PREMIER LEAGUE clubs have had eyes on the Under-20 World Cup for the past month.
And it would be no surprise to see some of the tournament’s top talents arrive on these shores in 2026.
Here SunSport breaks down the five stars of the Under-20 World Cup that shone the brightest and where they might end up…
Othmane Maamma (Morocco)
The undisputed star of the Moroccan team that went all the way to become only the second African nation to lift the Under-20 title already plays in England at Watford.
Maamma’s mesmeric dribbling stood out from day one as the Atlas Lions progressed from the group of death and sent Brazil packing.
His pinpoint cross found Gessime Yassine to seal a 2-0 victory over Spain before he announced himself as one to watch with a spectacular scissor kick strike in a 2-1 win over the Samba boys.
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An outrageous flying backheel assisted Morocco’s first goal in the quarter-final win over the United States and led to him scooping the first of two Man of the Match awards in the knockout rounds.
He tormented the French backline with his pace and intelligent movement in the semis and almost brought the house down in Valparaiso with a mazy incursion and shot in stoppage time.
Maamma he was at it again in the final, providing another inviting cross for Yassir Zabiri to grab his second of the game in a comfortable 2-0 win over six-time champions Argentina.
Watford swooped to sign the right-winger, who has just turned 20, from Montpellier in the summer and his price-tag will have skyrocketed in the past month.
Manchester City were caught napping by that move and could look to recruit Maamma, who demonstrated the defensive responsibility and tactical awareness that Pep Guardiola demands from his wingers.
Maher Carrizo (Argentina)
Carrizo turned heads with a series of swaggering displays in Chile and seems destined for a major move soon.
He stood out in Argentina’s 4-0 demolition of Nigeria in the Round of 16, opening his account with a peach of a free-kick curled around the wall and into the bottom corner.
Carrizo’s cool finish when sent through one-on-one with the Golden Eaglets keeper in the second half showed he has ice in his veins.
And his predatory instincts were on show in the quarter-finals when he pounced on a loose ball to give Argentina an early lead against Mexico.
Carrizo’s performance wasn’t just about goals – it was about presence. Every time he got the ball, defenders backed off like he was radioactive. His dribbling was tight, his movement sharp, and his confidence sky-high.
Velez Sarsfield shrewdly signed him up to a new deal last month, but a reported £14million release clause is unlikely to deter Premier League clubs for long.
Manchester City were linked to him last summer, but something put them off.
A move to a less-demanding environment might better suit Carrizo’s career pathway and with Everton, Bournemouth and Wolves all sending scouts to the tournament, he may not be short of options at that price.
Gilberto Mora (Mexico)
Mora lived up to the pre-tournament hype that came out of Central America with a series of standout displays in Chile at the tender age of 16.
The Xolos de Tijuana attacking midfielder thrived under the responsibility of leading the Mexican team from a creative standpoint.
He recorded three goals and two assists, including a brilliant brace in El Tri’s 2-2 group-stage draw with Spain.
His ball control, passing vision, and leadership in midfield captured the attention of fans and international scouts alike.
As did his reaction to Mexico’s quarter-final exit to Argentina when Mora was left crying inconsolably on the pitch after the final whistle.
Having just turned 17, he cannot move overseas for another year and may still have some time to grow and develop his game in Liga MX.
But that hasn’t stopped Manchester United and Barcelona from enquiring about the conditions for his transfer with the Red Devils understood to be leading the Premier League pack of admirers.
United see Mora as a potential heir to Bruno Fernandes’ mantle and still have enough pull in Mexico from Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez’s spell at Old Trafford to lure him to Manchester.
Benjamin Cremaschi (United States)
Cremaschi was awarded the Golden Boot after bagging five goals and two assists for his country of birth.
But the Inter Miami starlet has strong Argentine roots as the son of an ex-Pumas rugby international.
He netted a hat trick as the United States opened their campaign with a record-setting 9-1 thrashing of New Caledonia.
And his double strike against Italy in the Round of 16, contributed to a 3-0 win against the Azzurrini — potentially making life a little awkward for himself at club level.
Inter Miami sent him on loan to Parma in the summer and Cremaschi is being tipped to make his Serie A debut this weekend.
The 20-year-old midfielder is a superb technician with a fine range of passing and an incredible work-rate.
Liverpool scouts tracked his progress in Chile but Tottenham were reportedly showing an interest in him earlier this year.
Both Premier League clubs have form for plucking young talent from Italy at an early age and they may be tempted to make a move next summer if he develops further at Parma.
Rion Ichihara (Japan)
Ichihara has gone from little-known Tokyo talent to a global sensation after a string of standout performances at the Under-20 World Cup – and Liverpool are watching closely.
The Red Bull Omiya centre-back captained Japan through the group stage with ice-cold composure and a warrior’s mentality, earning rave reviews from scouts across Europe.
The 20-year-old defender was a rock at the back, winning all ten of his aerial duels in the group phase and scoring twice – including a towering header against Ecuador that had pundits comparing him to a young Virgil van Dijk.
Calm under pressure and brave in possession, Ichihara looked every inch a modern centre-half.
His passing stats were just as impressive. In Japan’s opener, Ichihara completed 28 passes into the final third – a number that would make even midfield maestros blush. He wasn’t just defending; he was dictating play from deep, launching attacks and breaking lines with surgical precision.
Liverpool’s recruitment team, led by Richard Hughes, are on red alert.
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Ichihara’s profile – technically sound, tactically sharp, and physically dominant – fits Arne Slot’s system like a glove.
The Red Bull connection adds another level of intrigue — Ichihara’s development at Omiya has been shaped by the same high-intensity, pressing philosophy that runs through all the Red Bull clubs, now overseen by ex-Anfield supremo Jurgen Klopp.
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