The stars of tomorrow on display

Juventus target Eduardo Salvio is Argentina's leading scorer in the U-20 Championship. Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images Gregory Sica's Mailbag Submit a comment or question for Gregory Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND

Over the years, the Under-20 South American Championship has been used as a highly effective market platform for future prospects to showcase their skills in an attempt to attract lucrative contracts with top European clubs.

South America constantly produces exciting players, with the potential to succeed in the elite leagues of Europe. And while the biggest stars traditionally emerge from South American heavyweights Brazil and Argentina, the other eight nations aren't too far behind.

In the last decade, several household names tested their strength in the competition before finding extensive international success abroad. Such players include Lionel Messi, Carlos Tévez, Javier Mascherano, Ronaldinho, Adriano, Maicon, Daniel Alves, Alexandre Pato, Roque Santa Cruz and Diego Forlán.

The current edition of the tournament, which decides the four South American representatives for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, has featured players who already have demonstrated the necessary quality to warrant a European move.

Here are 10 top future prospects in the 24th edition of the U-20 South American Championship:

1. Eduardo Salvio (Argentina)

If there's one player who is destined to excel in the elite European leagues in the near future, it's this exciting striker. Although Argentina struggled before securing passage into the decisive stage of the competition, Salvio clearly has been the standout. The 18-year-old is the latest gem to have emerged from Argentine soccer with Lanús, and he promises to be a future prospect with the senior national team.

His short stature, combined with his close-ball dribbling and explosive pace, have earned him comparisons with Barcelona superstar Messi. With three goals, Salvio is Argentina's leading scorer in Venezuela, and he's currently being observed by Italian giant Juventus, which has been dazzled by his rare quality. Other interested clubs include Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid and both Inter and AC Milan.

2. Douglas Costa (Brazil)

There was much speculation that Costa would join either Real Madrid or Manchester United after experiencing a memorable season with Grêmio last year. The attacking midfielder is perhaps Brazil's most familiar name in Venezuela, and if he continues to impress with his incredible talent, he will surely be part of the senior national team in the future.

Many see Costa as the successor to Ronaldinho, who also defended the colors of Grêmio before making the big leap to European soccer. Brazil has yet to reach its peak in the competition, but when the final stage commences, Costa is likely to demonstrate why there has been so much talk about a future transfer to a leading European club.

3. Franco Zuculini (Argentina)

Zuculini has earned ongoing praise from the Argentine press since making his professional debut with Racing Club of Avellaneda last year. He is one of the stars of the Argentine U-20 side, and has been very impressive during the South American championship. Perhaps Argentina's best player in the 2-2 draw with Ecuador, Zuculini worked tirelessly in the center of midfield, and his fighting spirit was much of the reason why Argentina managed to hang onto a vital point despite playing with only 10 men.

He has similar characteristics to Liverpool defensive midfielder Mascherano and has already caught the attention of Argentine boss Diego Maradona, who could well present him with a national-team call-up in the future.