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Only six days are left before the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup kicks off in India with two-time semi-finalists Colombia taking on two-time champions Ghana in the opening match of the tournament in Delhi next Friday.
All the squads for the tournament have been announced with a number of future stars set to feature in the youth football extravaganza which may help them get top clubs when they begin their senior career. Out of the 504 players competing in the tournament, there are a total of nine players from European giants Real Madrid and FC Barcelona and all of them are Spanish players.
Let’s take a look at the top 5 players from Real Madrid and FC Barcelona to look out for in the upcoming U-17 World Cup.
Notable Mentions: Moha (Real Madrid), Antonio Blanco (Real M)
#5 Juan Miranda, Barcelona
Spain’s second oldest player competing in the tournament, Juan Miranda is currently playing for the Barcelona youth and made his debut for the Barcelona B team last month. In the ongoing UEFA Youth League, the 17-year-old left-back has played every single minute of the two group games that Barcelona have played, providing an assist.
During the UEFA U-17 European Championship earlier this year, Miranda was one of the finest defenders in the tournament as he was brilliant on the left flank, making several crucial challenges and adding to the depth of the flank by generating attacks.
He missed Spain’s opening match against Turkey but played every minute of the remaining matches, providing an assist as Spain won their 9th U-17 European Championship by beating England in the final on penalties.
A brilliant left-back who can also be useful in the attacking department, Miranda will be somebody the Spanish team will rely on in the same way in which Brazil used to rely on Roberto Carlos.
#4 Victor Chust, Real Madrid
The solitary Real Madrid player on the list, Victor Chust is probably Spain’s finest youth centre-back at the moment. A tenacious defender, Chust is a key player for both his club and country. Chust has been a regular for Real Madrid youth team lately and was one of the best defenders at the UEFA U-17 European Championship at Croatia.
Barring Spain’s final group game against Croatia, Chust played every single minute of Spain’s victorious campaign and made it difficult for the opposition strikers to pose a threat in the Spanish goal. He scored in Spain’s penalty shootout against Germany and the winning penalty in the shootout against England in the final at Varazdin. He was named in the Team of the Tournament for his outstanding performances.
Chust’s presence at the back will be something Spain will be heavily counting on in their attempt to finally lift the U-17 World Cup after three failed attempts in the finals in 1991, 2003, and 2007.
#3 Sergio Gomez, Barcelona
17-year-old Sergio Gomez is one of the most crucial players in the Spanish U-17 team with 4 goals from 15 appearances, three of them coming at the UEFA U-17 European Championship. Wearing the number 10 shirt, Gomez played every match of the tournament and was brilliant on the left wing. His partnership with left-back Juan Miranda was instrumental to Spain’s success in the tournament.
Gomez scored Spain’s first goal of the tournament in their opening match against Turkey and scored his second in the following game against Italy. His final goal of the tournament was against France in the quarter-finals.
Gomez did not score any goals in the semi-final or the final but he did score during the penalty shootout in the final. Gomez is currently in very good form for the Barcelona youth team and his form will be crucial in Spain’s attacking department during the World Cup.
#2 Mateu Morey, Barcelona
Mateu Morey is one of the finest players in the Barcelona youth setup and undoubtedly one of the most versatile young defenders in the world right now with the ability to read the game very well in addition to his attack-oriented game.
The right-back was one of Spain’s most crucial players in their victorious campaign at the UEFA U-17 European Championship where he was the highest-scoring defender with three goals.
Morey scored the winner in Spain’s tournament opener against Turkey and scored the opener in their 3-1 win over France in the quarter-finals. Morey converted his penalty during the penalty shootout against Germany in the semi-finals. In the final, Morey was brilliant as he made some crucial blocks and tackles against the England and scored the equalizer when Spain were trailing 1-0. The match ended 2-2 after extra-time and penalties ensued. Morey was amongst the five takers and converted his shot as Spain won the shootout 4-1.
Morey was unsurprisingly named in the Team of the Tournament. Mateu Morey has been in brilliant form for Barcelona and he will be one of Spain’s key players in the U-17 World Cup.
#1 Abel Ruiz, Barcelona
Spain’s U-17 skipper is their talisman as well as the all-time top scorer in their U-17 history with 19 goals in 23 matches. The Barcelona youth team striker was in paramount form during the UEFA U-17 European Championship as he scored three goals during the group stage including a brace against Italy.
In the knockout stages, Ruiz scored a penalty against France in the quarter-finals and converted his spot-kicks during both shootouts in the semi-final and final. He ended the tournament as Spain’s top-scorer with four goals, three of them being spot kicks. Ruiz was amongst the five Spanish players inducted in the Team of the Tournament.
Ruiz has been in terrific form lately and is one of the most prolific strikers taking part in the U-17 World Cup. He will be Spain’s talisman coming into the tournament and will be hoping to lead his side to a victory. Given his knack for goals, Ruiz will also be one of the top contenders to win the Golden Boot.
