FIFA: two Latin American players among the most promising of 2017
The Mexican “Chucky” Lozano and the Uruguayan Federico Valverde were named by FIFA as football promises that emerged this year
The Federation International of Football Association (FIFA) selected the eleven best young players of the world throughout this 2017. The list is made up by the Mexican “Chucky” Lozano and the Uruguayan Federico Valverde, plus five Englishmen, two Germans, one French and one American. The selection was made based on the participation of each of the young players with their club and their country, especially on the two youth World Cups that took place in this 2017: U-17 World Cup in India and U-20 World Cup in the Republic of Korea.
“Chucky” Lozano, barely 22 years old, had an excellent season with the senior’s national team of Mexico and their clubs Pachuca of Mexico and PSV Eindhoven of Netherlands. With the Aztec team, in 2017, he participated in the qualifiers for the World Cup Russia 2018, scoring three goals. Likewise he played for “El Tri” in the Confederations Cup of Russia, where he scored a goal and helped his team finish in fourth place.
At club level, the Mexican had an outstanding participation with Pachuca, remaining champions of the Concacaf Champions League 2016-17, being the top scorer of the tournament with eight goals in eight games. In the middle of the year, Lozano was transferred to PSV Eindhoven, a team with which he has 13 goals and 6 assists in 15 games played. The Mexican is a young promise that already demonstrates his talent in Europe and in his senior’s selection, something unusual for his young age.
For his part, Federico Valverde, 19 years old, has had a season of arduous work with the U-20 and senior national team of Uruguay, with the Real Madrid Castilla and with the professional team of Deportivo de La Coruña. At club level, he played several matches with Real Madrid Castilla, which made possible his loan to Deportivo de La Coruña to play in the first division of Spanish football. He played several games in excellent level and for this reason was called for the national team of Uruguay.
With “La Celeste” U-20, he played the U-20 World Cup in the Republic of Korea, where he played seven games and scored one goal, making him the winner of the Silver Ball for being second best player of the tournament. With the senior selection played the qualifiers to the Word Cup Russia 2018, scoring a valuable goal to Paraguay in Asunción, which ensured the participation of Uruguay in the World Cup. Valverde is a game creator with a lot of technique who has worked to become a young leader in world football.
The Mexican and the Uruguayan are just two of the thousands of soccer promises that Latin America produces annually, because soccer is not only a sport in these lands, it is a culture, a way of earning a living, and in many places, it even becomes a religion. Latin players such as “Chucky” Lozano and Federico Valverde, with hard work, dedication and perseverance reach a peak in the world football at such a young age. Latin America is a birthplace of soccer talent and its promises are often fulfilled.
Latin American Post | Javier Aldana
Copy edited by Laura Rocha Rueda
