There were hints of the future at this World Cup.
Senegal winger Ibrahim Mbaye produced two stepovers, skipped past Theo Hernandez and blasted his shot into the roof of the France net, making him the youngest African goalscorer in World Cup history at just 18 years and 142 days.
Morocco winger Gessime Yassine swept the ball home to round off a 4-2 victory over Haiti, making the 20-year-old the youngest goalscorer in Moroccan World Cup history.
Ivory Coast’s 20-year-old winger Bazoumana Toure started his nation’s opening game against Ecuador and then completed a £42million ($56m) move to Newcastle United the following week.
In each case, Eyeball had seen it coming. It may seem that the World Cup is still the first window to the world for young players, but there are no secret talents anymore.
Eyeball, as much as anyone, has made sure of that. While Wyscout is the industry leader for video scouting tools in football, Eyeball has, since forming in 2020, established itself as the youth football equivalent across the globe. More than 150 professional clubs, including more than half of the English Premier League, pay for access to its database. That archive holds comprehensive video footage, tagged clips, and data insights from amateur and professional youth leagues in 42 countries across Europe, Africa, North America, and Latin America.
It tracks more than 400,000 players from 13 to under-23 level. More than 50 of the players competing in this summer’s World Cup have featured on its platform, including France and PSG duo Bradley Barcola and Warren Zaire-Emery.
Ibrahim Mbaye playing for Senegal at the World Cup (Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Mbaye, Yassine and Toure are three of five players at the World Cup who had full profiles on the platform, having been captured on film since the age of 14 in their home countries. Czech Republic and Sparta Prague midfielder Hugo Sochurek and Ivory Coast and Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Malick Yalcouye are the others.
Yassine is now an established player at Strasbourg after joining from Ligue 2 side Dunkerque for a fee of €7million (£6m; $8m) in February. Before that, he spent six months at Marignane in the fourth tier of French football, having spent his formative years at Istres. Eyeball was there, tracking a total of 32 matches that helped clubs back the decision to move him up a level. Its specialists could see how he had evolved.
Eyeball has flourished because, across the globe, more and more clubs are adopting a business model built on platforming young talent to sell for profit. Clubs in smaller leagues need the revenue from sales, so they are motivated to showcase their talents as early as possible. Buying clubs need to have eyes on young players before others, or they will be late to the party.
Based on the belief that talent is everywhere, Eyeball has set about democratising talent identification through its video platform so that players are not left behind because of where they grow up.
The scope of its antennas now means that it is tracking players in youth teams who will break out and leave a dent on the 2030 World Cup.
“A World Cup squad is where talent surfaces, not where it’s found,” says Eyeball co-founder David Hicks. “Every year, between 500 and 1,000 players featured on Eyeball move from the amateur scene into the professional game.
“It’s an engaging thought that some of the players who will become household names at the 2034 World Cup might only be nine years old today.”
Future stars are being foretold in the Eyeball vault. This is why The Athletic asked Eyeball to forecast a potential XI from across the globe who it believes, while currently unknown to the masses, could be major players at the 2030 World Cup.
The 2030 uncapped World Cup XI
Goalkeeper: Valentin Reigia (16) — Argentina & Argentinos Juniors
The goalkeeper reached the final of the South American Under-17 Championship in April and is one of the long-term hopes to take over the mantle from Emiliano Martinez.
Right-back: Vaboue Doumbia (18) — Ivory Coast & Nordsjaelland
Having moved to Denmark from ASES Mimosas, the full-back is joining a team — Nordsjaelland — renowned for integrating African talent. Although he did not join from their Right to Dream academy in Ghana, the full-back moved this summer. Has been compared to Senegal and Monaco right-back Krepin Diatta, due to his defensive mobility and ability to join in the final third.
Centre-back: Mor Talla Ndiaye (18) — Senegal & Liverpool
After impressing at the Under-17 World Cup last year, Ndiaye was in high demand. Eyeball had access to 27 full matches, allowing teams to assess his potential at Senegalese academies Bousports Academy and Amitie.
Likened to Colombia and Paris Saint-Germain defender Willian Pacho for his dominance, as shown by 2.26 aerial duels won per 90 minutes, Liverpool won the race for him this year. He has made three appearances for the under-21s side and will look to break into the first-team setup in the coming years.
Centre-back: Elie Mbavu (16) — Belgium & Genk
He became captain of Belgium Under-17s at just 15. With regular bursts through the middle of the pitch and an ability to switch play, he is a ball-playing defender who can defend in big spaces and is athletically superior to most opponents he faces for Genk’s youth team, where he made 27 appearances last season.
