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The World Cup is nearly here and the excitement is palpable. The official squads have been announced and fans have started journeying to Russia for the 21st edition of the tournament.
The World Cup brings with it a different sense of excitement. Primarily because emotions run high, as the players don the colors of their country and represent the ambitions of an entire population every time they take to the pitch.
Another reason is that the tournament offers us neutrals the chance to spot talent relatively hidden away from the spotlight during club competitions. A prime example would be that of Keylor Navas, who shone for Costa Rica at in 2014 and managed to secure a move to Real Madrid from Levante. The likes of Keylor Navas and Asamoah Gyan can only be discovered at a stage like the World Cup.
The players who will excite the neutral fans the most are the forwards. Given the knock-out style of the competition, the forwards will be the difference between the teams at the World Cup.
Let us take a look at ten young forwards who have the potential to make their breakthrough at the World Cup by making a difference for their country.
#10 Hwang Hee-Chan (South Korea)
Hwang Hee-Chan is a 22-year old forward who plays for RB Salzburg in the Austrian League. The diminutive South Korean is an energetic forward who is capable of playing at high intensity for the entirety of the game.
Hee-Chan has a burst of pace which he uses to shrug off defenders and run into space. He is also a good finisher of chances, scoring 29 goals in 86 appearances for the Austrian side. He possesses a direct style of play and is versatile enough to play anywhere in the front line, but has predominantly been deployed as a center-forward.
Hee-Chan has 12 appearances for the national side in which he has scored 2 goals. He has managed to strike up a good partnership with Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-Min whenever they have played together.
Naturally, his performances have caught the eye of Premier League scouts. Liverpool and Tottenham are rumored to be interested in securing his services and Tottenham might leverage the South Korean connection to lure the young forward to North London.
Hwang Hee-Chan might not be favored to start ahead of the experienced Kim Shin-Wook but expect a fresh injection of pace and enthusiasm every time Hwang hee-Chang takes to the pitch.
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#9 Cristian Pavón (Argentina)
Cristian Pavón has been approved as a bonafide talent by none other than Lionel Messi. The young Argentine forward had an excellent season with Boca Juniors. He manged to score 7 goals and provide a whopping 17 assists in 31 appearances for the club.
His performances for Boca has earned him a spot on Argentina's plane to Russia. The skilled forward is versatile and can play anywhere across the frontline. He is very quick with the ball at his feet and has a direct style of play. His vision helps him link up well with his team mates and make key passes.
Pavón is rumored to be wanted by two London clubs, Arsenal and West Ham but apparently Messi would prefer to have the young Argentine at the Camp Nou.
Can the young forward help Messi and Argentina win a World Cup? Only time will tell.
#8 Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria)
Iheanacho needs no introduction. The Nigerian forward has played for Manchester City and is currently at Leicester City.
Iheancho was touted to be one of the best young talents in the Premier League. He managed to score 8 goals in his first season with Manchester City. He was offloaded by Pep Guardiola and he made a move to Leicester City. He hasn't had the impact he would have liked to have had.
Jamie Vardy's form meant that Iheanacho started most of the games on the bench. For Leicester, Iheanacho has managed to score 9 goals in 30 appearances across all competitions last season. He managed to end his season on a strong note and will be hoping to carry his form to Russia.
Although experienced Nigerian players like Victor Moses, Ahmed Musa and John Obi-Mikel will be vital, expect the young Nigerian to make a difference.
#7 Kasper Dolberg (Denmark)
Kasper Dolberg looks set to replicate the success story of compatriot Christian Eriksen in making a move from Ajax Amsterdam and excelling in Europe's biggest leagues. The young Dane has established himself as a reliable goal-scorer for Ajax.
Dolberg has managed to score 32 goals in 78 appearances for Ajax. The 20-year old striker is tall and strong, but unlike stereotypical tall forwards who function only as a target man, Dolberg is capable of dribbling with pace and balance earning the comparisons with Zlatan. His pace coupled with intelligent movement allows him to be deployed even further deeper in an almost Benzema-esque role.
Dolberg is highly rated in the footballing community and nearly every big team is rumored to be interested in the Dane, but apparently Dolberg's preferred destination is Barcelona.
Given that Denmark will be without the injured Nicklas Bendtner, Dolberg might have the chance to shine at the Word Cup.
