The most promising debutants of the World Cup so far

Qatar has seen a number of young players make their World Cup debuts.

Here are the most promising debutants so far in the tournament.

Embed from Getty Images

Vinicius Junior

Still just 22 years old, Vinicius Junior has already achieved so much for Real Madrid, but he is now starting to produce it for Brazil as well. He has started both games on the left so far, and, although he was lively in the opening match against Serbia, it was in their second game against Switzerland that he made a big impact.

Missing the creativity of the injured Neymar, Brazil were finding it hard to break down a stubborn Swiss defence. But Vinicius Junior never stopped running and was heavily involved in the move that led to Casemiro producing the all-important strike for the only goal.

With Neymar’s fitness a concern, he could have a big role to play in what Brazil are hoping will be a sixth successful World Cup campaign.

Gavi

Gavi is still only 18 but he has already played for Spain 15 times, including in both games in Qatar. In their opening match against Costa Rica, he was an integral part of the team that put seven goals past their hapless opponents, and he scored the sixth himself, applying an excellent finish with the outside of his right foot.

Pedri

Pedri is the older of the pair by a year, but already the Barcelona duo are offering suggestions they could form a partnership for club and country fit to rival that of Xavi and Andrés Iniesta. Given that Spain have also been able to call on the services of Ansu Fati, and that Barcelona want to offer full-back Alejandro Balde, who is also in the squad, a lucrative new deal, Spain are blessed with a new generation of outstanding talent.

Jude Bellingham

Bellingham’s performance for England in their first match against Iran drew universal praise, with the 19 year old being described as a cross between Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard. He put his country ahead with his first international goal, but was deployed in a deeper role in the second-half, and proved equally adept as a holding midfielder.

Bukayo Saka

Bellingham was pipped to the Player of the Match award in that game by Bukayo Saka, who brought his club form with Arsenal to the World Cup. The 21 year old scored twice and generally gave the Iran defence problems every time that he was on the pitch. In that match he fully justified his selection ahead of the much vaunted Phil Foden.

Both Bellingham and Saka were much less effective against the USA, victims of manager Gareth Southgate’s defensive mindset.

Jamal Musiala

Musiala is one that got away as far as England are concerned, having played for them at every age level up to under-21s, before opting to play his international football for Germany. It has not been a good World Cup campaign for the Germans so far, but Musiala has been a rare shining light, and was involved in the move that led up to their much needed equaliser against Spain.