Left-back: Leon Jakirovic (18) — Croatia & Inter
A full-back who is highly rated as much for his reading of the game as his attacking ability, he averages 8.77 recoveries per 90 and scored two headed goals for Dinamo Zagreb’s Under-19 side against Barcelona Under-19 in the UEFA Youth League last year.
He made four appearances for Dinamo Zagreb before moving to Inter for €2.5m in January, and has made 20 appearances in Serie C this season with their under-23s. Stylistically, he is viewed in the mould of Atletico Madrid’s David Hancko as he can also play centre-back.
Centre-midfield: Abdellah Ouazane (17) — Morocco & Ajax
The midfielder is an all-action type. Think Steven Gerrard or Jude Bellingham in profile. A throwback whose rangy build sees him eat up the ground, he also possesses a powerful strike from range and enjoys luring players in before turning and bursting through gaps.
The Dutch-born Moroccan youth international started his career at AVV Zeeburgia before joining Ajax in 2016. Last season, he moved up to Jong Ajax, their reserve team who play in the Dutch second tier. He made 25 appearances, scoring four goals and assisting six.
He made his Morocco Under-23s debut in March.
Centre-midfield: Ebrima Tunkara (16) — Spain & Barcelona
The Gambian-born midfielder was player of the tournament at the European Under-17 Championship in June. He has a formidable unbeaten record at La Masia since being signed from local AEiLL Cerdanyola Mataro.
He went unbeaten for 60 games across two age groups and has been rapidly promoted through Spain’s age groups in a bid to secure his allegiance.
Centre-midfield: Alexander Andersson (16) — Sweden & Djugarden
The attacking midfielder made history in May 2025 when he played the last four minutes of a 4-0 defeat to Elfsborg, becoming the youngest player to feature in a Swedish top-division Allsvenskan match at just 15 years and 24 days.
Right-winger: Jose Escorcia (17) – Colombia & Atletico Nacional
Unpredictable and evenly balanced across both feet.
Centre-forward: Samba Konate (17) — RB Leipzig & France
A striker who could have slipped through the net but has instead been given a platform. After spells at Le Havre, ASPTT Marseille and Nationals of Cavigal, RB Leipzig pounced last summer to sign him from the amateur ranks of French football.
Eyeball had 38 full matches for clubs and country, dating back to 2023, for clubs to view. The 17-year-old made his senior debut for Leipzig in December, replacing Yan Diomande to become the second-youngest player in Bundesliga history. A tally of 19 goals in 28 games for the Under-19 side earned him a call-up to the France Under-17 set-up.
At 6ft 3in (190cm) with unconventional movement mechanics, he is likened to Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike for his deceptive play. He may look a tad gangly, but he is smooth when dribbling and manages to get shots off from all types of angles.
Left-winger: Eduardo Conceicao (16) — Brazil & Palmeiras
Neymar retired from international football after Brazil’s last-16 exit to Norway and Vinicius Junior will turn 30 during the next edition of the tournament. Brazil worship their creative wingers and Palmeiras’ under-20 star Conceicao — nicknamed Dudu — is one of the next great hopes.
He joined Palmeiras in 2018 having grown up playing futsal but his individual dribbling has translated into the big spaces. Despite being just 16, he is explosive and possesses a devastating burst of pace. Unlike some modern wingers, he is very aggressive in taking on the opposition full-back, averaging five take-ons per 90 minutes. He played on the left of a midfield three at the South American Under-17 Championship in April but is yet to make his first-team debut at Palmeiras.
The alternatives
Right-back: David Boly (17) — France & Paris Saint-Germain
Having come through at Asnieres Racing Club de France, he only joined PSG in 2022. He made his debut in December 2025, and his playmaking ability has drawn comparisons to Chelsea captain Reece James.
Centre-midfield: Aman Moegne — France & Burel
A hidden gem still playing in the amateur leagues of France, he is expected to make a breakthrough at a professional club soon.
Attacking midfield: Aboubacar Maiga (17) — Mali & Africa Foot
Averaging 9.55 forward passes per 90, his vision and range of passing are what have captured the imagination. With 52 games on Eyeball since 2024, the expectation is that there will be a strong contest to secure his signature before his 18th birthday in June.
Right-winger: Petr Potmesil (18) — Czech Republic & Slavia Prague
A goal ratio of 56 in 59 means he is set to break into the first-team squad in the next season. He can score all types of goals and that variety, allied with the composure he shows in one-on-one situations, has earmarked him as one of the most promising centre-forwards of his generation.
As always with forwards, the key is how they transition into first-team football when chances are harder to come by but he is technically sound and does not rely on his athleticism.
He racked up 12 goals in 17 under-19 league games and has scored three in his first nine appearances for Slavia’s second team, which plays in the Czech third tier. At international level, he captained Czech Republic in his last two under-18 appearances, showing his versatility by playing off either wing.
