5 Youngsters to Keep an Eye on at the World Cup

Every four years, the FIFA World Cup rolls into town with players looking to lead their country to international glory. Some of these players are international superstars, some are lesser-known players who will probably play rotation with their national teams, and others are "diamonds in the rough." These "diamonds in the rough" are young players looking to showcase their abilities on the world's biggest stage. In 2014, it was James Rodriguez, who won the world cup golden boot and earned himself a transfer from AS Monaco to Real Madrid. In 2010 it was Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria, both transferring to Real Madrid. The point is that young talents always emerge and are snapped up by some of Europe's biggest clubs. Here are some of the potential big shots this summer:

Cristian Pavon

A relatively unknown player for fans outside of South America, Cristian Pavon has been linked with the likes of Juventus, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and AC Milan. The Boca Juniors winger has come off of a season in which he has scored 7 goals and provided 12 assists. He was praised by none other than Lionel Messi after setting him up for one of his 3 goals against Haiti. His good chemistry with Lionel Messi might have him in contention to replace Angel Di Maria on the left hand side of Argentina's attack. And if chemistry is not enough, the 22-year old will replace Di Maria towards the end of the tournament where he'll inevitably pick up an injury close to the finals.

Sergej Milinković-Savić

This is the man at the tip of every scout's tongue this summer. A strong box-to-box midfielder being heavily linked with a move to Manchester United or Real Madrid this summer, Sergej Milinković-Savić has to be THE one to watch this summer. His breakout season with Lazio was the 2017-18 season and my God, what a breakout he has had. Scoring 14 goals and registering 6 assists in 34 appearances from a central midfield role should not be taken lightly, and it has not been. To put this into perspective, the 23-year old has scored more goals in 10 less appearances than Karim Benzema, Real Madrid's starting striker. He would be playing for a better club if it wasn't for Lazio's president stating that he would not leave for less than £110 million. But if he puts on some solid performances this summer, that price tag could end up being a bargain for such a young and talented central midfielder.

Hirving Lozano

Hirving Lozano is a man who might have slipped under the radar of fans in Europe, but definitely not scouts. Playing for PSV in the Eredivisie, he notched up 22 goals in all competitions. A versatile attacking option that can play anywhere across the front line, the 22-year-old Mexican wonderkid will undoubtedly bring some creativity to a Mexico side that lacks exactly that. Already linked with a move to Arsenal and Bayern Munich, keep your eyes out for this man.

Gonçalo Guedes

A breath of life into Valencia's squad, Gonçalo Guedes' influence in Spain this season cannot be understated. Playing on the left hand side of a four-man midfield, the 21-year old managed 5 goals and 9 assists in La Liga. These might seem like low figures on paper, but Valencia likes to play deep counterattacking football. This means that the players have less time on the ball and overall score less goals than most La Liga Teams. This is shown by the fact that the whole team scored less than 12th place Real Sociedad. Guedes' tally seems larger when you realize that he either scored or set up 21.53% of Valencia's goals in the 2017-18 season. Keep an eye out for this man in form.

Alvaro Odriozola

Odriozola might not be very well known right now, but he definitely has the potential to become a star. The Real Sociedad right back has been in impressive form this season, earning him a place in Spain's final 23-man squad. The attacking full back has 2 goals and 4 assists to his name this season, including one goal for the Spanish national team on his debut. He scored a well-placed half volley from outside the box which showcased his ability on the ball. Although most Spanish fans would like to see Dani Carvajal on the right hand side of their defense, Odriozola might just be a better option since he is in form.

Marcus Rashford

It is truly amazing to think that three years ago, Marcus Rashford was just some Mancunian kid trying to break though Manchester United's academy. Scoring 2 goals on his debut, and scoring winners against Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool, he is a fan favorite in Manchester. Although he has seen a slight decline in form under the guidance of manager Jose Mourinho, this lad has everything it takes to make it to the top. Linking up with in-form man and close friend (as shown on social media), Jesse Lingard, along with the guidance of Gareth Southgate and a very young England side with quality players, you could definitely expect Rashford to play a big part in England's World Cup run.