Ross Barkley and Co would not be the first young stars to shine at a World Cup if they are selected for England this summer. Just ask Pele...

Sportsmail looks back on the youngsters who have shone at past tournaments - from Michael Owen's wonder strike against Argentina in 1998, to Franz Beckenbauer starring for Germany in 1966, a number of players have burst onto the scene and made a serious name for themselves in the globe's biggest football competition.

Bound for Brazil: Ross Barkley and Co would not be the first young layers to shine at a World Cup finals

Pele - 1958

Pele was the original World Cup whizkid when he arrived in Sweden to become the youngest ever World Cup player at 17 years old (a record beaten by Northern Ireland’s Norman Whiteside in 1982).

Pele scored the winner against Wales in the quarter-finals, a hat-trick against France in the semi-finals and two in the final against Sweden.

His first in the final, where he lifted the ball over a defender and met it with a crisp volley on the other side is one of the iconic Pele goals.  This was Brazil’s first world title and the No 10 shirt has never been the same since.

Whizkid: Pele, aged 17, became the youngest ever World Cup player when he starred for Brazil in 1958

Franz Beckenbauer - 1966

Less than 12 months after his debut for West Germany, the 20-year-old midfielder was one of the stars of the tournament in England, scoring four goals, including a winner in the semi-final against the USSR.

He lost in the final, of course, overshadowed by Geoff Hurst’s hat-trick, but a German legend was born.

Beckenbauer would become one of the game’s greats, leading his  country to the world title on home soil eight years later and his club  Bayern Munich to a hat-trick of  European titles in the 1970s.

A legend is born: Franz Beckenbauer steers the ball around Uruguay goalkeeper Ladislao Mazurkieviez to score West Germany's second goal in a 4-0 win during the 1966 World Cup finals.

Giuseppe Bergomi - 1982

The Inter Milan full back made his debut in April 1982 at the age of 18 and was included in Italy’s World Cup squad by Enzo Bearzot despite having played just 30 games for his club.

The teenager forced his way into the team during the tournament when Claudio Gentile was suspended and played with such maturity he kept his place for the semi-final against Poland and the final against West Germany, where he marked Karlheinz  Rummenigge out of the game.

Bergomi would become one of the great Italian defenders and part of a famous back four with Franco Baresi, Antonio Cabrini and Gaetano Scirea.

Challenge: Italy's Giuseppe Bergomi battles for the ball with West Germany's Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

Michael Owen - 1998

The Liverpool youngster won his first cap in February, four months before the tournament in France, where he became England’s youngest ever tournament goalscorer at the age of 18 years and 190 days.

It was the manner of his goal against Argentina in the second round which fired the imagination. He accelerated through the South American defence and ignored passing options with great confidence to fire the chance high into the net.

England lost that night on penalties but Owen’s path was set - he even won BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1998 - and would lead the England attack for a decade.

Wonder goal: Michael Owen scores past goalkeeper Carlos Roa for England against Argentina in 1998

Iconic moment: Owen celebrates after scoring during England's 2-2 draw with the South Americans

Bastian Schweinsteiger - 2006

Aged 21, Schweinsteiger was not an absolute novice at this World Cup but two long-range goals in the third-place play-off propelled the Bayern midfielder to prominence.

He and Lukas Podolski epitomised Jurgen Klinsmann’s exciting and youthful approach which captured the host nation’s imagination and launched a new German era.

After converting from a winger to a central midfielder, Schweinsteiger has won more than 100 caps.

Pointing the way: German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger celebrates after scoring against Portugal in 2006

Thomas Muller - 2010

Always tipped for stardom, Muller did not win a full cap until March 2010 - his second cap came in the final warm-up game for the tournament.

Bayern voiced concerns that he was being fast-tracked by Joachim Low but, at the age of 20, he won the Golden Boot with five goals and three assists in South Africa.

Muller was suspended from the semi-final when Germany lost to Spain but he was still voted young player of the tournament.

Tipped for stardom: Thomas Muller shoots to sscore fro Germany against England at the 2010 World Cup