Neymar, Toni Kroos, Raheem Sterling… a look at five superstars from previous Under-17 World Cup campaigns

THE Under-17 World Cup kicked-off in India on Friday night, as the USA thumped the hosts 3-0 in one of four games.

Hot prospect Josh Sargent was on the score-sheet for the Americans, as a host of the world's top youngsters take to the turf.

As well as Sargent, stars including Jadon Sancho, Abel Ruiz, Jann-Fiete Arp and Amine Gouiri are set to take the world stage by storm.

The quintet are set to follow in the footsteps of some of the best players on the planet in cutting their teeth at the Under-17 World Cup.

From Neymar to Raheem Sterling, some of the most famous faces on Earth all turned out at this very tournament.

Check out five of the biggest names to take to the Under-17 World Cup, here...

TONI KROOS - 2007

TEN years ago, one of Europe's best players was just breaking into the international scene with the Under-17 World Cup.

Kroos helped lead Germany to third-place at the tournament, as Nigeria got their hands on the trophy.

The Real Madrid midfielder won the Player of the Tournament gong, scoring FIVE times, level with Stoke's Spanish ace Bojan.

JAMES RODRIGUEZ - 2007

ANOTHER star taking to the tournament a decade ago in South Korea was another Real Madrid ace, Rodriguez.

Aged just 16-years-old at the time, James' nation were knocked out in the group stage, with just one win from their three games.

Rodriguez did get the chance to go head-to-head with Kroos though, as the two nations played out a thilling 3-3 draw in the first game of the group.

NEYMAR - 2009

TWO years later and Paris Saint-Germain's former Barcelona superstar, then at Santos, looked to burst onto the international scene.

Neymar scored in the first game of the group stage - a 3-2 win over Japan - before Brazil then lost to Mexico and Switzerland 1-0.

Brazil were knocked out and the world were deprived of catching a real glimpse of young Neymar strutting his stuff.

RAHEEM STERLING - 2011

FAST-FORWARD another two years and England had a young Sterling on the books as they bid to get their hands on the trophy.

The Manchester City star scored in the opening game against Rwanda in a 2-0 win as England finished top of their group - with Nathaniel Chalobah another big name in the squad.

Sterling scored again as England beat old enemy Argentina on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

But the young Lions were dumped out in the quarter-finals at the hands of Germany in a 3-2 defeat, calling time on Sterling's impressive tournament.

MEMPHIS DEPAY - 2011

ELSEWHERE in the tournament was young Dutch star Depay.

Long before his Manchester United days, the Holland ace could only find the net once as his nation finished bottom of a group comprised of Mexico, Congo and North Korea.

Depay struck in a 3-2 defeat to the Mexicans in a disappointing campaign for the then-PSV Eindhoven ace.