Last week, the South American U-20 Championship kicked off in Chile, with the top four finishers earning qualification to this summer’s U-20 World Cup in Poland. The biennial tournament frequently showcases talent that goes on to run the world’s game, including the likes of Romário (1985), Ronaldinho (1999), Adriano (2001), Lionel Messi (2005), Edinson Cavani and Arturo Vidal (2007), Douglas Costa (2009), Neymar (2011), Josef Martinez (2013) and Giovanni Simeone (2015).
As 11-time winners of the competition, all eyes are traditionally on Brazil. The most hyped talent on the roster is 18-year-old Santos forward Rodrygo. The teenager is the youngest Brazilian to ever score in the Copa Libertadores, he finished joint-fourth in 2018 Kopa Trophy voting and he’s already agreed to join Real Madrid in June for a fee of $51 million.
Brazil began play with a 0-0 draw against Colombia, but then rebounded with a 2-1 win over Venezuela on Monday. The scorer of both goals for Brazil was, of course, that Rodrygo boy. His control and finish on the second goal is pretty special.
| Rodrygo Goes, wonderkid rekrutan Real Madrid pada musim panas lalu itu, tampil super gemilang dalam ajang Sudamericano U-20. Kedua golnya (40', 81') mengantar kemenangan Brasil U-20 atas Venezuela U-20 (2-1).#HalaMadrid #VamosPRMI pic.twitter.com/xRcmFZfDMy
— Peña Real Madrid de Indonesia (@Madrid_Indo) January 23, 2019
Marcos Bahia, who plays his club ball for Estoril in Portugal, is another 18-year-old Seleção talent who’s easy on the eye.
Brazil U20 midfielder Marcos Bahia showing his skills. He's been their best player so far at the #SudamericanoSub20 #SeleçãoSub20 pic.twitter.com/nGgeh3zd9p
— World Football Index (@WorldFootballi) January 22, 2019
And although Venezuela lost to Brazil on Monday, la Vinotinto’s youth team (it should be remembered that the senior side has never qualified for a World Cup) began the competition with victories over Colombia and Chile.
The victory over Colombia was secured with a free kick by Samuel Sosa. Back in 2017, Venezuela shocked the world when making an improbable run to the final of the U-20 World Cup. Sosa was on that team as a 17-year-old, and he made a name for himself when scoring an injury time equalizer against Uruguay in the semis with an incredible free kick.
Now 19, not much has changed in the life of young Sammy. Here’s the free kick against Colombia.
Samuel Sosa's free kick which won the game for Venezuela U20s vs Colombia #SudamericanoSub20 pic.twitter.com/fhe3wg5gr6
— World Football Index (@WorldFootballi) January 17, 2019
And the lone goal Venezuela scored in the defeat to Brazil was a free kick from Sosa at the death.
¡GOOOOOOOL DE VENEZUELA!
Samuel Sosa marca de tiro libre #SudamericanoSub20 #VenezuelaRechazaXenofobia pic.twitter.com/0Jn0WbCfaj— MIPPCI (@Mippcivzla) January 22, 2019
Venezuela has also earned plaudits for this finish against Chile.
GOLAZO de Jorge Yriarte ante Chile
Venezuela vence 2-1 a Chile en el #SudamericanoSub20CHILE 1-2 VENEZUELA pic.twitter.com/BQrIgWR5IC— Romel Bolívar (@RomelGuardian_) January 20, 2019
And for this brilliant bit of crunching.
Que un jugador de @LaRoja te llamen "MUERTO DE HAMBRE" y le contestes con es de grandes @SeleVinotinto OJO @CONMEBOL #SudamericanoSub20 grande Venezuela pic.twitter.com/1hcKOrjElV
— Carlos Vidrogo (@CarVidro) January 20, 2019
Down in Group B, it’s Uruguay (eight-time winners) and Argentina (five-time) that usually make the most noise, and you can’t look at Uruguay without wondering where the next great Celeste forward is at.
It might be 20-year-old Nicolás Schiappacasse, who’s currently on the books at Atletico Madrid but on loan at Rayo Majadahonda. His numbers for Uruguay’s youth sides are absurd, and he wrapped up the scoring in the 3-1 victory over Ecuador.
¡Golazooo! #NicolásSchiappacasse sella la victoria de Uruguay #Uruguay 3-1 #Ecuador#Sub20xMDeportes
Disfruta de todos los partidos del torneo #EnExclusiva porMovistar TV 003/703 HD
Movistar Play https://t.co/eNEWZt1UKX pic.twitter.com/vUIQrJT2x4— Movistar Deportes (@MovistarDeporPe) January 21, 2019
Argentina’s gotten off to a rough start with a draw against Paraguay and a defeat to Ecuador. Maxi Romero, who plays for PSV, has scored his nation’s lone goal at the tournament.
Gol de Argentina! Maxi Romero! Great cross by Facundo Mura and the PSV man nods it in at the back post. Argentina 1 x 0 Paraguay #SudamericanoSub20 pic.twitter.com/YnTnBoPUOT
— Vincent (@VincentGuzman_) January 20, 2019
Unfortunately for Argentina, Agustin Almendra — a Boca Juniors 18-year-old who’s been tabbed as the next Juan Román Riquelme — was ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury.