History of the Tournament
TOP 10 PLAYER PERFORMANCES OF ALL TIME
By John F. Molinaro, CBCSports.ca
So many great individual performances have taken place at the U-20 World Cup. Here are the 10 best:
1. Diego Maradona (1979)
The legend of one of the best players ever to play the game was born in Japan. An 18-year-old Maradona was already an icon in Argentina, but he remained a mystery to fans outside his homeland. The Argentine ace changed all that in 1979, becoming an international superstar with his brilliant performances in Asia. He scored six goals and wowed Japanese audiences with his deft ball control, sublime passing skills, and the way he bamboozled opposing defenders. His wizardry on the field left fans breathless, giving them just a small taste of things to come. Soccer was never the same again.
2. Lionel Messi (2005)
He was heralded as the second-coming of Maradona, and Messi did not disappoint in the Netherlands. Like Maradona in 1979, the Argentine teenager dominated this competition, jinking his way through opposing defences, and wreaking havoc with his blinding speed, explosive scoring ability and magnificent dribbling skills. The young talisman, who turned 18 on the eve of the quarter-finals, finished as the top scorer with six goals (including both goals in Argentina's 2-1 win over Nigeria in the final) and was named tournament MVP.
Argentina's Lionel Messi was named MVP of the 2005 tournament. (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
3. Javier Saviola (2001)
The diminutive Saviola lived up to his nickname of El Conejo - the rabbit - by using his speed and clinical finishing ability to score a tournament-record 11 goals, breaking the old mark (10 goals) set by Brazil's Adailton four years earlier. Saviola was the toast of the competition, overcoming his diminutive size to outsmart opposing defenders and guide Argentina to the championship on home soil. The efforts of the 19-year-old Saviola did not go unnoticed as FC Barcelona paid Buenos Aires club River Plate £15.7m to lure him to Spain.
4. Robert Prosinecki (1987)
In a Yugoslavian team full of future stars, Prosinecki shined the brightest. Prosinecki served as the lynchpin for his country, setting up scoring chances for teammates Predrag Mijatovic and Davor Suker on a plate and orchestrating his team's attack from midfield. His vision on the field and sublime passes allowed Yugoslavia to overpower traditional powerhouses Brazil and West Germany to claim the championship in Chile.
5. Peixe (1991)
This "Golden Generation" team boasted the attacking talents of Luis Figo and Rui Costa, but it was defensive midfielder Emilio Manuel Delgado, also known as Peixe, who provided Portugal with its backbone. Peixe's tireless work in midfield and ball-winning ability proved to be the perfect link between Portugal's stingy defence and potent attack. Peixe was recognized for his influential play when he was named tournament MVP, much to the delight of the hometown Portuguese fans.
6. Geovani Silva (1983)
Three tournaments had passed by the time 1983 rolled around and Brazil had still not taken the big prize. That all changed in Mexico, thanks in large part to Silva. The Brazilian forward scored a tournament-leading six goals, but also impressed with his outstanding two-way skills - on top of marshalling Brazil's offence, he wasn't afraid to drop back in midfield and lend a defensive hand by breaking up opposing attacks.
7. Nicolas Olivera (1997)
Brazil's Adailton set a tournament record with 10 goals, but the Uruguayan star stole the show in Malaysia. Olivera was an attacking dynamo, linking up with fellow frontman Marcelo Zalayeta to help the Celeste reach the final. Olivera served as the conductor of Uruguay's orchestra, scoring twice and setting up Zalayeta with countless scoring chances thanks to his pinpoint accuracy as a passer. Uruguay lost to Argentina in the final, but Olivera was named tournament MVP.
8. Joseba Etxeberria (1995)
The current Athletic Bilbao captain shot to fame in Qatar, scoring an amazing seven of his country's 19 goals, and helping his country reach the semifinals and planting the seeds for a Spanish team that won the title in 1999. Etxeberria's outstanding form also earned him a transfer from Real Sociedad to Bilbao, where he went on to become a hero to the team's legions of Basque fans.
9. Ramon Diaz (1979)
Maradona was the undeniable star of the 1979 competition, but Diaz also played a vital role in Argentina's triumph. The Argentine forward demonstrated deadly scoring acumen, bagging a tournament-leading eight goals and giving defenders plenty of headaches with his dangerous, probing runs into the penalty box. Japan proved to be a sign of things to come, as Diaz used the tournament as a launching pad to become one of the most prolific Argentine goal scorers of all time.
10. Vladimir Bessonov (1977)
Bessonov was the midfield general of a well-organized and technically proficient Soviet side that came out on top in the inaugural tournament in Tunisia. Buoyed by Bessonov's steely and commanding play in midfield, the Soviets stormed to the title after upsetting Uruguay in the semifinals and Mexico in the final. Bessonov, voted MVP, went on to become a star with Dynamo Kiev and helped the Soviet Union win Olympic gold in 1980.
