TOP 10 YOUNG GUNS TO WATCH

Who will be the youngsters that will break out at the 2006 World Cup and become the next big superstars? Here are the top candidates:

1) Wayne Rooney (England): Considered by many to be England's most important and dangerous player. The 20-year-old Manchester United whiz kid is lethal with the ball at his feet, burning defenders with his speed, drive, strength and dribbling. Can play either as an outright striker or drop back behind the main forward in a playmaking role. Needs to watch his temper, though.

2) Lionel Messi (Argentina): The 'Argentine Wayne Rooney'. He's only 18, but boy can this kid play! Messi has it all: speed, vision, a blistering shot, breathtaking passing skills, deft dribbling. Not too many teenagers become a starter - and a big star - in their first full season with Spanish club FC Barcelona, but that's exactly what he did this past year. It will be interesting to see if Argentina coach Jose Pekerman will give the youngster a starting role in Germany.

3) Emmenuel Adebayor (Togo): The 21-year-old striker, who plays in the English Premiership with Arsenal, scored 11 goals to finish top scorer in African qualifying ahead of such established stars as Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o, the Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba and Nigeria's Obafemi Martins. Blessed with lightning pace and exquisite dribbling skills, Adebayor is the future of African soccer.

4) Ronaldo (Portugal): The 21-year-old winger burst onto the scene three years ago with Manchester United and hasn't looked back since. Creative and full of confidence, the Portuguese flash is most dangerous when he's carrying the ball down the wing - just when a defender thinks he has him contained, Ronaldo fakes him out of his shoes with his silky smooth ball control and wizard-like dribbling skills. A fun player to watch.

5) Robinho (Brazil): The famous Brazilian soccer assembly line has produced another speedy, visionary and dangerous forward in 22-year-old Robinho. The Real Madrid forward is slight of build, but he makes up for it with his piercing runs in the attacking half of the field and with the way he makes defenders look foolish with his unbelievable moves. Robinho has to be seen to believe.

6) Fernando Torres (Spain): Nicknamed El Nino - The Kid, the 22-year-old Torres supplanted Raul as Spain's most dangerous forward by scoring a team-leading seven goals during qualification. Torres is lightning quick, a deadly finisher and a player of such high class with the ball at his feet that he routinely makes the spectacular look ordinary. No wonder clubs such as Juventus, Chelsea and Real Madrid are lining up to try and lure him away from Atletico Madrid, his current team.

7) Luis Antonio Valencia (Ecuador): A dangerous winger who plays for Villarreal in La Liga, Spain's first division. The 20-year-old livewire has plenty of speed, which he uses to great effect to charge down the flanks and create scoring opportunities for his teammates. He isn't shy about taking a shot on goal, and he has proven he score from distance.

8) Arthur Boka (Ivory Coast): Although somewhat diminutive, this 23-year-old is a fearless and feisty defender who isn't afraid to get physical. He shows great maturity for someone his age, and he plays and reads the game as though he's a seasoned veteran. African teams have long been criticized by pundits as being defensively naïve. Boka is doing his part to prove that stereotype wrong.

9) Niko Kranjcar (Croatia): The coach's son is a starter but nepotism isn't at work here. The 21-year-old Kranjcar is the creative fulcrum of the Croatian team, serving as the main playmaker who directs the attack. Slotting in just behind the two strikers, Kranjcar uses his creativity and exquisite passes to spring his teammates on scoring chances past the defenders and into the penalty area.

10) DaMarcus Beasley (United States): A dangerous 24-year-old winger who uses his speed and quickness to trouble opposing defenders. Beasley, a star with Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, possesses solid defensive skills and doesn't mind dropping back to lend support to his defenders. A real threat on the left wing, he provides quality service for the forwards and chips in by scoring the odd goal.