The finest players aged 21 or younger heading to the biggest international tournament in football.
Now that the 2013/14 domestic season is over for most clubs, the focus is now turning towards the 2014 World Cup in Brazil – which starts in just two weeks time.
The best talent from across the planet will be vying to win the prestigious trophy and over the years the competition has served as a platform for young and emerging talent.
So here are the 10 best youngsters – defined be being aged 21-years-old or younger – heading to the tournament this year.
10. Serge Aurier – Toulouse and Ivory Coast
Considered to be among the finest defenders in Ligue 1 in 2013/14, not only sticking to his duties at the back but also scoring six goals and providing six assists and has replaced Emmanuel Eboue in the national team.
9. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Arsenal and England
Spent most of the last season watching from the sidelines after a knee injury on the opening day of the campaign, but did enough upon his return to help the Gunners to FA Cup triumph and to retain his place in Roy Hodgson’s squad.
8. Heung-Min Son – Bayer Leverkusen and South Korea
After an impressive year with Hamburger SV in 2012/13 Leverkusen decided to snap up this talented youngster and he continued that good form with 12 goals in all competitions.
7. Raheem Sterling – Liverpool and England
The second English starlet on this list and a player who really found his form last term thanks to the help and guidance of manager Brendan Rodgers and is now expected to start for the Three Lions.
6. Ricardo Rodriguez – Wolfsburg and Switzerland
The Swiss could be something of a dark horse in this tournament – a label reserved for Belgium by most – and having had a brilliant previous 12 months in the Bundesliga, Rodriguez will play a big part in that.
5. Romelu Lukaku – Chelsea and Belgium
Lukaku is such an established figure in both the Premier League and for his country that it’s easy to forget the striker has only just celebrated his 21st birthday and looks set to improve from hereon in.
4. Raphael Varane – Real Madrid and France
Ever since joining Los Blancos from Lens in 2011 this French defender has simply taken everything in his stride and looks set to replace either Pepe or Sergio Ramos in the starting XI as of 2014/15.
3. Julian Draxler – Schalke 04 and Germany
There was so much hype surrounding this 20-year-old not so long ago that many have dismissed the attacker as a fad, but make no mistake, Draxler is a hugely talented player with a bright future ahead of him.
2. Marco Verratti – Paris Saint-Germain and Italy
Establishing yourself in a side owned by Qatari billionaires and expected to win every competition is no mean feat, especially not when one is 21-years-old, but that is exactly what Verratti has achieved.
1. Paul Pogba – Juventus and France
Yet top of the pile is a midfielder who has come on so much in the last two years it’s easy to forget he was in the Manchester United youth academy in 2012, but now Pogba is established in the French XI and has two Serie A titles to his name.
SEE ALSO: The 50 best players at the 2014 World Cup.