The continent has long been one of the world's richest areas for young football talent, but who will be the next to conquer the world?
Getty ImagesCarlos Alcaraz (Racing, Argentina, 19)
Racing's academy is one of the most successful in Argentine football, producing Lautaro Martinez and Rodrigo De Paul in recent years and, further back, the likes of Lyon idol Lisandro Lopez and Inter's Champions League hero Diego Milito.
Alcaraz, an attack-minded midfielder who loves to cut a swathe through the defence to goal, looks to be the next star to come up through the Academia ranks.
At 19, he is an integral part of Fernando Gago's starting line-up and admits that he has learned a great deal from the former Real Madrid, Roma and Argentina midfielder.
Read more on Alcaraz here!
AdvertisementGettyJulian Alvarez (River Plate, Argentina, 22)
Julian Alvarez's talents are no longer a secret. The River Plate striker broke a small corner of the internet when scoring six goals against Alianza Lima, is already a regular part of the Argentina squad, and will soon join up with team-mates at Manchester City after completing a deal worth an initial £14m ($17m).
It is the 22-year-old's all-round game which makes him not only one of Argentina's top prospects, but also a perfect fit for dynamic City.
Not only is Alvarez adept in front of the net, but his skill in possession and in linking up with team-mates also stands out, while he is versatile enough to play across the forward line.
City appear to have a real gem on their hands.
Read more on Alvarez here!
Getty ImagesFabricio Diaz (Liverpool, Uruguay, 19)
Montevideo giants Penarol and Nacional inevitably gain much of the attention in Uruguayan football, but there is plenty of depth to be found elsewhere.
Fabricio Diaz is proof of that. The 19-year-old is nearing 100 games with his boyhood club and has won plaudits for his energy at the base of midfield. While he can improve when in possession, his non-stop workrate, aggression, mobility and ability to recover the ball mark him out as one to keep an eye on.
GettyFacundo Farias (Colon, Argentina, 19)
The explosive winger made his professional debut for Colon all the way back in November 2019 and already has 70 games and 15 goals under his belt, a number that would surely be far higher were it not for the prolonged hiatus caused by the pandemic in Argentine football.
Argentine giants Boca Juniors and River Plate have both fought for his signature this year, but they may well lose out to Europe, as in June Colon sold their gem to a British investment group for $12 million – almost certainly the first step towards a big move across the Atlantic, with Valencia and Porto said to be among the front-runners.
Read more on Farias here!
