No Nigerian youngster was named among the seven standout stars selected by FIFA as Chile 2025 group stage ended on Monday.
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles may have impressed with flashes of brilliance at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025™, but none of their players made FIFA’s official list of top performers from the group stage.
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Daniel Bameiyi led the Flying Eagles to spirited showings including a hard-fought draw against Saudi Arabia and moments of promise against Colombia and not even the captain got a mention despite scoring two back to back vital penalties to push the Nigeria team into the round of 16.
More than 300 players showcased their talents in a thrilling opening round filled with late drama and stunning goals.
FIFA highlighted seven individuals who stole the spotlight with exceptional performances, technical brilliance, and decisive moments for their teams.
Benjamin Cremaschi – USA
The USA captain announced his presence early, scoring just 142 seconds into the tournament against New Caledonia.
He finished that game with a hat-trick and two assists, later leading his side to a dominant 3-0 win over France.
Pablo Garcia – Spain
Garcia transformed Spain’s campaign after coming off the bench in their opening defeat.
His goal against Mexico and assist versus Brazil helped La Roja secure a place in the knockout rounds.
Rion Ichihara – Japan
Japan’s leader in defense was rock-solid, guiding his team to three consecutive clean sheets. He also converted two penalties and claimed back-to-back Player of the Match awards.
Gilberto Mora – Mexico
At just 18, Mora became the tournament’s youngest scorer. His brace against Spain and winner against Morocco confirmed his reputation as one of Mexico’s brightest young stars.
Alejo Sarco – Argentina
The Argentine striker followed in the footsteps of Messi and Agüero, netting three goals in two games, including a spectacular header against Cuba.
Gessime Yassine – Morocco”
Yassine was the heartbeat of Morocco’s midfield, directly contributing to all four of his team’s goals, with one strike and three assists.
Hamed Yousef – Saudi Arabia
Despite Saudi Arabia’s early exit, goalkeeper Yousef impressed with his reflex saves and even provided an assist against Nigeria, a rare feat for a shot-stopper.
While Nigerian fans may be disappointed to see no representative among the top seven, the tournament remains open.
The Flying Eagles still have a chance to make their mark as the knockout stages begin today in Chile while they confront Argentina on Wednesday.
