Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero has sparked a fresh wave of excitement in the football world with his glowing praise for Kenan Yildiz, calling the young star one of the most thrilling creative talents to watch at the upcoming World Cup. In an exclusive interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the iconic No. 10 made it clear that Italy's reputation for producing flair players is far from over.
When asked which players he's most excited to see on the global stage, Del Piero didn't hesitate to name-drop a few rising stars—including his own Juventus protégé. "Nico Paz, Arda Güler, and Cherki excite me, and then Yildiz with Turkey," he shared. "Every national team now has players with great creativity and flair. It's just a matter of discovering them and watching them carefully."
The comments come as a timely reminder that Italian football's creative spark is still very much alive, despite ongoing debates about the country's declining output of technically gifted players. Del Piero pushed back firmly against the narrative that flair has vanished from the Italian game. "Creativity in Italy is dead? No, it is always present here—perhaps in other sports more than football right now," he explained. "But it will be rediscovered on our pitches too, by working in the most appropriate way."
The former World Cup winner also turned his attention to youth development, arguing that a fear of failure is holding back the next generation. "Youth football needs different priorities. Once upon a time, people enjoyed themselves more," Del Piero reflected. "Defeat teaches you more than victory, if you experience it without shame. Many young players now take a step back when faced with losing. Whoever manages to make them enjoy the game again will rediscover the talent."
As for the World Cup itself, Del Piero kept his cards close to his chest, declining to name a single favorite. With six or seven nations realistically in contention, he believes the tournament is wide open—and that's exactly what makes it so exciting for fans and players alike.