Cape Town - With every World Cup, football fans around the globe get to witness what the future holds for the beautiful game.
A mere six days into the Qatar spectacle, the tournament has not failed to deliver in entertainment value.
One of the talking points before the 2022 Fifa flagship event was on what happens when two of the biggest stars of the game over the past decade retire? Argentina’s Lionel Messi, 35, and Cristiano Ronaldo, 37, are expected to hang up their boots after Qatar.
With only the first round of matches having been played, it has become clear that the game will continue to dazzle spectators, and while the two multiple Ballon d’Or winners will be missed, replacements are ready to take over. One example is the glut of young players in the Spanish team that thrashed Costa Rica 7-0 on Wednesday.
Teen talent Gavi looks set for global stardom after he became the youngest World Cup scorer since Pele.
Gavi scored Spain’s fifth goal with a first-time finish from Álvaro Morata’s cross that crashed in off the inside of the post to become the third youngest scorer in the tournament’s history at 18 years and 110 days.
It capped a man-of-the-match display from the Barcelona youth product, who linked brilliantly in midfield with fellow Camp Nou-based teenager Pedri, 19.
And Spain coach Luis Enrique is sure he has on his hands a player who will become one of the best in the world.
There is more depth of young talent in this World Cup, with England boasting the likes of Jude Bellingham.
In the Three Lions team, there is also 21-year-old Saka Bukayo of Arsenal, while Brazil has Vinicius jr, who plays for Real Madrid.
Reigning world champions France are led by a 23-year-old marksman who is already a big name in football, having made his World Cup debut in Russia four years ago.
Equally promising is the Ghana team that has the youngest squad in this World Cup, which can only augur well for the African outfit.
For all its controversies and history of allegations of corruption within its ranks, Fifa and its affiliates have done well to promote the game globally.
And now that the starters have been served in Qatar, we can all look forward to the mains when the final is played on December 18.
Cape Times