Five Spain stars to watch at India's FIFA Under-17 World Cup

#1 Abel Ruiz (FC Barcelona B)

Spain's U-17 captain will have to step up and take charge

The captain and along with Ferran Torres, the headline act in India. There’s a good chance that Abel Ruiz could show himself to be player of the tournament and top scorer. He’s one of the most promising players in world football at his age and his shoulders seem wide enough to carry that tag.

Spotted at a youth tournament while playing for Valencia, he became an obsession of the Barcelona recruitment department who did not hesitate to snap the player up.

Since then he’s progressed through La Masia and has been rewarded with a place in Barcelona B. Impressive for a player of just 17-years-old, who even made his debut with Spain U-17 while just 15-years-old.

Abel’s a powerful, hulking presence in attack who is a mix of physical strength and pure striking ability. He can hold the ball up, play with his back to goal and associate with teammates. Where he comes alive though is when facing the goal, where he can quickly shift his body and unleash rasping shots.

He’s a pure number 9, a dying breed in Spain, and will be looking to showcase his talent once more on the International stage. He’s also captain of this team and boasts immense leadership qualities.