A quick question - which country's clubs have the best chance of winning the Club World Cup and scooping the mouthwatering £97million jackpot?

By sheer weight of numbers, it's Brazil - who, by virtue of having four different sides win the Copa Libertadores in the last four years, have a quartet of representatives in the United States vying for glory.

Jetting out to the States are Botafogo, Flamengo and Fluminense from Rio de Janeiro and Palmeiras of Sao Paulo.

Brazil is the spiritual home of the wonderkid, and there are a raft of them in the squads of these four clubs hoping to become the next big thing, whether with their national team or after a big-money move to Europe.

But who should you keep your eye on over the next month? And who should your club be snapping up before the secrets get out about their talent?

Here, our Brazilian football expert JOSUE SEIXAS picks the top 10 Brazilian talents to watch at the Club World Cup.

Nathan Fernandes (No 16) is full of promise, but is yet to show his best talent as a professional, with just four goals in 53 games at Gremio

BOTAFOGO (Group B)

Nathan Fernandes

The 20-year-old forward already has experience in the Brazil Under 20 squad, as part of the side who won the South American title in February, and was bought from Gremio in February to add depth to the forward line.

He is considered a highly promising prospect, but is yet to show his best talent as a professional, with just four goals in 53 games at Gremio.

The 5ft 9in forward, who has been linked with Ajax, struggles with muscular injuries and will most likely have his opportunities off the bench for the immediate future.

David Ricardo

This 22-year-old has just lost his centre back partner, with 20-year-old title winner and Copa Libertadores champion Jair Cunha off to Nottingham Forest. 

Ricardo is mainly used centrally, but can also play as a left back if necessary due to his speed. He is tall at 6ft 2in, made his professional debut in 2021 and has drawn interest from MLS clubs.

He is still inexperienced in the top flight, however, with just 11 Brazilian Serie A appearances to his name after two seasons in the second division at Ceara before making the switch in February.

David Ricardo (right, battling Neymar) is mainly used at centre back, but can also play as a left back

FLAMENGO (Group D)

Matheus Goncalves

Flamengo manager Filipe Luis, the one-time Chelsea left back who will face the Blues in Philadelphia on June 20, considers Goncalves a versatile option for his side.

He can play as a winger or a midfielder, depending on the situation, and is very highly rated. What he needs to improve now, as Luis pointed out, is his positioning and tactical work on the field.

In 2023 he spent five months on loan in the Red Bull stable at their Brazilian affiliate Bragantino, so Leipzig and Salzburg will be fully clued up on him should they decide the 19-year-old is ready for a move to Europe.

Matheus Goncalves can play as a winger or as a midfielder and is very highly rated

Joao Victor de Souza

Another, like Goncalves, who has been with the Brazil Under 20 team this week, the 18-year-old defender made his debut at the end of last season and is slowly gaining the trust of Luis, who does not rush his young players.

The problem Joao Victor faces is a blocked pathway, with two hugely experienced full backs in his way at Flamengo in former Manchester City man Danilo and ex-Juventus star Alex Sandro, both of whom are in the national team. 

Joao Victor has not yet attracted interest from European clubs, but it’s just a matter of time, especially if there continues to be a lack of opportunities at Flamengo.

Joao Victor has not yet attracted interest from European clubs, but it’s surely only a matter of time until he does

FLUMINENSE (Group F)

Leo Jance

The 20-year-old left back has renewed his contract just before the Club World Cup and is known for his strength and speed, but is yet to prove he deserves a starting spot at Fluminense. 

Leo Jance is also a renowned dead-ball specialist, and former Fluminense coach Mano Menezes and incumbent Renato Gaucho - in his eighth spell in charge - appreciate the youngster's talent.

Riquelme Felipe

Felipe is one of the best talents out of Fluminense's vaunted academy in recent years, a list which includes Brazil and Real Madrid left back Marcelo, former Chelsea centre half Thiago Silva, Tottenham striker Richarlison and Fabinho, a Champions League and Premier League winner with Liverpool.

At youth level he smashed 18 goals in 35 games at Under 17 and Under 20 levels for his club and took home the Under 17 title for Fluminense last year.

The right-sided forward, 18, made his professional debut in January and was gaining momentum but picked up an injury in March and is now an option from the bench.

In April, Spanish newspaper AS compared Riquelme to incoming Chelsea wonderkid Estevao, who experts believe is one of the best young talents in the world.

He is under contract until 2028 and his deal includes a £41.8million release clause, but he is expected to renew the deal in the next few months. Do not be surprised if that is merely to increase the fee Fluminense will get for him when he moves abroad.

Riquelme (left) Felipe is one of the best talents Fluminense has produced in recent years

PALMEIRAS (Group A)

Luighi

Like Riquelme Felipe, Luighi is part of an exclusive club.

Luighi was part of Palmeiras's 'Generation of a Billion', a quartet of players who would be worth a billion Brazilian reais (£130million) in transfer fees. The 19-year-old forward is the last one standing, with Palmeiras having already sold Endrick to Real Madrid, Estevao to Chelsea and Luis Guilherme to West Ham.

That trio have already brought the Brazilian top flight's most successful club £105.5m, so Luighi should easily complete the prophecy when he eventually leaves Palmeiras.

He is likely to get minutes at the Club World Cup, but manager Abel Ferreira tends to prefer a starting line-up including more experienced forwards Vitor Roque and Paulinho, with Luighi unleashed from the bench.

A 6ft striker who has won seven trophies in Palmeiras’s youth system, he has not yet made the same impact as the rest of the 'Generation of a Billion', and may need more time before he is ready to leave for Europe.

Luighi (left) was named as part of Palmeiras' 'Generation of a Billion'

Thalys

Manchester United were in on this 20-year-old wide forward last year and he has caught the eye of a number of European clubs.

Known for his dribbling and playmaking ability, Thalys was a star in Palmeiras' youth teams, scoring 32 times in 45 games for the Under 20s in 2024, before eventually making his senior bow. 

He has scored twice in his first seven professional games and is pushing to be a first-choice starter. Estevao's departure for Stamford Bridge will at least clear the pathway somewhat.

Manchester United were in on 20-year-old forward Thalys last year and he has caught the eye of a number of European clubs

Allan

Allan is a different story from Luighi and Thalys, and has yet to be fully integrated into Ferreira's first team at Palmeiras.

He had a strong Copa Sao Paulo de Futebol Junior, the prestigious youth tournament in the city, and the noises coming out of the club are that he is ready for the leap to the senior squad.

The 20-year-old midfielder already showed that he has talent in the Paulista Championship, the state cup, and he has been gradually getting more minutes.

Allan has impressed in Palmeiras' youth set-up

Kaiky Naves

A defensive midfielder, Naves can also play as defender if necessary.

The 23-year-old is the oldest on this list and has been generating a lot of interest. Ferreira has stated more than once that he sees talent in the player and that he understands that he wants more playing time.

He might get a few minutes in the Club World Cup to showcase his talents for other markets, such as Saudi Arabia - who are increasing their interest in signing Brazilian talent - and even European leagues.