#6 Breel Embolo (Switzerland)
Breel Embolo rose to fame after starring for FC Basel and scoring 21 goals in 61 appearances for the Swiss club. Amidst wide speculation of a move to Manchester United, the young striker moved to FC Schalke in the Bundesliga.
The move has not gone according to plan, though. Embolo hurt his ankle and was ruled out for almost an entire season but the young striker has impressed on his return. Embolo possesses great strength and athleticism. His pace and eye for a pass makes him a versatile option in the front line.
Embolo has managed to score 5 goals and set up 3 more in 28 appearances for Schalke. His potential is yet to translate into an amazing season, but given that he is just 21, the young striker may well have his best years ahead of him.
This World Cup will provide Embolo with the perfect stage to make that breakthrough.
#5 André Silva
Andre Silva has had a lukewarm season with AC Milan. He has played as a back-up to Patrick Cutrone for most of the season.
At his previous club FC Porto, Silva was on fine form. He notched up 24 goals in 58 appearances across all competitions. In his first season at Milan, he only managed to score 10 goals in 40 appearances.
The young Portuguese is on fire for his country. He has managed to score 12 goals in 23 appearances, scoring 9 in the qualifiers to the World Cup. Silva also has a good partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo and is capable of being the focal point of attack as well as playing as a second striker.
Silva's future is apparently undecided. Milan is yet to decide if they want to sell him. A few clubs are already circling the young striker, including the newly promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers. Maybe a good showing at the World Cup will help the young striker clear up his future.
#4 Timo Werner
The forward duo of Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez had shouldered the goal scoring responsibility for Germany for over a decade but Timo Werner will now be the young striker expected to take up that mantle.
Werner is an absolutely prolific forward. He has managed to score 42 times in 77 appearances for RB Leipzig. He is a very efficient forward, capable of running in behind defenders.
The 22-year old German is in fine for his Country as well, scoring 8 in 14 appearances which led him to win the Golden Boot at the FIFA 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia. The young German is tipped for greatness and he might get a kick-start on it at the World Cup.
#3 Marcus Rashford
Harry Kane will be shouldering the goal-scoring responsibility for England at the World Cup. This will allow the likes of Marcus Rashford to go to the World Cup and just express themselves.
Rashford broke into the Manchester United side with amazing swagger. On his Premier League debut against Arsenal, the young striker managed to score a brace and provide an assist.
Rashford had a bit of a difficult season last year, though. He found it difficult to start regularly, but still managed to score 13 goals and provide 9 assists in 53 appearances across all competitions.
Rashford is another versatile forward. He is blessed with electric pace and he plays with the unbridled joy of a young player. His balance suits his direct style of play as he loves to take defenders on. Rashford's time playing as a number ten in youth teams shows, as his passing and creativity are very mature for his age.
Rashford will not be England's best bet at the World Cup, but he just might produce the impossible for the Three Lions in Russia.
#2 Kylian Mbappé
Mbappe is the second costliest player in the tournament behind Neymar. The young French forward was loaned to Paris Saint-Germain from AS Monaco for an estimated €180 million. The mercurial forward seems to show no sign of stopping as he scored 21 goals and laid on 16 assists in 46 games for the Parisian club.
Mbappe is equipped with searing pace and excellent dribbling ability. He loves taking defenders on and has a very accurate right foot. As his stats show, Mbappe is as good at creating goal-scoring chances as he is at finishing them.
Mbappe is touted to be the next best French player. World Cup 2018 would provide the young forward with a wonderful platform to cement his status as one of the world's best young players.
He might not start in an overtly attacking role for France, but regardless of where he plays, expect the speedy Frenchman to keep us on the edge of our seats.
#1 Gabriel Jesus
Gabriel Jesus might just be the savior Brazil needs to put behind them the nightmares from the previous World Cup. Brazil is widely considered one of the favorites to win the tournament in Russia and vital to their success will be the attacking skills of Gabriel Jesus.
The 21-year old Brazilian found the net 24 times in his first full season at Manchester City and managed to provide 10 assists as well. Jesus has been handed the number nine jersey for the World Cup and is first choice striker ahead of Liverpool's Roberto Firmino, who had a very good season as well.
The decision to pick Jesus ahead of him might be well deserved, as the young striker has managed to score 9 times in 15 outings with the Seleção. Neymar will undoubtedly be Brazil's biggest threat, but Jesus will definitely live up to the legacy of the Brazilian number nine jersey at the World Cup in Russia.
