Sarco out to emulate Messi

Sarco, 19, has scored four goals en route to the semi-finals of the tournament in Chile, leaving him joint second in the goalscoring charts behind Colombia striker Néiser Villarreal and USA midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi.

With Villarreal suspended for Wednesday night’s last-four clash against Sarco’s Argentina, and USA already eliminated, the Leverkusen prodigy not only has a chance to fire his side a step closer to Sunday’s final in Santiago but leapfrog the duo in the scoring ranks.

Albiceleste legends Ramón Díaz, Javier Saviola, Lionel Messi and Sergio Agüero are currently the only Argentinians to have won the U-20 World Cup and finished as top scorer at the same tournament.

“We’re thrilled to be in contention to win the title,” Sarco told FIFA.com. “It would be a huge deal and would go down in history.

“As for my individual stats, these things can sometimes take a while to sink in, but then it hits you when you see all those names, including some real colossuses. It’s the result of the hard work I’ve been putting in, but I can’t take my eye off the ball.”

Born in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, Sarco was just 16 when he signed his first professional contract with Vélez Sarsfield in March 2022.

He was handed his first-team debut on 30 March 2024 and went on to make eight further appearances for the senior side before being snapped up by Die Werkself on a four-and-a-half-year deal in January 2025.

Sarco has yet to appear for the Leverkusen first team but has been included in the matchday squad on nine occasions, including for Bayer’s opening two Bundesliga games of the 2025/26 season against Hoffenheim and Werder Bremen.

It is surely only a matter of time before Sarco is handed his senior bow – although adjusting to life in the Bundesliga has been no mean feet.

“The game is played at a much higher tempo,” he explained. “It might seem like there’s more space when watching on TV, but that’s not what it’s like once you get out on the pitch.

“Everything happens in the blink of an eye. Even the slightest mistake can end up costing you dearly.”

Watch: Five of the best Bundesliga goals by Argentinians

Sarco is hoping to avoid any such slip-ups against Colombia and set up a date with Morocco or France in Sunday’s showpiece in Santiago.

Los Cafeteros overcame much-fancied Spain 3-2 to book their place in the last four, but Sarco is confident his side can not only find a way past their South American rivals but lift the trophy in the Chilean capital this weekend.

“It would be a dream come true,” he said. “It’s every boy’s dream.

“I believe [winning the tournament] is what we’ve all had our sights set on since day one. Everyone in the squad seems to be enjoying themselves and savouring the experience. It’d be a dream come true and a huge source of pride to become champions.”