Age group World Cups have been the breeding ground for many football stars. With just five days to go for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in India, Kashinath Bhattacharjee takes a look at footballers who have been graduates of the U-17 and U-20 global events
Diego Maradona
Tournament he first excelled in:
1979 FIFA World Youth Championship
Diego Armando Maradona left the national camp in an uncontrollable state of mind in 1978. Immediately after the 1978 World Cup, coach Luis Cesar Menotti took over the U-20 squad and made Maradona the captain. The youth team won the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship in Japan. Maradona received the Golden Ball award for his stupendous six goals. He led Argentina to their first World Youth Title beating the defending champions Soviet Union 3-1 in the final.
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Ronaldinho
Tournament he first excelled in:
1997 FIFA U-17 World Cup
The ebony-hued Ronaldinho with an infectious smile remains the only footballer in the history of FIFA to have won both the U-17 and the senior World Cup for Brazil. Ronaldinho used to play for Gremio before the U-17 World Cup in Egypt. His two strikes, both from the spot, earned him the ‘Bronze Ball’ while Brazil became the champions for the first time in this age-group World Cup, defeating Ghana in the final.
Lionel Messi
Tournament he first excelled in:
2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup
Lionel Messi scored five goals in four knockout matches of the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Argentina stormed into the world football scene with his brace in the final against Nigeria. Argentina are the most successful nation in the U-20 World Cup with six titles. Messi helped them to win their fifth for which he was awarded both the Golden Shoe and the Golden Ball awards.
Francesco Totti
Tournament he first excelled in:
1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup
It almost went unnoticed that a 16-year old Francesco Totti scored a wonder-goal in the first match of his U-17 World Cup for Italy in 1993 in Japan. Italy got only a point from a 0-0 draw against Japan and lost 1-2 to Mexico and 0-4 to Ghana. Totti’s pile-driver from 30 yards was the equaliser versus Mexico. That strike remained the only goal Italy scored in the tournament.
Nwankwo Kanu
Tournament he first excelled in:
1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup
Nwankwo Kanu started the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Japan with a hat-trick against Canada. In the other two group league matches, he added another two, notably the one against Argentina. Although he could not score in the semi-final and final, with five goals from six matches, he was the second highest goal-scorer in the tournament for Nigeria. The World Cup-winning performance opened the European window for him. He joined Ajax Amsterdam and won a UEFA Champions League medal in 1995.
Tony Kroos
Tournament he first excelled in:
2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup
Germany did not win the 2017 U-17 World Cup in South Korea, but Tony Kroos, with his sparkling performances, won the best footballer of the tournament award with five goals. Kross, who now plays for Real Madrid, was leading the German U-17 side then. Germany has never won the U-17 World Cup, but came close when Kross led the side in the 2007 edition. They were beaten in the semi-final to eventual champions, Ghana. Kroos was a product of the Bayern Munich system and was included automatically in the senior squad after his performances in South Korea.
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