FC Barcelona players continue to light up the world stage, regardless of the category. Only last year, Lionel Messi triumphed in the FIFA World Cup and lifted the prestigious trophy. Being a great product of La Masia, the Barcelona academy, he joined some of his own former teammates.
Xavi Hernandez, current head coach of the Barcelona first team, has also won the World Cup previously. In 2010, he was accompanied by Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, and several other greats of the club to form a legendary Spain side.
Now, at the Under-17 World Cup final just today, another youth of Barcelona has shined. 17-year-old attacking midfielder Noah Darvich entered the game as German captain. Moreover, he did not leave until he also added a goal to the scoresheet.
His goal came in the 51st minute of the game, and it helped double Germany’s lead to 2-0. Running across to the far post, a wayward cross found its way to him as he squeezed a shot past the German goalkeeper.
However, the sailing was far from over for the excited German youngsters. France ultimately came back from 2-0 and ended the game with a scoreline of 2-2, almost reminiscent of the now famous World Cup final of last year.
Ultimately, Germany ended up triumphing over their French opponents in a penalty shootout. Darvich’s goal would prove to be one of the deciding factors, as it gave Germany enough of a cushion to not lose in normal time.
While the experience of a World Cup is one of a kind, winning it must be an even more surreal one. The German wonderkid returns to Barcelona soon, and having won the Under-17 iteration of the sport’s biggest final, he will surely return with a newfound confidence and quality to him as the leading captain.
