FIFA Confederations Cup 2013: Stars Who Will Dominate the Tournament

The 2013 Confederations Cup features a good mix of teams from around the globe and no shortage of star power. With the World Cup less than a year away, the tournament is an opportunity for international football to start taking center stage again.

Brazil, Spain and Italy headline the eight-team field. Big things will be expected from all three sides next summer. Then there's a group of sleeper teams in Japan, Mexico and Uruguay. Finally, long shots Nigeria and Tahiti hope to surprise.

With that in mind, let's examine some of the big names who should have a major impact on the marquee event. It wouldn't be a shock if one of these three players leads his team to the championship. For more information, visit the tournament's official site.

Neymar (Brazil)

Few players, if any, will face the type of pressure Neymar will over the next 12 months. From the Confederations Cup and World Cup on home soil to making the club move to Barcelona, big things are expected from him.

In one year, fans will know whether the 21-year-old striker deserved all the hype. His international career is off to a fantastic start with 20 goals in 34 appearances. All but three of those came in friendlies. The level of competition is different in big tournaments.

Neymar has the skill set to handle it. He combines elite creativity with great vision and a reliable finishing touch in front of goal. Brazil is still working out the kinks, which means there will probably be several stretches where Neymar must rise to the occasion and carry the attack.

Andres Iniesta (Spain)

Iniesta plays for two dominant teams in Barcelona and the Spanish national team. While he's enjoyed plenty of team success because of it, his individual greatness often gets overlooked because he's playing alongside so many other stars.

In both cases, and especially so for Spain, the veteran midfielder is crucial to the team's success. The reason La Roja have been so successful in recent years is because they control possession and the pace of play with their midfield, and Iniesta is the driving force.

The game plan isn't going to change in the Confederations Cup. If Spain is going to win the title, Iniesta and his fellow midfielders must outplay their counterparts. Expect them to create a lot of chances as Spain cruises toward the final.

Edinson Cavani (Uruguay)

For all the talk about Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Robin van Persie, among others, Cavani has been one of the most productive forwards in Europe over the past three seasons. He netted 104 goals across all competitions for Napoli over that span.

This is the type of event where he can start increasing his international stock. With so many big-name players on display, a standout performance from Cavani could really elevate him into that upper echelon of strikers.

He, along with fellow striker Luis Suarez, are the main reason Uruguay is a legitimate threat. They should be able to put on an offensive show. How the defense holds up against other top-notch attacks will decide exactly how far Cavani and Co. go.