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After 64 matches and 32 days, the curtains have finally come down on what has been a spectacular FIFA World Cup in Russia. France was crowned champions in the end, thanks to a healthy 4-2 win over Croatia in a dramatic final - only fitting to the nature of the most unpredictable tournament in recent memory, at the Luzhniki Stadium.
The tournament was the perfect breeding ground for many breakout stars, who landed in Russia as unknown quantities only to let their feet do the talking as plenty of superstars flattered to deceive at the global spectacle. However, what stood out glaringly was the fact that many who donned the colours of their nation, defied age and yet again proved that it is just a number.
Perhaps none so more than Essam El Hadary of Egypt who became the oldest player to make an appearance in the history of the tournament and the electrifying Kylian Mbappe who became the poster boy of the tournament even before it started, and rightfully so.
Mbappe became France's youngest ever goal-scorer at the World Cup and was also named the best young player of the tournament after Les Bleus triumph in the final. The honour, earmarked for the 'Golden Boy' of the tournament, was first introduced in the 2006 edition and is awarded to the best player aged 23 or under.
Surely, there was very little contest this time around and Mbappe - who does not celebrate his 20th birthday up until December, made a clean sweep to join a list that includes Lukas Podolski (2006), Thomas Muller (2010) and Paul Pogba (2014).
However, the tournament offered a lot more youngsters this time around and some of them excelled in their respective roles. The idea behind this article is to try and formulate the best possible XI of players aged 23 or under, strictly based on their performances in the World Cup this summer. Without further delay, let's take a closer look at our all-star Golden Boy XI:
GK - Francis Uzoho (Nigeria)
The decision is a no-brainer considering the fact that only two goal-keepers under the age of 23 have featured in this year's tournament.
Mouez Hassen of Tunisia suffered a disheartening shoulder injury against England in the Eagles of Carthage's opening game of Group G and was eventually ruled out of the tournament while Francis Uzoho played every single minute of Nigeria's World Cup campaign in Russia.
Uzoho will look back at the World Cup as a huge learning curve following Nigeria's group stage exit, but he is likely to become a mainstay for the Super Eagles in the future.
Still only 19, Uzoho will get better with age and the exposure of playing in the World Cup at such a young age will certainly help him improve.
The shot-stopper spent the majority of last season with the reserves at Deportivo La Coruna and is expected a fight for first-team involvement in the upcoming season.
RB: Benjamin Pavard (France)
Plenty of questions were raised against Didier Deschamps when he decided to opt for Benjamin Pavard at right-back ahead of Djibril Sidibe in the Les Bleus' opening game of the tournament against Australia.
However, what unfolded was quite easily the biggest breakout story of the tournament as the 22-year-old cemented his position by becoming an indispensable part of the eventual champions.
The defender left Lille in France, in search of better playing time, for a bargain £4m that the then second tier Stuttgart offered to bring him to Germany and Pavard has never looked back since then.
After securing qualification to the Bundesliga in his first year, he also became an integral part of the Stuttgart side that finished seventh last season which in turn grabbed the attention of Deschamps.
Pavard is reportedly being courted by the likes of Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Real Madrid and it certainly seems like he is destined for a big money move sooner rather than later.
CB: Yerry Mina (Colombia)
The Barcelona defender was left out of Colombia's unexpected defeat to Japan in the opening game of Group H and he showed Jose Pekerman what a grave mistake he had committed by scoring the opening goal against Poland in a must-win game that followed.
Yerry Mina's goal-scoring antics did not stop there as he managed a couple more against Senegal and England respectively to finish the tournament with three in total, more than any other Colombian. If reports are to believed, Everton are plotting a bid to land the defender after he was deemed surplus to requirements at the Nou Camp.
CB: Jose Maria Gimenez (Uruguay)
The fact that he plays alongside Diego Godin for both club and country has certainly helped Jose Maria Gimenez mature into one of the best young defenders in the world. The duo possesses an outstanding relationship at the heart of their side's defence and Uruguay's reputation as one of the most sturdy sides in the tournament was built upon the foundation laid down by these Atletico Madrid stalwarts.
Gimenez scored a 90th-minute winner to help Uruguay kick-start their campaign on the right note and his passion to play for the shirt is second to none with his tears before their quarter-final loss to France still fresh in our memories. Despite only turning 24 next year, Gimenez has already amassed 50 caps for his country since making his debut in 2013.
LB: Lucas Hernandez (France)
The Atletico Madrid defender has been almost flawless in his performances for France and has played an integral role in their journey to the ultimate crown. Lucas Hernandez, who is equally adept at playing at centre-half or left full-back, was deployed in an orthodox left-back position by Didier Deschamps and he did not disappoint.
