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FIFA Under-17 World Cup: The cradle for budding Xavis, Neymars and Marcelos

FIFA Under 17 World Cups has been the road to glory for several big names in international football. Many of the current and former greats of the game kicked started their career by representing their countries at this stage. Many players have also made it to top European clubs through stunning display of football in the U-17 WC. Here are a few popular names who started off at this teenage arena to become icons of the game later.
FIFA Under 17 World Cups has been the road to glory for several big names in international football. Many of the current and former greats of the game kicked started their career by representing their countries at this stage. Many players have also made i
FIFA Under 17 World Cups has been the road to glory for several big names in international football. Many of the current and former greats of the game kicked started their career by representing their countries at this stage. Many players have also made i
IANS
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Ronaldinho: The Brazil legend remains the only player to have won both the U-17 World Cup and senior World Cup, in 1997 and 2002 respectively. Dinho scored twice for the Canaries in the Egypt edition of the tournament. (Photo | Twitter/Foot ball fan)
Ronaldinho: The Brazil legend remains the only player to have won both the U-17 World Cup and senior World Cup, in 1997 and 2002 respectively. Dinho scored twice for the Canaries in the Egypt edition of the tournament. (Photo | Twitter/Foot ball fan)
Iker Casillas: The legendary captain of Spain and Real Madrid featured in the 1997 edition of the tournament in which the La Rojas finished third. Casillas made his senior team debut at the tender age of 19, and has made a national record 167 appearances for his country so far. (Photo | AFP)
Iker Casillas: The legendary captain of Spain and Real Madrid featured in the 1997 edition of the tournament in which the La Rojas finished third. Casillas made his senior team debut at the tender age of 19, and has made a national record 167 appearances for his country so far. (Photo | AFP)
Xavi: The long-serving midfielder was Iker's comrade from the time of the Egyptian campaign. Another member of the country's golden generation, the Barcelona legend was a regular starter till the side bowed out to Ghana in the semifinals at Cairo. (Photo | AP)
Xavi: The long-serving midfielder was Iker's comrade from the time of the Egyptian campaign. Another member of the country's golden generation, the Barcelona legend was a regular starter till the side bowed out to Ghana in the semifinals at Cairo. (Photo | AP)
Neymar: The costliest footballer on the planet, Neymar was part of the Brazilian squad that crashed out of the tournament in the group stage itself during the Nigerian edition of 2009. From three appearances, the PSG forward scored once against Japan, but that was not good enough to take the Canaries to the knock-out rounds. (Photo | Reuters)
Neymar: The costliest footballer on the planet, Neymar was part of the Brazilian squad that crashed out of the tournament in the group stage itself during the Nigerian edition of 2009. From three appearances, the PSG forward scored once against Japan, but that was not good enough to take the Canaries to the knock-out rounds. (Photo | Reuters)
Andres Iniesta: Arguably the best Spanish player ever, Iniesta was one among the many prominent players to have participated in 2001 Carribean edition of the World Cup. Iniesta's role with the U-17 team was more or less the same as that with the senior side - command the midfield and push forward! (Photo | Twitter)
Andres Iniesta: Arguably the best Spanish player ever, Iniesta was one among the many prominent players to have participated in 2001 Carribean edition of the World Cup. Iniesta's role with the U-17 team was more or less the same as that with the senior side - command the midfield and push forward! (Photo | Twitter)
Carlos Tevez: The former Manchester United and City forward featured in the 2001 campaign in which Argentina bowed out in the semi-finals. Tevez had scored two goals in the tournament. (Photo | Twitter)
Carlos Tevez: The former Manchester United and City forward featured in the 2001 campaign in which Argentina bowed out in the semi-finals. Tevez had scored two goals in the tournament. (Photo | Twitter)
Francesco Totti: The AS Roma midfielder played for the Azzurri in 1993 when Japan was hosting the tournament. The second highest goalscorer in the Serie A history, however, didn't had a good time in Japan as the Italians were eliminated in the first round itself. He scored one goal from three appearances. (Photo | Twitter/Napoli Analysis)
Francesco Totti: The AS Roma midfielder played for the Azzurri in 1993 when Japan was hosting the tournament. The second highest goalscorer in the Serie A history, however, didn't had a good time in Japan as the Italians were eliminated in the first round itself. He scored one goal from three appearances. (Photo | Twitter/Napoli Analysis)
