In 2003, Javier Mascherano made his full debut for Argentina before he had even played a senior game for River Plate. Argentina knew they had a special player on their hands. At the start of the year, Mascherano had given an extended display of his potential in the South American Under-20 Championship — a tournament that probably does not receive the attention that it deserves.
Normally held every two years, the competition kicks off on Thursday and runs through until Feb. 12. after being cancelled in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The last version was in 2019 and graduates from that tournament were present in all of the South American squads at the 2022 World Cup. Argentina’s newly crowned world champion Julian Alvarez, for example, was on show four years ago, as were Darwin Nunez of Uruguay and Rodrygo of Brazil — plus five of Ecuador‘s squad.
Ecuador were shock winners of the tournament four years ago and went on to finish third in the U-20 World Cup later that year. Their recent rise has a great deal to do with excellent youth development work. Meanwhile, Uruguay’s re-emergence over the last 15 years has also been based on a succession of graduates from the U-20 ranks — from Edinson Cavani in 2007, all the way through to Nunez in 2019 — the youth team is an essential stepping stone and a conveyor belt leading to the senior squad.
Those who do well at U-20 level can expect a rapid promotion. And now, exactly 20 years after Mascherano made his name with Argentina’s U-20s, he is now coaching the side in the 2023 version of the tournament. Only two of his squad had been born when he was in action back in 2003. Central midfielder Maximo Perrone was just a few days old back then and is now on the verge of trading Velez Sarsfield for Manchester City — or at least one of the teams in the City Group, who already have signed Brazil striker Savio, currently on loan at PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, and Peru right back Kluiverth Aguilar, on loan at Lommel in Belgium.
The contingent of players at the South American Under-20 Championship who have already moved to European sides is growing. Brazil central midfielder Andrey Santos has just joined Chelsea, while Aston Villa have just signed Colombia striker Jhon Duran from Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire.
