Atlético U16s beat Benfica at the Messi Cup as Adrián Díaz shines

Jorge San Cristóbal reviews the Atlético Under-16s' win over Benfica at the Messi Cup: total dominance, Dani Díaz tearing down the right and Adrián Díaz Jiménez named MVP with a goal and an assist.

Jorge San Cristóbal recounts how the Atlético de Madrid Under-16 side got their Messi Cup campaign under way, in a match that was not available free-to-air because the rights are held by ESPN in Argentina and Disney Plus. Judging by the extended highlights he watched, Atleti were far superior to Benfica, who could not match them physically: it was almost men against boys.

The team dominated the whole match and had chances to double or even triple their lead. Among the standout names, he singles out Dani Díaz, a natural-footed winger who was a real thorn in the side of the opposing left-back, beating him for pace time and again, and who also provided an assist.

But the player who impressed him most was Adrián Díaz Jiménez, the match MVP: he set up the opener and made it 0-2. To put it in context, he shared a stat with Rubén Uría: last season, at Under-14 level, he scored 40 goals. Rubén replied wryly that it was not bad at all, and San Cristóbal added that in a stadium with such wide open spaces, Inter Miami's former ground, he completely ran riot against the Benfica defence.