Colombian striker set to join Cruzeiro in 2026 shines at Under-20 World Cup | OneFootball

The 20-year-old forward Néiser Villarreal is enjoying a great moment while representing the Colombian national team at the U-20 World Cup, held this month. The player, who has a pre-contract signed with Cruzeiro and will report to the club in December, scored two goals in Colombia’s 3–1 win over South Africa, a result that secured the team’s place in the quarterfinals.

His team faces Spain tomorrow at 5 p.m. The forward had been experiencing ups and downs at Millonarios, where he played 15 matches this season, with three assists but still no goals for the senior team. A knee injury sidelined him since June, putting his World Cup participation at risk. At 20, he is regarded as one of the country’s promising talents.

Villarreal gained international recognition after standing out in the U-20 South American Championship at the start of the year, where he was the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals. His performance was decisive in attracting interest from foreign clubs, including Cruzeiro, which signed a five-year deal with the player starting in 2026.

At the World Cup, Villarreal has been playing as a focal point in Colombia’s attack, leveraging his mobility and strong positioning in the box. His return to prominence has come with praise from coach César Torres, who highlighted the importance of the confidence regained after the period of injury and goal drought.Under contract with Millonarios until November 2025, Villarreal is expected to finish the Colombian season before beginning his transition to Brazilian football. The expectation is that he will report to Cruzeiro in December, but can only be registered and used starting in January 2026, when the new contract takes effect. The announcement from the club from Minas Gerais was made at the beginning of last month, when it disclosed the agreement with the player for five seasons.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.