Forget the Superstars - These Unknown Youngsters Are the Real Story at the Club World Cup
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Forget the Superstars - These Unknown Youngsters Are the Real Story at the Club World Cup

Forget the Superstars - These Unknown Youngsters Are the Real Story at the Club World Cup

The FIFA Club World Cup is well and truly underway, and hundreds of players are on display at the global tournament. With not a lot of other football in play, many eyes are on the tournament and, more specifically, the young prospects playing in it. Here are 10 future stars from 10 different clubs, spanning 7 nations and 4 continents, whose names you might be hearing for the first time.

1. David Martinez (19) - LAFC

Martinez is known as ‘La Joya’ (or ‘The Jewel’) in his native Venezuela. The tricky winger joined LAFC on his 18th birthday last year and has become a huge part of the Black and Gold’s attack, making 44 appearances in the 17 months he has spent in California. Breaking into LA’s attack is no easy job, mind, but Olivier Giroud has failed to keep up with the team’s front line since his introduction in 2024. Martinez constantly displays a dribbling technicality above the rest and is tipped to go far as he approaches his 20s.

2. Samu Aghehowa (21) - Porto

A name many will be more familiar with, the Spanish striker had a breakout 2024/25 season in Portugal, scoring 25 goals in 39 Liga Portugal/Europa League games. Aghehowa is a 6”4 powerhouse of a forward and has been linked with Aston Villa, Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Barcelona. That’s some list.

3. Jair Cunha (20) - Botafogo

Cunha is one-third of the trio that Nottingham Forest are hoping to sign this summer. The central defender came through Santos’ academy and has taken the step up to Brazil’s Serie A in 2025. Cunha scored in Botafogo’s opening Club World Cup match against Seattle Sounders, putting himself into the spotlight already in the States. The towering centre-half is confident defensively, already producing performances beyond his years.

4. Milton Delgado (20) - Boca Juniors

When Brighton come calling, its often a good sign. Delgado will be hoping to follow in Alexis MacAllister, Moises Caicedo and Julio Enciso’s footsteps by making the switch from South America to England. The defensive midfielder is a deep lying play maker, with mobility, technique and passing vision. Inter Milan are also in talks with the player, highlighting that Boca’s next big thing is already earning plaudits.

5. Telasco Segovia (22) - Inter Miami

A second Venezuelan based in the MLS on this list, Segovia was Miami’s biggest signing of January money wise in what was a quiet window in general for the Herons. Previously on the books of Sampdoria and Casa Pia, Segovia has found a spot amongst the superstars in Miami, becoming a first team regular swiftly. The central midfielder dictates and orchestrates the game, and is able to play further up the field if required. His versatility has led him to play on both wings under Javier Mascherano this season too. Segovia burst onto the season in 2025, scoring three goals in his first two games for Inter Miami, and will be hoping to do the same at the Club World Cup.

6. Iker Fimbres (20) - Monterrey

Fimbres was likened to PSG’s starlet, Vitinha, by a Mexican commentator recently, the diminutive midfielder deserves the praise. Slowly breaking into Mexican giants Monterrey’s first team in 2025, Fimbres is a similar profile to Segovia, playing a similar position too. Agile, hyper-aware, and smart off the ball, Fimbres might one day find himself lining up alongside of Vitinha, instead of simply being mentioned in the same sentence.

7. Marcos Leonardo (22) - Al Hilal

The 2003 born forward has already been on some journey, from Brazil to Portugal to Saudi Arabia. Al-Hilal were very lucky to sign the Brazilian from Benfica last summer, as Manchester United, Arsenal, and Newcastle were all rumoured to be admirers of Leonardo in 2024. Once dubbed the ‘next Neymar’ whilst playing at Santos, Leonardo bagged 17 goals in 24 Saudi Pro League games in his debut campaign in the Middle East. The 22-year-old kept Aleksandar Mitrovic out of Al-Hilal’s starting XI at one point this season, and a return to Europe could be a realistic possibility one day.

8. Oscar Gloukh (21) - RB Salzburg

Salzburg fans have known about Gloukh’s potential for a couple of years already, and now the attacking midfielder gets a chance to show the world what hes got. The 21-time capped Israeli international has been on the radar of many top clubs for some time, after scoring in the final of the 2022 U19 European Championsip against England. Part of the same generation as Manor Solomon and Liel Abada, Gloukh has 50 goal contributions in 97 games for Salzburg, dazzling Austrian defences with creative brilliance.

9. John Kennedy (23) - Pachuca

Whilst he won’t appear straight away in a quick Google search, Kennedy became a superstar at the age of 21 when he scored the winner in the Copa Libertadores Final for Fluminese, to earn the club their first ever continental cup. Now on loan in Mexico, Kennedy has regularly linked up with Salomon Rondon in Pachuca’s forward line. The versatile forward averages a goal contribution every 1.8 games in 2025, and will look to make an impression as the Club World Cup marches on.

10. Vitor Roque (20) - Palmeiras

The final name on a Latin American dominated list. Roque is unique in the respect that he’s already received a huge move, despite being 20 years old. The Brazilian forward signed for Barcelona a month before his 19th birthday, but nine goals, a loan move to Real Betis, and 12 months later, he was heading back to Brazil for €5 million less than he was signed for (€30 million). Whilst his first experience in Europe didn’t work out, Roque clearly possesses the talent to catch Barca’s eye, and will look to fix his reputation at the Club World Cup this summer.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist
James McLeish

Writer

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