Cesc Fabregas: The former Arsenal, Barcelona and current Chelsea player was the break-out star at the 2003 edition in Finland, winning both the Golden Ball for the best player and the Golden Shoe for the top scorer with the Spanish side. (Photo | Twitter/Roberto Farato)
Cesc Fabregas: The former Arsenal, Barcelona and current Chelsea player was the break-out star at the 2003 edition in Finland, winning both the Golden Ball for the best player and the Golden Shoe for the top scorer with the Spanish side. (Photo | Twitter/Roberto Farato)
Toni Kroos: Toni Kroos took over the command of the German midfield from Bastian Schweinsteiger after the latter's retirement. But Toni's service in the German midfield dates further back to 2007, where he took the team into the semifinals. The in-form Kroos scored five times in six matches, and also won the Golden Ball award for the South Korean edition. (Photo | Twitter/Belhadj Benyammi‏)
Toni Kroos: Toni Kroos took over the command of the German midfield from Bastian Schweinsteiger after the latter's retirement. But Toni's service in the German midfield dates further back to 2007, where he took the team into the semifinals. The in-form Kroos scored five times in six matches, and also won the Golden Ball award for the South Korean edition. (Photo | Twitter/Belhadj Benyammi‏)
James Rodriguez: The Bayern Munich star, who won the Golden Boot for 2014 FIFA World Cup, failed to score a single goal for Columbia in the U-17 edition in 2007. Columbia qualified for the Round of 16 as the best third-placed team, but was no match for the Nigerians who went on to lift the Cup. (Photo | AP)
James Rodriguez: The Bayern Munich star, who won the Golden Boot for 2014 FIFA World Cup, failed to score a single goal for Columbia in the U-17 edition in 2007. Columbia qualified for the Round of 16 as the best third-placed team, but was no match for the Nigerians who went on to lift the Cup. (Photo | AP)
Luis Figo: Before he became the most wanted forward in Europe, before wearing the colours of both moth Real Madrid and Barcelona, before becoming Cristiano Ronaldo's mentor in the national side, Luis Figo was the guy who took the Portuguese colts to the third position in the Scotland edition of 1989. Figo's contribution to the side was way too much than the two goals he scored and obviously opened him the door to the national side. (Photo | Twitter/Chip Carvaldo)
Luis Figo: Before he became the most wanted forward in Europe, before wearing the colours of both moth Real Madrid and Barcelona, before becoming Cristiano Ronaldo's mentor in the national side, Luis Figo was the guy who took the Portuguese colts to the third position in the Scotland edition of 1989. Figo's contribution to the side was way too much than the two goals he scored and obviously opened him the door to the national side. (Photo | Twitter/Chip Carvaldo)
Marcelo: The Real Madrid vice-captain was part of the Brazilian team that ended up as runners-up in Peru. Marcelo's defensive excellence was well applauded during the 2005 edition of the World Cup. (Photo | PTI)
Marcelo: The Real Madrid vice-captain was part of the Brazilian team that ended up as runners-up in Peru. Marcelo's defensive excellence was well applauded during the 2005 edition of the World Cup. (Photo | PTI)
John Obi Mikel: The three times Premier League winner and one-time Champions League champion Obi Mikel represented Nigeria at the U-17 level in 2003. While his Chelsea contemporary Fabregas became the star of the tournament, Obi Mikel's stay at Finland was short as Nigeria bowed out in the group stage itself. (Photo | AFP)
John Obi Mikel: The three times Premier League winner and one-time Champions League champion Obi Mikel represented Nigeria at the U-17 level in 2003. While his Chelsea contemporary Fabregas became the star of the tournament, Obi Mikel's stay at Finland was short as Nigeria bowed out in the group stage itself. (Photo | AFP)
Esteban Cambiasso: A fifteen-year-old Cambiasso wore the famous Blue and White stripes in the African soil in 1995, when Ecuador hosted the sixth edition of the tournament. Cambiasso's contribution was instrumental in taking Argentina to the third place in the tournament. Before establishing a decade-long illustrious career with Inter Milan in 2004, Cambiasso played for Real Madrid and River Plate. He played 52 matches for Argentina at international level. (Photo | AFP)
Esteban Cambiasso: A fifteen-year-old Cambiasso wore the famous Blue and White stripes in the African soil in 1995, when Ecuador hosted the sixth edition of the tournament. Cambiasso's contribution was instrumental in taking Argentina to the third place in the tournament. Before establishing a decade-long illustrious career with Inter Milan in 2004, Cambiasso played for Real Madrid and River Plate. He played 52 matches for Argentina at international level. (Photo | AFP)
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Iniesta
FIFA U17 WC

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