Los 40 USA
Sign in to commentAPP
spainSPAINchileCHILEcolombiaCOLOMBIAusaUSAmexicoMEXICOlatin usaLATIN USAamericaAMERICA

Internacional

Messi, Agüero, Pogba... U20 World Cup MVPs of years gone by

Maradona with Argentina who won the second edition of the U20 World Cup, beating the Societ Union 3-1 in Japan in 1979.
Yugoslavia's Robert Prosinecki was named the best player of the 1987 U20 World Cup in Chile. Soon after, he turned pro with Red Star Belgrade then signed for Real Madrid in 1991.
Brazil midfielder Bismarck was voted the tournament's best player at the VII U20 World Cup in Saudi Arabia in 1989, despite the team's exit at the quarter final stage.
Another Brazilian, Caio stood out when Qatar hosted the finals in 1995.
Uruguay's Nico Olivera was the sensation of the 1997 U20 World Cup finals in Malasia in which the team ended as runners-up, losing the final to 2-1 Argentina.
Spain won the 1999 U20 World Cup in Nigeria but it was Mali's Seydou Keita who had everyone talking. Other players who stood out at the tournament were Brazil's Ronaldinho, Argentina's Esteban Cambiasso, Spain's Xavi and Uruguay's Diego Forlán.
Javier Saviola picked up a clean sweep of awards when Argentina lifted the trophy on home soil in 2001. Saviola's impressive tally of 11 goals during the tournament included two hat tricks.
When United Arab Emirates hosted the XIV edition of the U20 World Cup in 2003, it was Ismaeil Matar who caused a sensation by almost single-handedly taking the team to the quarter finals. Other players shone at that 2003 tournament, Andrés Iniesta and Dan
Leo Messi thrilled at the 2005 U20 World Cup finals in Holland. He won the Golden Ball and pipped Spain's Fernando Llorente to the Golden Boot as well as scoring twice in the final to help Argentina lift the trophy for the fifth time.
Leo Messi thrilled at the 2005 U20 World Cup finals in Holland. He won the Golden Ball and pipped Spain's Fernando Llorente to the Golden Boot as well as scoring twice in the final to help Argentina lift the trophy for the fifth time.
Sergio 'Kun' Agüero followed on where Messi had left off in the 2007 finals in Canada. The Albicelestes were crowned champions for the sixth time and Agüero scored in the final against the Czech Republic and took home the Golden Ball and Golden Boot.
Sergio 'Kun' Agüero followed on where Messi had left off in the 2007 finals in Canada. The Albicelestes were crowned champions for the sixth time and Agüero scored in the final against the Czech Republic and took home the Golden Ball and Golden Boot.
Dominic Adiyiah lifted the trophy with Ghana in Egypt in 2009 and took home both individual awards. He scored an outstanding 8 goals in 6 games as well as tucking away his spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out.
Brazil's Henrique sizzled in the 2011 finals hosted by Colombia. He scored five goals in seven games as Brazil became the second nation to win the trophy five times.
All eyes were on Paul Pogba at the 2013 U20 World Cup in Turkey. He collected the Golden Ball award and was instrumental in helping France become world champions for the first time in the category.
Mali ended the 2015 finals in New Zealand third and Adama Traoré was voted the best player throughout the competition, scoring four goals in seven appearances.
Chelsea's Dominic Solanke picked up the Golden Ball award in the most recent Under-20 World Cup in Korea Republic. Solanke scored decisive goals as England's young lions roared to the final to win the trophy for the first time ever.
1 / 17

Maradona (Argentina) en Japón 1979

Maradona with Argentina who won the second edition of the U20 World Cup, beating the Societ Union 3-1 in Japan in 1979.

Prosinecki (Yugoslavia) en Chile 1987

Yugoslavia's Robert Prosinecki was named the best player of the 1987 U20 World Cup in Chile. Soon after, he turned pro with Red Star Belgrade then signed for Real Madrid in 1991.

Bismarck (Brasil) en Arabia Saudí 1989

Brazil midfielder Bismarck was voted the tournament's best player at the VII U20 World Cup in Saudi Arabia in 1989, despite the team's exit at the quarter final stage.

