Lionel Messi remains one of the biggest stars in football, even at the age of 38. Behind him, a new generation of talent led by players such as Erling Keep rising and challenging that throne. What they share is an outbreak performance at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Early in their career.
The 2025 edition of Fifa’s Youth Tournament started this Saturday Chile with four games, including the opener of the hosts New -Zeeland. In the coming days, other major teams will make their debut, including Argentina, Italy, Spain, Brazil, France, Mexico, and the United States.
The U-20 World Cup is a tournament with a long -term tradition in world football. The first edition was held in 1977 and since then it took place every two years without interruption in 2021, when the tournament was canceled due to schedule disturbances caused by the COVID-19 Pandemie.
For almost five decades, countless young talents have participated in the tournament and delivered striking performances, either individually or with their teams. One of them is Lionel Messi, who won the title The Netherlands 2005 of Argentina And was called both the best player and the top scorer of the tournament.
Lionel Messi is one of the few players who has won both the FIFA U-20 World Cup and the Senior World Cup.
Leo scored his first goal on match day 2 of the group stage against EgyptBut he really exploded in the knockout rounds. In the round of 16 he scored in the 2-1 win ColombiaAnd again in the 3-1 quarter-final victory against Spain. In the semi -final, Messi delivered his best goal of the tournament against Braziland in the final against NigeriaHe led Argentina to the title with a brace of the penalty spot.
see also
FIFA U-20 World Cup 2025 TV schedule: How to watch in the US
Haaland’s historical record on the U-20 World Cup
Fourteen years after Messi’s Triumph with Argentina, Erling got his chance for the U-20 World Cup in 2019 with Norway. It was not good for the European side, which was eliminated in the group stage after two losses and one victory.
Yet that was enough to achieve a historical record. In the 12–0 victory of Norway Honduras on MatchDay 3, Haaland became the first player to score nine goals in one match at the FIFA Youth Tournament. Thanks to that incredible performance, he finished as a top scorer of the tournament – despite the fact that he only played in the group stage.
Maradona, Xavi and other stars that have won the U-20 World Cup
Perhaps the first global star that cancel the U-20 World Cup was Diego Armando Maradona. Just as Lionel Messi would do years later, Maradona Argentina led to the youth title Japan 1979 Before winning the Senior World Cup Mexico 1986.
In 1991, Portugal Host the U-20 World Cup and won the title by beating Brazil In the final. That Portuguese team included several players who would shine in world football: former Real Madrid And Barcelona wing Luis Figo And AC Milan midfielder Rui Costa.
Eight years later, Spain were crowned U-20 world champions. Among the stars of that team were two players who later World Cup 2010 In South Africa: Keeper Iker Casillas and midfielder Xavi Hernandez.
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