists in the Portuguese league, 14 big chances created, and an 82% passing accuracy, according to Sofascore. Defensively, he averages 1.0 tackles and 2.0 balls recovered per game.

6. Nico O'Reilly – Manchester City

Nico O'Reilly stood out for Manchester City this season, especially in FA Cup matches, which elevated him to the status of “joker” for Pep Guardiola. At 20, the midfielder lives up to the label and can also play as a left-back or defensive midfielder.

His main strengths include: excellent vision, creativity, and ball control. Nico also stands out for his versatility, able to play in different areas of the pitch.

The young Englishman split his time between the senior and junior squads this cycle, scoring five goals and providing two assists in 19 first-team appearances. “He came up from the youth ranks and is helping us a lot. I’m more than grateful. He’s making the most of his opportunity,” Guardiola told BBC Sport in April.

7. Reed Baker-Whiting – Seattle Sounders

American soccer is represented here by Reed Baker-Whiting of the Seattle Sounders. The newspaper The Guardian was among the first to put the midfielder in the spotlight, naming him one of the sport’s top prospects in 2022.

Baker-Whiting was 17 at the time and has continued to rise, showing adaptability as a key strength by also playing at left-back or on the right. His progress has been praised by coach Brian Schmetzer.

8. Rodrigo Mora – Porto

One of the prodigies of Portugal’s new generation, Rodrigo Mora, 18, is an attacking midfielder for Porto and tipped as a future national team star. The youngster came up through the Dragons’ ranks and was promoted to the first team last July, marking his debut professional season with plenty to be proud of.

He has 10 goals and four assists in 23 Portuguese league matches, with performances that highlight his ability to break lines, vision, and tactical awareness. These qualities earned him the Revelation of the Year award from the country’s Sports Journalists Association (CNID).

9. Siyabonga Mabena – Mamelodi Sundowns

Another 18-year-old gem at this Club World Cup is Siyabonga Mabena of Mamelodi Sundowns. The South African forward gained more exposure when he was promoted to the senior team at just 16, in March 2023. At the time, the team was managed by Rulani Mokwena, who highlighted the youngster’s talent.

In 2022-23, he played four matches and created a big chance, while in the following season he featured in nine games and scored once. His appearances dropped to two in the current campaign, but he’s certainly one of the prospects who could shine in the United States between June and July this year.

10. Tyrique George – Chelsea

English prospect Tyrique George rounds out this list. At 19, the Chelsea forward split his time between the senior and junior squads in 2024-25 and played an active role in the team’s Conference League title run, featuring in 12 matches and contributing to three goals.

In a squad packed with options, the youngster managed to carve out a spot, making eight Premier League appearances, seven as a substitute. One of those games was against Manchester United, where his performance impressed coach Enzo Maresca. “Very good, very good. Bravo,” said the coach in a press conference after the derby.

This article was originally published on Trivela.

Written by
Matt Law