A host of 16 teams will compete at the men’s football event at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics begins. The event will feature a host of countries that will be featuring many upcoming stars.
The men’s soccer event it’s a unique competition that has over the years produced promising youngsters who lace up their boots alongside the established players of their respective national teams to launch an assault on the Olympic gold.
Since 1992, the Olympics men’s tournament has been restricted to players aged 23 and younger. However, in the case of the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, the maximum age has been raised to 23 due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing a one-year postponement.
In that regard, ever wondered who are those promising youngsters you should be on the lookout for?
Here are 10 youngsters to watch for at Tokyo 2021 Olympics men’s football
- Amad Diallo – (Ivory Coast)
Speaking of Africa representative at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics men’s football game (Ivory Coast ), they’re no doubt one of the continent’s best teams in terms of brilliant footballers the country has produced over the years which includes the legendary forward Didier Drogba and.
At Tokyo 2021 Olympic, they’re certainly one of the teams to be on the lookout for because of the amazing blend of overaged and young players they would parade, and amongst those players is Manchester United youngster Diallo who joined the Red Devils from Atalanta.
The pacey winger may just be 19 years of age, but he has often shown glimpses of his potential with United. Diallo will be the box-to-box presence, who will be integral to Ivory Coast’s plans at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.
- Gabriel Martinelli – (Brazil)
The Arsenal’s youngster name may not strike fear into the heart of the Selecao opponents when the competition commences just like the name of Neymar did at Rio de Janeiro in 2016. However, he’s no doubt one of the fascinating player’s football enthusiasts should watch out for because of his electrifying pace and eyes for goal.
Martinelli is arguably one of the finest Arsenal youngsters presently at the London club. The Brazilian hasn’t been able to break into the first team due to his niggling injuries, but thankfully the lad is back and getting ready to hit the ground running for Brazil.
Martinelli has always made a difference whenever called upon. He will now look to certify his credentials as a top talent at the Olympics. He will form an exciting attacking partnership with Richarlison as Brazil eye a second gold medal at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics
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- Diego Lainez – (Mexico)
The Mexican team at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics would be led out by the old war-horse goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa who is picked as one of the over-aged players going into the tournament.
The Club America goalkeeper is one of the experienced heads in the team that a host of Mexican fans would expect to deliver at the competition because of what he brings to the table as a leader.
The main star to watch out for is definitely Real Betis youngster Diego Lainez who is a bundle of talent mixed with energy and electrifying pace and he has been given the No 10 jersey ahead of this tournament.
With some of the games he has played for Betis, Lainez has shown he’s capable of dictating play for his team. Regardless of his age, the youngster would be expected to carry the team to the latter stage of the tournament with his talent
- Bryan Gil – (Spain)
If there’s any to pick to win the Tokyo 2021 Olympic men’s football it’s definitely Spain because of the array of stars in the team from goalkeeping position, midfield, to the forward.
Having looked at the Spanish team one player that would light up the competition with his fascinating talent is Sevilla’s winger Bryan Gil.
The youngster has been out on loan for a couple of seasons growing his football skill and would certainly play for the first team of Los Nervionenses and La Furia Roja.
Gil’s performances at Eiber last season clearly show he’s the kind of player who is gradually maturing and developing himself into what the Spanish team would enjoy for a long time.
- Arne Maier – (Germany)
Quite a number of excellent youngsters have come through the academy of Die Mannschaft and a large number of them have all gone to achieved success with the national team on the big stage.
The men’s football event may not be as big as the FIFA World Cup, yet it’s a unique tournament that young players could use as a fire to light up their way to the pinnacle of their career and into the heart of many enthusiasts all over the world.
One player who is already building a great template for himself is the Hertha Berlin midfielder Arne Maier who shone like a million star at the just concluded Euro U21 won by Germany.
The midfielder has been likened to the likes of Toni Kross and Sami Khedira, it would be quite interesting to see him lived up to expectations. However, with the way he marshaled the German team at the championship, Maier is destined for greatness.
- Lee Kang-in – (South Korea)
South Korea is not known for producing a team brimming with amazing players across all positions, but over the years they’ve shown they’re capable of producing at least one fantastic player that would go on to achieve success and one name that clearly comes to mind is former United midfielder Park Ji-Sung.
The face of Korean football is no doubt Tottenham Hotspur’s forward Son Heung-min, but one man that is destined to be his successor is Lee Kang-in who plays for Valencia in Spain.
The youngster’s style of play is quite similar to the Tottenham forward in terms of speed and his trickery ability to take on defenders, he would be very instrumental for South Korea.
Lee is fun to watch when wriggling free from defenders, should he bring his hey game to the fore in all of South Korea’s matches, then the opponent has a big task ahead of them.
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- Takefuso Kubo – (Japan)
Kubo is another fascinating player from the Asia continent that is doing quite well for himself outside the four walls of Japan. The Real Madrid youngster has become the face of Japanese football since he signed for the Spanish giant in 2019, and he has been moving from one loan spell to another.
He’s also an exciting talent to watch with his Messi-like pace and trickery that made Los Blancos invest in him. The hope of going far in this tournament on home soil solely depends on him and the experience of veterans like Wataru Endo, Maya Yoshida, and Hiroki Sakai.
Just like the Olympic games have birthed quite a number of world-class players, should Kubo go on and hit the ground running with amazing performances, his name would definitely make it into the footballing folklore of the Olympics.
- Thiago Almada – (Argentina)
Argentina is well known for their penchant for producing brilliant players that have gone on to shine at the Olympic games and in regards to that some names certainly come to mind Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria in Beijing 2008.
Fast forward to Tokyo 2021 Olympic games, the Velez star Thiago Almada is one name that would be in the entire mouth of all La Albicelestes fans having continuously proved he could be the next big thing of Argentine football with his performances for both club and the junior team.
The 20-year-old could play as a winger and midfielder with eyes for brilliant passes, breathtaking dribbles, and combative energy to wriggle past defenders. With the kind of qualities he possesses as a youngster, scouts would definitely be out for him as he gets ready to lead his country to the final.
- Nathaniel Mbuku – (France)
The Stade De Reims forward is one brilliant talent that football aficionados should keep a tab on at Tokyo 2021 Olympics. Mbuku has been preparing himself for this stage with the French U19 team, scoring 7 goals in 11 appearances.
France has the experience of Andre-Pierre Gignac and Florian Thauvin to bank on, but one player that would like to show what he’s capable of is Nathaniel Mbuku irrespective of what the aforementioned veterans would bring to the table.
The 19-year-old left-footer is an embodiment of talent mixed with an electrifying pace and great awareness in front of a goal. Though he’s still very young and developing, for those who like seeing youngsters do well on the big stage, Mbuku is the man to keep an eye on.
- Liberato Cacace – (New Zealand)
Saint-Truiden left-back Cacace is also one of the finest talents that should give football fans an exciting event to remember, though his country is not one of the favorites.
Cacace is a specialist left-back blessed with an electrifying acceleration, and he’s well known for his excellent crosses which stands him out as one of the brightest left-back in the Belgian League with great potential to reach the pinnacle of his professional career.
The Kiwis would be seeking a commendable performance at their third men’s Olympic football tournament when they face their opponent, as all eyes would be on the Wellington born to lead them into an event that the whole New Zealand fans would be proud of.
