Young Stars to Watch at the Men's Olympic Football Tournament in Rio
While the Olympic football tournament is often overlooked, it is a fine source of young talent ready to make an impact on the game. Regulations prohibit the fielding of more than three over-23 players, meaning it is up to the kids to deliver their nations to glory.
Neymar was one of the stars of the 2012 Olympics, despite Brazil's failure to take gold. Four years earlier, Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria excelled in Beijing to lead Argentina to the final.
But who will be the heroes in Rio de Janeiro? The following six players will be crucial to their nations' fight for gold, as the Olympic Games kick off in Rio.
Giovani Lo Celso (Argentina)
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Argentina had no easy ride in putting together a team for the Olympics. Stars such as Paulo Dybala, Luciano Vietto, Leandro Paredes and Matias Kranevitter withdrew from the running, leaving Rosario Central's young idol with the responsibility of making the Albiceleste click.
The 20-year-old Lo Celso will not be a Rosario player for long, having agreed a move to Paris Saint-Germain. The transfer will be completed in December, when he moves to France after a six-month loan at his current club, as reported by ESPN FC.
Despite those high-profile absences, the likes of Angel Correa, Lucas Romero and Jonathan Calleri make Argentina a fearsome prospect. But it is the creative mind of Lo Celso that can push them to a third gold in the last four Olympics.
Gabriel Jesus (Brazil)
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While captain and figurehead Neymar is the focus of attention, Brazil's hopes of Olympic gold on home soil will also hang on the talents of the two Gabriels: Santos wonderkid Gabriel "Gabigol" Barbosa and Palmeiras sharpshooter Gabriel Jesus.
At just 19, the striker has drawn comparisons to Ronaldo, with his goals pushing Palmeiras toward the Brasileiro Serie A title. With 10 strikes in the league so far, he heads the scoring charts and will look to bring that same form over to the international arena.
Jesus' attacking talent will be key in the hosts' bid to take gold, and on Wednesday, he sealed a move to Manchester City, where he will come under Pep Guardiola's wing, as confirmed by the club. City fans should be watching keenly for a first glimpse of a young star who from may be lining up at the Etihad Stadium in January.
Miguel Borja (Colombia)
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While he is still only 23, Colombia striker Miguel Borja can nevertheless be considered something of a late bloomer. But a stunning run of form has turned the forward into one of the hottest properties in South America almost overnight.
After middling spells with Livorno, Olimpo and Santa Fe, the powerful Borja became a hero at Atletico Nacional with five goals in four games in the decisive stages of the Copa Libertadores. He hit all four in the semi-finals to down Sao Paulo, and followed that up with the winner in the final to give the Colombians their second Libertadores triumph.
Borja is likely to form a forward trident in Rio de Janeiro alongside the more experienced Dorlan Pabon and Teo Gutierrez. A strong Olympics could see him established as one of the most promising strikers around, sending European clubs knocking at Nacional's door.
Niklas Sule (Germany)
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Hoffenheim's towering young defender has been around for some time, but it has not been smooth sailing. Niklas Sule has fought back from adversity and is ready to be the rock in the middle of Germany's back line.
Sule made his Bundesliga debut at just 17 and has been a mainstay of the Hoffenheim first XI ever since. But his rapid ascent was interrupted in December 2014, when a torn cruciate ligament ended his season and left him on the sidelines.
But the youngster is back, and at 20, he still has a brilliant career ahead of him. If he can stay clear of injuries, there is no reason Sule cannot make the jump to the senior Germany team sooner rather than later.
Takuma Asano (Japan)
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Think what you will of Arsene Wenger, but the Arsenal manager has proved to be a shrewd judge of young talent over the years. So if he sees something special in 21-year-old Takuma Asano, the Japanese youngster must have something special.
After four seasons bamboozling J-League defenders out on the wing for Sanfrecce, Asano will line up at the Emirates next season, as Arsenal confirmed in July.
Wenger is no fan of letting his players loose on international duty, but a strong Olympics for the Samurai would send Asano to north London in the best of spirits, and he easily offers the most promise for the Japanese side in Rio.
Hirving Lozano (Mexico)
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Four years ago in London, Mexico sprung one of the biggest surprises in the 2012 Olympic Games. Fired by an Oribe Peralta double, El Tri shocked Brazil 2-1 to take the gold medal.
The 32-year-old Peralta is in Rio de Janeiro this year to try for a repeat, and the Club America favourite has a new partner-in-crime: Hirving Lozano, one of the most promising young Mexican forwards around.
The Pachuca man is not the most prolific of goalscorers, but he is an effective presence haring down the wing and supporting a more orthodox centre-forward. At 21, he was a key part of the side that lifted the Mexican Clausura title in 2016, and a strong Olympic campaign would only bolster his budding reputation.
