Italian football is not waiting for the next savior. It demanded it and still demands it from him. In a country where the quest for the perfect number 9 continues, a new name is on the tip of people’s tongues: Pio Esposito.
Tall, technically adept, with the composure of an old professional and the hungry eyes of a debutant, the rapid rise of the Inter Milan star has injected rare vitality into the conversation surrounding the Azzurri’s 2026 FIFA World Cup ambitions.
The start of Esposito’s dream
For a country tired of past cycles defined by ineffective attacks and the false dawn of centre-forwards, Esposito’s emergence was something of a revelation.
THe is a striker who is already making a fairytale international debut at the age of 20 and was called up from the bench in the first half in Tallinn. Estonia match After Moise Kean was injured again, the Nerazzurri academy product latched onto a low cross and produced one of the calmest finishes to calm both the game and a nervous Italy squad.
But beneath that sense of happiness, a cold reality creeps in. The Azzurri have yet to secure a spot in next summer’s North American competition, and it seems very likely that they will have to embark on a trip to the playoffs for the third consecutive year to finally earn a ticket to soccer’s biggest party.
As a result, betting sites are not listing the four-time world champion as a candidate to win a record fifth crown next June and July.
recent world cup online gambling Current odds rate Italy as 33/1 favorites, well behind Spain, who are 4/1 favorites to win the competition. There’s a good chance Esposito will attract more interest from some players as he leads the lineup, but is he good enough to match his undoubted style and earn himself a starting spot at next summer’s World Cup?
The battle for the starting striker position has become one of the most genuinely fascinating subplots in European football, as Italian fans dream of a return to football’s biggest stage after a 12-year hiatus.
front runners
Moise Keene
If there’s one player who deserves this special occasion, it’s Moise Kean. The raw data is amazing. He has scored 10 goals in 21 games for the national team, four of which are the same number of appearances in the current qualifying cycle, and Fiorentina’s 25-goal outburst last season left even the most cynical analyst in awe. Match reports tell the story of the players who carry the team on their backs, but the gods of soccer are fickle.
This season started with something of a whimper, with just one goal in Serie A and constant minor injuries hampering consistency. Keene limped off again in the recent qualifying round, making way for Esposito’s debut.
In an era where reliability is king, does Keane’s penchant for the spectacular outweigh concerns about his physical durability? Manager Gennaro Gattuso will have to balance the risks.
Mateo Letegui
lethal. These are the words that swirl around during Mateo Letegui’s game. His 25 goals for Atalanta last season earned him the Capocannoniere accolade in 2024/25, evidence of a natural striker with cold-blooded composure in the box. With 20 caps and six goals for his country, as well as valuable experience at Euro 2024, the Argentine-born hitman has no shortage of pedigree.
but, Moved to Saudi Arabia’s Al Qadosia for 65 million euros Tactical red flags go up – will the reduced intensity of the professional league mean he loses the edge that made him unplayable in Italy’s top flight? For Gattuso, the risk is very real.
Gianluca Scamacca
Once hailed as Italy’s next great No. 9, Gianluca Scamacca remains an enigma despite his surprisingly strong 1.95m physique.
At his best, he is the type of powerful striker that every first team aspires to, strong, elegant, dangerous from distance and skilled with his back to goal. His fingerprints were on Atalanta’s fairytale Europa League win two seasons ago.
But when looked at under a microscope, the numbers pose a problem. His only goal in 20 international games is a clear concern for the status built on the final product.
His growing injury troubles, particularly a recent ACL setback that sidelined him for nearly every game last season, raise further questions. Scamacca was running out of time and no alibi. Only a ruthless and overwhelming return could push him back into real contention.
wild card
Roberto Piccoli
The world of football favors late bloomers, and Roberto Piccoli makes a compelling case. The 24-year-old’s rise from Cagliari’s main player to Fiorentina’s recent attacking line-up has been remarkable.
10 goals in a low-scoring side last season, a relentless penalty box workload that left defenders stunned, and a €25 million price tag that underlines his serious intentions.
His classic centre-forward qualities – strength in the air, aggressiveness in pressing and ruthlessness in sniffing out goals – could tempt Gattuso to take a chance. But internationally, he is still raw and has more promise than polish.
Is he the Boratti of this season in Maracanã, the man who has emerged from obscurity to seize the moment no one saw coming?
lorenzo lucca
At over two meters tall, Lorenzo Lucca blocks out the sun and dominates set-pieces like a colossus. His 14 goals for Udinese last season caught the eye of champions Napoli and now he faces a baptism of fire under the world’s brightest tactical microscope.
He is yet to score a goal in five appearances for the Italian national team, but what he lacks in ability he makes up for by being a headache for defenders in competition. If Napoli can unleash his confidence and service, could his physical package provide the ultimate Plan B on the world stage?
Andrea Pinamonti
Serious credibility is often not talked about, but Andrea Pinamonti’s statistics need to be respected. He has scored 18 goals in 71 games for Genoa, and has also scored two of his six goals for Sassuolo since the start of the season.
The 26-year-old has versatility, unselfish effort and a knack for adapting to changes in tactics. Just one cap is indicative of his outsider status, but don’t underestimate the forward whose work ethic has propelled him from U-20 World Cup fame to Serie A’s upper echelons.
If Gattuso wants stability, Pinamonti’s name could suddenly move up the rankings.