Foto:Ben RadfordGetty Images

Caio (Brasil) en Qatar 1995

Another Brazilian, Caio stood out when Qatar hosted the finals in 1995.

Foto:Steve Morton - EMPICSEMPICS/PA Images via Getty Images

Nicolás Olivera (Uruguay) en Malasia 1997

Uruguay's Nico Olivera was the sensation of the 1997 U20 World Cup finals in Malasia in which the team ended as runners-up, losing the final to 2-1 Argentina.

Keita (Malí) en Nigeria 1999

Spain won the 1999 U20 World Cup in Nigeria but it was Mali's Seydou Keita who had everyone talking. Other players who stood out at the tournament were Brazil's Ronaldinho, Argentina's Esteban Cambiasso, Spain's Xavi and Uruguay's Diego Forlán.

Saviola (Argentina) en Argentina 2001

Javier Saviola picked up a clean sweep of awards when Argentina lifted the trophy on home soil in 2001. Saviola's impressive tally of 11 goals during the tournament included two hat tricks.

Foto:ENRIQUE MARCARIANREUTERS

Ismaeil Matar (Emiratos Árabes Unidos) en Emiratos Árabes 2003

When United Arab Emirates hosted the XIV edition of the U20 World Cup in 2003, it was Ismaeil Matar who caused a sensation by almost single-handedly taking the team to the quarter finals. Other players shone at that 2003 tournament, Andrés Iniesta and Dan

Foto:KARIM JAAFARAFP

Messi (Argentina) en Países Bajos 2005

Leo Messi thrilled at the 2005 U20 World Cup finals in Holland. He won the Golden Ball and pipped Spain's Fernando Llorente to the Golden Boot as well as scoring twice in the final to help Argentina lift the trophy for the fifth time.

Foto:MICHAEL KOORENREUTERS

Messi (Argentina) en Países Bajos 2005

Leo Messi thrilled at the 2005 U20 World Cup finals in Holland. He won the Golden Ball and pipped Spain's Fernando Llorente to the Golden Boot as well as scoring twice in the final to help Argentina lift the trophy for the fifth time.

Foto:ARIS MESSINISAFP

Agüero (Argentina) en Canadá 2007

Sergio 'Kun' Agüero followed on where Messi had left off in the 2007 finals in Canada. The Albicelestes were crowned champions for the sixth time and Agüero scored in the final against the Czech Republic and took home the Golden Ball and Golden Boot.

Foto:EDUARDO MUNOZDIARIO AS

Agüero (Argentina) en Canadá 2007

Sergio 'Kun' Agüero followed on where Messi had left off in the 2007 finals in Canada. The Albicelestes were crowned champions for the sixth time and Agüero scored in the final against the Czech Republic and took home the Golden Ball and Golden Boot.

Foto:SHAUN BESTREUTERS

Adiyiah (Ghana) en Egipto 2009

Dominic Adiyiah lifted the trophy with Ghana in Egypt in 2009 and took home both individual awards. He scored an outstanding 8 goals in 6 games as well as tucking away his spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out.

Foto:RADU SIGHETIREUTERS

Henrique (Brasil) en Colombia 2011

Brazil's Henrique sizzled in the 2011 finals hosted by Colombia. He scored five goals in seven games as Brazil became the second nation to win the trophy five times.

Foto:VANDERLEI ALMEIDAAFP

Pogba (Francia) en Turquía 2013

All eyes were on Paul Pogba at the 2013 U20 World Cup in Turkey. He collected the Golden Ball award and was instrumental in helping France become world champions for the first time in the category.

Foto:MURAD SEZERREUTERS

Adama Traoré (Malí) en Nueva Zelanda 2015

Mali ended the 2015 finals in New Zealand third and Adama Traoré was voted the best player throughout the competition, scoring four goals in seven appearances.

Foto:AYKUT AKICIAFP

Solanke (Inglaterra) en Corea del Sur 2017

Chelsea's Dominic Solanke picked up the Golden Ball award in the most recent Under-20 World Cup in Korea Republic. Solanke scored decisive goals as England's young lions roared to the final to win the trophy for the first time ever.

Foto:KIM DOO-HOAFP

Most Viewed Galleries