Hernandez worked tirelessly on the flanks and complemented his teammates well on the field to help Les Bleus tighten things up at the back. At club level, he is considered as the ideal long-term replacement for Diego Godin at the Spanish Capital and could thrive in La Liga for years to come.
DM: Lucas Torreira (Uruguay)
Arsenal's £22m signing from Sampdoria promises to be a nothing short of spectacular considering his performances for Uruguay at the World Cup. Despite starting the first two games of the tournament on the bench for Uruguay, Lucas Torreira made the best of his opportunity against Russia by producing a sublime performance that ensured his involvement for the knockout stages.
Torreira, who is an all-round midfielder capable of influencing play from a deeper role, joined Sampdoria three years ago and went on to make more than 100 appearances for the Serie A outfit before joining Arsenal, shortly after Uruguay's exit from the World Cup. The 22-year-old's best performance came in Uruguay's 2-0 win over Portugal in the last-16 and his tackle to shrug Cristiano Ronaldo off the ball stood out for all the right reasons.
CM: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Serbia)
The Serbian midfielder started the tournament with a lot of expectations on his back considering his glowing reputation in the Serie A with Lazio.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic might have failed to help Serbia qualify for the knockout stages from Group E but his performance against Costa Rica in their opening game pretty much summed up his impressive skill-set that has attracted the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid.
The 22-year-old is more than a unit in midfield and boasts of the invaluable quality of having goals in him.
Lazio are reportedly in advanced talks with both Manchester United and Real Madrid over the possible transfer of the player, who is valued at around £100m.
CM: Rodrigo Bentancur (Uruguay)
Rodrigo Bentancur arrived at Juventus as a part of the deal that saw Carlos Tevez join Boca Juniors in 2015 and has been one of the Old Lady's brightest prospects since then.
The midfielder had initially struggled to enjoy a breakthrough season with the Serie A champions but he landed in Russia as one of Uruguay's main men in midfield after enjoying a productive domestic season in which he made over 20 appearances for Juventus.
Bentancur caught the eye of the world with his consistent performances for Uruguay throughout the tournament and was a driving force in midfield with his incisive passing and unique style of play.
If his recent performances are anything to go by, the 21-year-old is set to become a mainstay in Turin for the years to come.
RW: Aleksandr Golovin (Russia)
The inaugural game of the FIFA World Cup witnessed the might of the host nation Russia and its prodigal son, in the form of Aleksandr Golovin. The CSKA Moscow man pretty much ran the show against Saudi Arabia by scoring as well as assisting in Russia's 5-0 win on the opening day of the tournament.
Golovin was instrumental in Russia's memorable run to the quarter-finals this year and has quickly emerged as a household name across Europe, thanks to his scintillating performances. According to several reports, all of Chelsea, Arsenal and Monaco are battling it out to try and secure his services for the upcoming season.
CF: Kylian Mbappe (France)
The most astonishing part of this obvious inclusion is the fact that he is three years younger than many players on this list and it has rightfully been Kylian Mbappe's World Cup to be fair. From the electric run from his own half to win the penalty against Argentina to the icing on the cake of a goal in the final, it is safe to say that the teenage sensation has well and truly arrived at the international stage.
The 19-year-old was awarded the best young player of the tournament honour and has now emerged as a serious contender for the Ballon d'Or. There are also rumours suggesting that he could be the subject of a world record transfer to Real Madrid in Spain to replace the outgoing Cristiano Ronaldo and the scary part is that he is just out of school and doesn't turn 20 up until December.
LW: Hirving Lozano (Mexico)
Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano made a statement with his goal against Germany and surely, we will not forget the thunderous effort that derailed the World Champions' hopes of progressing early on. The 22-year-old was a revelation in the Eredivisie with PSV Eindhoven after scoring 17 goals and registering eight assists in the 2017/18 season and added yet another feather to his cap with the goal against the defending champions.
Lozano is tipped to make a move to the English Premier League, with both Liverpool and Manchester United willing to try and acquire the Mexican's services.
Manager: Gareth Southgate
The England manager has rightfully earned the plaudits for guiding the Three Lions to a fourth-place finish in Russia and proved that he is the right candidate to lead the future generation of English footballers to ultimate glory.
Gareth Southgate helped England to their best finish since 1990 despite his side being the second least experienced in terms of international caps prior to the tournament.
Southgate has banished the rumours suggesting that he might move on from the job and has vowed to stay and try to mount a serious challenge for the Euro Championships in 2020.
Formation: 4-3-3
What do you think about this team? Sound off your opinions in the comments section below!
