Victor Hugo: Brazil's new midfield wonderkid earning Real Madrid & Barcelona links

With the World Cup now just a matter of weeks away, fans and pundits the world over are starting to consider who should be their picks to lift the trophy on December 18. The consensus pick right now seems to be Brazil.

The record five-time winners head to Qatar with perhaps the deepest squad of any country, and it is likely that there will be players who miss out on being called-up by Tite who would probably start for the majority of the other nations at the tournament.

But if you thought selection might be about to get easier for Brazilian coaches of the future, then think again. The country's current generation of 16-19-year-olds is regarded as the best anywhere on the planet, with a number having already begun making their mark on first teams both at home and, in some cases, abroad.

It was perhaps no surprise, then, when five Brazilians appeared among the top 11 names on the CIES Football Observatory's list of the best footballers aged 18 and under back in September.

The highest-ranked was Flamengo midfielder Victor Hugo, who placed fourth, having grown into the Brasilerao's most impactful young players.

But what makes him so special? NXGN explains all...