A number of young players impressed at the 2022 World Cup, and WhoScored have picked out their best rated U23 XI. Portugal, Brazil, England and Germany are all represented in the team.
Largely in the team by default - he is the only goalkeeper aged 23 and under to feature at the World Cup - Diogo Costa may have seen his stock dip in Qatar due to a series of shaky performances, but it's worth noting he is still only 23 years of age, and these experiences will improve him as a player.
Diogo Dalot started Portugal's World Cup campaign as second choice right-back, but ended 2022 as a starter and impressed despite their early exit having earned a WhoScored rating of 7.27. Dalot ranked second tackles per 90 (2.8) of all Portugal players and registered one assist from his 1.4 key passes per 90 to feature in this XI.
Jurrien Timber (Netherlands) - 6.99
Jurrien Timber was linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer before penning a new deal with Ajax, and his stock rose further during the World Cup. The Netherlands fell to a quarter-final penalty shootout defeat to Argentina, but Timber was solid for the Oranje, notably with his distribution. Indeed, Timber 90.6% pass success rate, that better than any player for the Netherlands, as he returned a WhoScored rating of 6.99.
Ibrahima Konate (France) - 6.98
Partnering Timber at the back, Ibrahima Konate made more tackles (15) than any other centre-back at the 2022 World Cup and while he wasn't a regular for France in Qatar, with Didier Deschamps swapping between the Liverpool man and former RB Leipzig teammate Dayot Upamecano at the back, Konate was still solid when needed, noted by a WhoScored rating of 6.98.
Alphonso Davies (Canada) - 6.77
Alphonso Davies rounds off the defence having yielded a WhoScored rating of 6.77. The Bayern star scored Canada's first ever men's World Cup goal after his opener against Canada, and proved an excellent ball carrier once again having ended Qatar 2022 with 3.7 dribbles per game, that the second best return.
Mohammed Kudus makes the U23 team of the tournament for his excellent showings in the group stages for Ghana. The Black Stars failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition, yet Kudus was superb as noted by his WhoScored rating of 7.53. Two goals, both scored in an entertaining 3-2 win over South Korea, helped bump the Ajax star's score up.
Jude Bellingham (England) - 7.58
It's hard to believe that Jude Bellingham is still only 19 years of age. The England star made the WhoScored team of the tournament as he returned a rating of 7.58 having scored one and assisted another for the Three Lions. 16 tackles was the fourth most in Qatar as Bellingham exhibited the defensive side to his game as he gave his reputation a further boost.
Jamal Musiala (Germany) - 7.64
Jamal Musiala was one of a handful of Germany players who could return home with their head held high. Despite crashing out in the group stages, only Kylian Mbappe (25) completed more dribbles than Musiala (19), including 13 in their 4-2 win over Costa Rica. The 19-year-old also made eight key passes, and is credited with the assist for Niclas Fullkrug's late equaliser against Spain, as the teenager earned a WhoScored rating of 7.64.
No England player scored more goals than Bukayo Saka (3) at the World Cup, and any questions over his selection in the XI were duly answered. Saka's WhoScored rating of 7.68 is better than any other player aged 23 and under at the World Cup, and he was unfortunate to not make the WhoScored team of the tournament.
Cody Gakpo (Netherlands) - 7.53
Interested parties will have paid close attention to Cody Gakpo in Qatar, and the striker duly delivered for the Netherlands. Gakpo scored three times on the way to the Oranje's quarter-final exit at the hands of Argentina, a fine return for the Dutch hitman, and with the January transfer window looming, Manchester United, who are believed to be leading the race for the 23-year-old, will have been impressed by what they saw of the PSV star.
Vinicius Junior (Brazil) - 7.20
Completing this XI is Brazil winger Vinicius Junior with a WhoScored rating of 7.20. The 22-year-old was directly involved in three Brazil goals, scoring once, while his two assists came from eight key passes as the Real Madrid star rounds off the team.
