It was early in the group stages of last year's Libertadores that Palmeiras gave a first start to a teenage winger called Estevao.

He was off to a flyer, scoring against Liverpool of Uruguay - and making it very clear that he had the talent to be taking on a much bigger club of the same name. And soon that will be happening, as after the Club World Cup he joins Chelsea.

These are the last few months for South American crowds to appreciate the most talented Brazilian prospect since Neymar.

The Libertadores gave him a stage to move within a few months from promise to reality, a senior Brazil international on his way to the Premier League. Can anyone make a similar impression in 2025?

Ecuador's Independiente del Valle are always worth watching. The club, from the outskirts of Quito, have made a name for themselves in the past 15 years as specialists in youth development.

Chelsea's Moises Caicedo is one of their graduates - and he will soon be joined at Stamford Bridge by playmaker Kendry Paez, a type of Ecuadorian Phil Foden. These are his last few months in South America, and it will be fascinating to see his progress.

A first-team player at 15, a senior international at 16, Paez has endured a difficult few months as he struggles with the new demands. But the potential is undeniable.

Last week, Ecuador gave a start to 17-year-old Darwin Guagua in World Cup qualification - before he had even made his debut for Independiente del Valle. He, and many other youngsters, will be striving to catch the eye over the next few months.

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