Leyden

Dark-skinned with a round yet angular face, Leyden has small, wide-set pale eyes, a broad nose, and high cheekbones above a sharp jaw. His short dreadlocks, tipped in a lighter shade, twist into stiff little spikes for a textured look. Built lean and athletic, he favors agility over bulk: long, toned limbs, sinewy hands with lengthy fingers, well-defined forearms, and strong, shapely legs. At the World Cup he turns out in France's under-20 kit, finished with wristbands.

Leyden carries a childish, faintly manic streak. Chasing down Chigiri in the Japan U-20 match, he laughs and happily asks to tag along. He approaches his marking assignments with that same wild playfulness, and at the half against Japan, Rodin's speech lights a fire in him, sending him into a self-hyping roar.

Fielded as a winger, Leyden drives to the byline to cross or cuts infield to overload the defense. Explosive speed is his signature: he shadows Chigiri to lock down France's flank against Japan U-20, forcing the ball back to Isagi, then on the counter slips past Isagi to menace the far goal. He also fires a shot-like pass, a ball into the box so disguised that the keeper cannot tell whether to hold or dive, a ruse that fooled Gagamaru into conceding a header. Drifting toward midfield he acts as a decoy, pulling markers out of shape, and linked with Camus to spring Hugo for France's third goal versus Japan.