Younes Delfi vs. Costa Rica in 2017 u17 WC
The word wonderkid gets thrown around a lot in modern football to describe what many believe to be the next big thing. Hundreds of these wonderkids pop up every year, yet only a few actually make it big, with most ending up in lower leagues or in an occupation outside football. Dominating youth levels does not equal success on the senior side. Similarly, mediocrity at the youth levels does not mean that senior football is out of reach. Jamie Vardy played lower league football and worked in a factory into his twenties, yet made history at a Leceister side that won the Premier League. In Iranian football, Saman Ghoddos went from working as a telephone operator while playing in Sweden's lower tiers to dominating Arsenal at the Emirates in a few years time.
So what can determine what separates a wonderkid from a hyped up youth player? How can one determine the difference between the next Messi and the next Freddy Adu? It comes down to senior football. In youth football, a player can use their physicality to best their opponents. The best way to get around this is for talented players to make jumps to higher levels; i.e. what Pulisic had done for the US youth teams and what Delfi is doing for the Iran youth teams. When a player can best those with a physical advantage, they can prove to have genuine potential. The two young starlets don't rely on physicality to play, but rather technicality. The two are frustrating to defend against, and as a result of their technical skills they are fouled quite often. In the u17 WC and the Iran Pro league, Delfi has drawn numerous penalties for his teams. Similar to Pulisic's penalty drawing in the Bundesliga. While the leagues aren't comparable, the play style and development of the two players are.
Younes Delfi has played a handful of senior games for his club after he debuted at just 16. The winger has started 18 games and made 14 substitute appearances amounting to 7 goals and 1 assist at just 17. His club team, Esteghlal Khuzestan, has become famous for giving youth playing time, with many other under 18 players making appearances. For the national team, he has just made the jump to the u23 team, being the youngest Iranian in recent history to do so. At the u17 level, Delfi played an important role in beating renowned youth teams at the u17 WC, including teams such as Mexico and Germany. With his fast development, a move to the senior team for the 2019 Asian Cup is becoming more and more possible.
What perhaps separates Delfi from other talented youth is his obsession to improve himself in all aspects of his gameplay. Delfi wants to be a complete player and his interview tones mimic those of Christiano Ronaldo's. Delfi has been pushing to make a move to a European league, and has attracted serious interest from the likes of PSV Eindhoven and Beskitas. The only thing holding back a move at the moment is UEFA regulations which require foreign players to either be either 18 or have a serious reason for an exception. Delfi has trialed with PSV and is set to return to negotiate a potential agreement to join upon turning 18. Europe is the goal regardless of the club he ends up at. Many talented Iranian players have stayed in the domestic league for financial reasons or fear of making the jump abroad. Delfi is different. He has the talent to eclipse Iran's current stars in a few years time.
If Delfi continues to push himself and develop, he may be challenging Iran and Brighton winger Alireza Jahanbahsh for the right wing spot at the 2022 World Cup.