After the breakout of Leonel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Bojan Krkic, Aaron Ramsey and Pato over the last couple of seasons, Rob Hughes over at the International Herald Tribune has a look at the next generation about to make it’s mark in the world of football.

Each nation has its prospects: In Germany it might be Bayern Munich’s teenage midfield creator, Toni Kroos; in Brazil the next export could be São Paulo’s 19-year-old prodigy, Sergio Mota.

Eden Hazard, a 17-year-old, has played for the Belgian national team. Italy expects goals in the future from Giuseppe Rossi who was born in New Jersey. The United States believes Jozy Altidore – currently playing alongside Rossi for Villarreal – will be the real thing.

At United right now, another Brazilian, Rafael da Silva, a galvanic, adventurous 18-year-old right back, thrills the manager, Alex Ferguson, so much that he keeps the club captain, Gary Neville, and his understudy, Wes Brown, an England international, in reserve.

“This boy has come in from Brazil, doesn’t even speak the language that well, but understands the football very well,” Ferguson said during United’s trip to win the Club World Cup in Japan last month.

“Gary and Wes Brown are England’s best right backs,” Ferguson continued, “but they have a little problem because the boy, da Silva, has just taken off.”

Rafael has a twin, Fabio, who appeared the brighter talent when he led Brazil to the Under-17 World Cup title in 2007.

Long before then, United had spotted the twins. It made a deal with their club, Fluminense, after a youth tournament in Hong Kong in 2005.

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