If we tell you that Lionel Messi needs to play well for Argentina in order for them to win the World Cup or Landon Donovan needs to be at his top form in South Africa it is almost being like Tommy Smyth mentioning the obvious.

Our mission is to go out and look for dark horse players that could make a difference for some of the national teams going to South Africa this south hemisphere winter solstice.

It is also a great opportunity for us to expose some diamonds in the rough and eventually brag about being the first ones to talk about a player and be able to say "I told you so."

When the U-20 World Cup in Egypt ended, Uruguayan captain Nicolás Lodeiro finally arrived onto the mainstream scene. His performance was one of the bright spot of La Celeste and his already high demand went stratospheric.

Lodeiro's ability with the ball is what the Uruguayans need in the middle in order to establish some organization and add an extra dimension to an attack filled with names but lacking structure.


Unfortunately for the high-flying Charrúas they happened to run into a buzzsaw called Brazil after having drawn against eventual champs Ghana in the group stage. They were involved in one of those unfortunate premature finals, but Lodeiro showed that he worth the billing that was given to him after Uruguay's performance in the South American qualifiers and Nacional's run in the 2009 Copa Libertadores. The young starlet scored two goals in the four matches he played and was fundamental in Uruguay advancing into the second round of the tournament.

The young man from Paysandú developed slowly in his first two years with Nacional's first team. As his potential began to turn into reality he started to obtain important minutes on the pitch. By the time 2009 rolled around, Lodeiro became the fulcrum of the Bolso attack. During his short time as the catalyst for Nacional's offense, they won yet another title and were able to reassert themselves as a power in the South American football landscape becoming the first Uruguayan side to reach the Libertadores semifinals in over 20 years.

During this time, he also was the 58th top scorer in the world according to the IFFHS.

What was most impressive was the moxie he displayed at such as young age in a position such as the one he had at a club as prestigious as Nacional. This was part of the reason he caught the eye of national team coach Oscar Washington Tabárez.

Although he's earned two caps for the senior side, he earned them in the most important matches of the Uruguayan World Cup qualifying campaign when they faced Costa Rica. Tabárez had him as a starter in his first-ever cap at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa where the Uruguayans came out on top 1-0. He responded well in his baptism by fire, playing the majority of minutes in both legs of the play-off against Los Ticos.

Lodeiro was a primary attacking option for the La Celeste in both legs and earned a great deal of praise in both legs. He was the man of the match for Uruguayans in the return leg of the play-off at the Estadio Centenario. This level of play granted him access to a more prominent role within the Uruguayan attack for the upcoming World Cup.

In January, Lodeiro made the move across the pond and was signed by Dutch giants Ajax for a record four million euros.

Lodeiro could be a difference maker coming from the wings or in the middle for Uruguay as he could take advantage of any matchups that he might have with the slower central defenders that might have to face him in any runs into the box. He is twice as dangerous as you have to consider his passing ability to players like Luis Suárez, Diego Forlán, Sebsatián Abreu. They also have to respect his shot and his penchant for scoring on set pieces.

Many now believe that the present and future of Uruguayan football lies in the left foot of this talented player.

Awards
• Uruguayan Liguilla title (2008)
• Uruguayan league title (2009)
• Uruguayan Player of the Year (2009)
• South America Starting XI (2009)