FIFA Confederations Cup 2013: Players Improving Their Stock in Brazil

With many of the best soccer teams in the world competing in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, it should come as no surprise that the action has been fantastic thus far. While every player in the tournament deserves to be there, a small handful has risen above the rest.

Every soccer fan knows about the likes of Neymar, Luis Suarez, Mario Balotelli and the countless other stars competing in Brazil, but the players who typically fly under the radar have a great chance to shine. That is precisely what a select few players have already done in the early going.

Here are three players in particular who have considerably improved their stock with strong performances in the Confederations Cup.

Nnamdi Oduamadi

Nigeria didn't exactly face elite competition in its opening game as it took on an over-matched Tahiti squad, but that doesn't diminish what Nnamdi Oduamadi accomplished. The 22-year-old, Milan-owned striker was a dominant force for the Super Eagles against Tahiti as he registered a hat trick in Nigeria's 6-1 victory, according to SuperSport Blitz.

Oduamadi is a supremely talented player, but he hasn't really received a fair chance to produce at the club level. In fact, he has played just one match for Milan as the club has loaned him out twice. Oduamadi most recently played for Varese of Serie B this past season and he showed some flashes of brilliance as he scored twice in 16 appearances. His playing time was far too inconsistent to tell how much he progressed, though.

Considering how well he performed against Tahiti, it seems like Oduamadi is ready for the big time. He will have a chance to prove himself even further in the coming days as his Nigerian squad takes on the likes of Uruguay and Spain. If he is able to continue his great form and perhaps score another goal or two against those teams, then there is no doubt that Milan will come calling.

Paulinho

All of the focus heading into the tournament was on Neymar as he is considered the present and future of Brazilian soccer. Brazil has a ton of talent, however, including 24-year-old midfielder Paulinho. He scored one of Canarinha's three goals as Brazil defeated Japan by a 3-0 score to open its defense of the Confederations Cup on home turf.

Paulinho has largely flown under the radar with Corinthians over the past few seasons, but that may not be the case for much longer. A number of high-level teams seem to be interested in the Brazilian up-and-comer, including Tottenham, according to Goal UK.

If Paulinho is afforded the opportunity to play alongside better players on a regular basis, he figures to be far more productive. He is already a great two-way player with a strong defensive acumen as well as some scoring ability. He has already shown a knack for making big plays internationally, as he has four goals in 14 matches for Brazil, so his Confederations Cup showing could lead him to big things at the club level.

Uwa Echiejile

It's usually quite difficult to overlook a two-goal performance in an important soccer match, but with Oduamadi netting three against Tahiti, many have already forgotten about Nigerian left-back Uwa Echiejile's two markers in that same match. Echiejile displayed plenty of skill on both sides of the pitch, so he is someone to watch moving forward.

Echiejile has been a fairly anonymous player to this point as he plays for Sporting de Braga in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. The 25-year-old has been a consistent contributor for Braga, but the Confederations Cup offers him a grand stage for the first time. He has already made the most of it with some fantastic forays down the field, excellent scoring touch and smart defensive plays.

It will be interesting to see if Echiejile's Confederations Cup play leads to anything bigger from a club perspective. There shouldn't necessarily be any rush on his part to move on from Braga as he receives ample playing time, but it is definitely something to think about in the near future.

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