Promising young stars poised to shine at the 2026 World Cup

According to Al Jazeera, both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi made their debuts in the biggest football tournament on Earth at the 2006 World Cup and have since been standout stars in every edition. Once again, global attention will follow every step of these two players.

As the 2026 World Cup is likely the last time Ronaldo and Messi will appear on the international football stage—with Ronaldo now 41 and Messi turning 39 on June 24—fans are also curious about the young talents who could shine at the tournament and one day become the golden scorers of the future.

Kenan Yildiz (Turkey)

The last time Turkey played at a World Cup, Kenan Yildiz hadn't even been born. But now, as Turkey returns to the world's biggest football stage after a 24-year wait, Yildiz carries the hopes of millions of fans back home. Yildiz arrives at the World Cup after early success in Europe, winning the Coppa Italia with Juventus in the 2023-2024 season and being named in the Serie A Team of the Season the following year.

The 21-year-old can play both as an attacking midfielder and a winger. Yildiz is one of the most promising talents in Turkey's forward line.

Nico Paz (Argentina)

21-year-old attacking midfielder Nico Paz is considered a top candidate to succeed Lionel Messi. With 12 goals and 7 assists in Serie A this season, Paz has delivered outstanding performances for club Como. Paz primarily plays as an attacking midfielder and is versatile enough to drop deep in defense or push forward in attack.

Rayan (Brazil)

Rayan is the latest gem from Brazilian football. The 19-year-old winger was first called up to the national team by coach Carlo Ancelotti in March and made the World Cup squad after prodigy Estevao was sidelined due to injury. He scored his first goal for the Seleção in a commanding 6-2 friendly win over Panama as part of World Cup preparations.

Gilberto Mora (Mexico)

Mora has been a media focal point in Mexico since his teenage years. In 2024, the Tijuana attacking midfielder made history by becoming the youngest player to score in Mexico's top-flight league at just 15 years old.

Only five months later, Mora received his first call-up to the national team. By mid-2025, he set another milestone, becoming the youngest player to wear the Mexico jersey at 16 years, 9 months, and 14 days.

Calm in ball handling and possessing an impressive scoring instinct, Mora participated in the 2025 U20 World Cup. Now, he aims for the next big step: proving himself on the national team stage this summer.

Nico O’Reilly (England)

A product of Manchester City's youth academy, O'Reilly has flourished this season under coach Pep Guardiola, effectively handling roles as both a left-back and an attacking midfielder.

With over 50 appearances across all competitions, scoring 9 goals and providing 6 assists, O'Reilly has emerged as one of England's brightest young talents. His versatility could make him a key asset in coach Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad.

Lennart Karl (Germany)

After years representing Germany's youth teams from U15 upward, Karl received his first senior call-up in March, following a breakout season with Bayern Munich.

In his debut season with Bayern Munich, Karl scored 9 goals and provided 8 assists across all competitions. These impressive performances quickly turned the young player into one of the Bundesliga's new sensations.

The 18-year-old attacking midfielder can play effectively on both wings, possessing a relatively small physique. However, his quick feet, creative technique, and sharp goal-scoring ability make Karl a promising option in Julian Nagelsmann's Germany lineup.

Keisuke Goto (Japan)

Having made his national team debut only last November and with just three caps, Goto was unsure whether coach Hajime Moriyasu would include him in the final squad.

However, with 13 goals and 8 assists across all competitions this season, the 1.91m striker—currently on loan at Sint-Truidense from Anderlecht—could become a potent weapon in Japan's attack.

Ali Jasim (Iraq)

As one of the standout figures from Iraq's new generation of players, Jasim is preparing for the first major international tournament of his career. After winning the top scorer award at the AFC U23 Championship two years ago, the 22-year-old forward arrives at the World Cup following a fairly successful season in the Saudi Pro League.

Having participated in the U20 World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics, Jasim is ready for greater challenges as Iraq returns to the World Cup after a 40-year wait.