This World Cup is set to be a stage for an unprecedented number of superstars of the football world. Most fans know and love the likes of Ronaldo, Rooney, Messi, Torres, van Persie and Robinho. But every World Cup launches the careers of the next generation of talent – superstars in the making, and South Africa is unlikely to be an exception.

Footbet has put together the ten players that we feel are the most likely to become household names sooner rather than later.

Nicknamed Chicarito, Hernandez is being likened to the great Hugo Sanchez. He is quick, smart and an absolutely lethal finisher whose talents have already been spotted by Manchester United

In a squad with such stellar talent, it can be difficult for the young ones to shine, but Elia’s lightning pace and intelligent crossing afford him a spotlight on the left wing. Likely to find that playing with such a talented midfield will give him more space to run at opponents than he gets at Hamburg. Possibly the quickest player at the World Cup

One of three youngsters brought in to Ghana’s African Nations Cup squad in January to plug the huge gap left by Stephen Appiah, Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari. Proved an impenetrable wall in the centre of defence. Starting to attract more and more attention after a great couple of seasons at Hoffenheim

The one player that has German fans drooling about the future. The playmaker has been on loan at Bayer Leverkusen this year learning his trade and is expected to play a major part in the Champions League finalist’s season next year. With the injury to Michael Ballack leaving a huge hole in the middle, coach Joachim Low has already experimented putting Kroos in the attacking midfield role that could make him a star this summer

The exciting centre back who kept Rigobert Song out of the reckoning has rapidly become a crucial cog in the wheel of a Cameroon side expected to be one of Africa’s greatest hope at the World Cup finals. Expect a few Premier League clubs to be sniffing around

One of the most talked about players in Asia over the last six months, ‘David Ki’, as he is known, only managed five starts for Celtic since signing in January. But he is expected to make an impression at the World Cup, particularly as talismanic striker Lee Dung-gook is having issues with a knee injury

The young stopper is likely to see a lot of action in front of a team that has failed to bring about a lot of confidence. If the hosts do proceed to the second phase it will be in no small part to the Kaiser Chiefs goalkeeper who was so outstanding in his first season this year that he finished runner-up for South African player of the year

Dubbed ‘the new Frank Lampard’ Khrin has been singled out for praise by Inter’s (now former) coach Jose Mourinho for special praise. Has an incredibly sound head on his shoulders for one so young and is very comfortable in possession

Only appeared four times for Chelsea before going out on loan to Dutch side Twente where he has flowered into the player Chelsea hoped he would become when they spotted him playing for a Slovak first division club at the age of 15. Quick left winger who models his game on his two idols – Ronaldo and Ronaldinho

Mexicans talk about a golden generation of footballers coming through, which is the reason why they are the only nation to have two players in Footbet’s ten stars of the future list. Barrera is likely to play a crucial role from the subs bench as a right-winger with blistering pace and a spectacular shot