Last month's FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival provided a platform for the best youngsters in world football to show the level of their development and what they can do.

One such youngster was winger Kays El Mouttaqui, who represented France at the tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The 14-year-old has been fast-tracked to play for Olympique Marseille's U-19 team despite his age, allowing him to prove his level at a much higher level than many of his peers.

Who is Kays El Mouttaqui? The Marseille prodigy carrying a proud footballing legacy

Born in Udine, Italy on January 6, 2012, Kays El Mouttaqui has grown up surrounded by elite professional football.

The son of former Morocco captain and Bayern Munich defender Mehdi Benatia, the young winger has been immersed in the highest levels of the sport from birth.

He joined Marseille in 2024, developing within their world-renowned youth academy system and consistently playing across advanced age brackets.

The left winger has followed in the footsteps of the likes of Karim Benzema, Antoine Griezmann, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Ousmane Dembele by playing in the Tournoi Sans Frontiere de Sens youth tournament.

He plays with a blend of explosive acceleration and technical composure instilled by elite academy coaching, and his ability to isolate full-backs, cut inside with sharp close control, and deliver dangerous final balls makes him a nightmare for opposition backlines.

At Marseille, he is primarily registered to their U-17 team, but he was called up to play for the U-19s against their counterparts from FC Porto earlier this month.

He scored on his debut for the U-19 side in the friendly game against the Portuguese club, justifying his inclusion in the squad at that level.

International recognition: Earning a call-up to the France U-15 squad

Despite being the son of a former Morocco captain, El Mouttaqui’s stellar domestic development caught the sharp eyes of French national team selectors, resulting in a landmark call-up to their U-15 national team.

Selected as part of the initial squad heading into a rigorous training camp at Clairefontaine ahead of the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup last month, the teenage star represents the cream of the crop of French youth football.

He was sensational for France during the tournament in Baku, netting five goals in as many group stage games to help his country to reach the round of 32.

They would go on to lose the final of the 5th-8th playoffs on penalties to Uganda, bringing an end to their- and El Mouttaqui's- participation in the tournament.

Despite playing for France in the tournament, his future plans remain unknown, as he is eligible to play for his father's country, as well.

Lessons for young players from Kays El Mouttaqui's path

Young players must be willing to embrace playing against older competition, as pushing themselves to train and play in advanced age brackets accelerates their tactical maturity and physical readiness.

Also, young players must learn to absorb wisdom from elite mentors to serve as guardrails and guidance for their career. Having such mentors offers invaluable insights into the daily discipline required to succeed.

Young wingers must also work on harnessing their technical ability, building up the ability to get the better of defenders in 1-v-1 situations. This ability generally makes players assets across attacking positions.