The Athletic includes Leon Jakirović among the young players who could make their mark on the 2030 World Cup
Croatian defender Leon Jakirović, who moved from Dinamo Zagreb to Inter Milan in January 2026, has been included in a projected ideal team of young footballers who could become important names at the 2030 World Cup. The selection was published on July 22 by The Athletic in cooperation with the scouting platform Eyeball and includes players who have not yet represented their senior national teams and whose development is being monitored over the next four-year cycle. Jakirović is the only Croatian footballer in the lineup, making his nomination particularly noteworthy at a time when he has yet to confirm his potential at the highest club and international levels. The analysis does not present him as an already established star, but as a player whose profile suits the demands of modern football and who could take several major developmental steps by 2030. He will then be 22 years old, an age at which the best defenders of the new generation are often already taking on significant roles at leading European clubs, although his path to such a status remains long and uncertain.
The Athletic highlights Jakirović because of his combination of defensive understanding, composure in possession and ability to participate in building attacks. According to the data cited in the analysis, the young defender averages 8.77 ball recoveries per match, while his statistical profile has been compared with that of Slovak international Dávid Hancko. Such a comparison does not mean that the two players are being equated in terms of current quality or experience, but rather that similar characteristics have been identified: being left-footed, the ability to play in several defensive positions, confidence when carrying the ball out and a willingness to move forward. Hancko is an established senior international and Atlético Madrid defender, while Jakirović is only at the beginning of his professional journey. That is precisely why The Athletic's projection says more about the type of player he could develop into than about his current status.
A defender who can play centrally and on the left
Jakirović is primarily a centre-back, but he can also cover the left-back position, giving him tactical value in systems with either four or three players in the last line. He is 191 centimetres tall and already demonstrated in the youth categories that he could combine his physical attributes with technical security. In modern football, centre-backs are no longer expected only to stop opposing attacks; they are required to recognise space, make quick decisions under pressure and initiate their team's play with a high-quality first pass. Reading the game and contributing to the attacking phase are among the qualities The Athletic particularly emphasised. For a player of his age, it is also important that he does not depend solely on duels and aerial challenges, but tries to remain composed on the ball and find a progressive solution.
His versatility is both an advantage and a developmental challenge. The possibility of playing as a centre-back and left-back offers coaches more options, but over time a young footballer must establish a clear primary role in which he can reach the highest level. As a centre-back, he must further develop his positioning, defending large spaces and leadership of the back line, while the left-back position requires repeated high-intensity running, quality in wide areas and constant involvement in attacks. Inter's under-23 team allows him to become familiar with these demands in a senior competition, against opponents who are physically more mature and tactically more experienced than most players in junior football. Such an environment can accelerate development, but at the same time it quickly exposes every weakness in decision-making and defensive concentration.
The comparison with Hancko further clarifies why Jakirović is interesting to scouts. Atlético Madrid officially unveiled the Slovak defender in July 2025 following his arrival from Feyenoord, highlighting the experience he had gained in several European leagues and with the national team. Hancko can play as a centre-back and on the left side, while his value comes from his defensive reliability and ability to be part of the organisation of attacks. Jakirović is still far from that level, but the projection shows that analysts see elements in his game that are sought in defenders capable of operating in different phases of possession. Merely maintaining his existing qualities will not be enough for further progress; he will have to improve the speed of his execution, stability in duels and precision of his decisions under pressure from higher-quality attackers.
Two goals against Barcelona were a strong international recommendation
One of the matches that brought Jakirović attention beyond the Croatian football environment was played on February 12, 2025, in the UEFA Youth League. Dinamo's junior team visited Barcelona in the knockout stage, and the Croatian defender scored both of his team's goals in a match that ended 2-2 after 90 minutes. Barcelona then secured progression through better penalty-taking, but Jakirović's performance remained an important indication of his potential. In its match report, Dinamo stated that he scored the opening goal as early as the sixth minute, following a cross from Sven Šunta, when he rose above the opposing defence. Both headed goals highlighted his sense of timing when joining set pieces and his ability to turn a physical advantage into a concrete threat in front of goal.
That match was not important solely because of the goals. The appearance against Barcelona's academy provided an opportunity to assess Jakirović in a contest with a technically accomplished and mobile opponent, at a pace different from that of most domestic junior matches. The young centre-back had to defend larger spaces, react to rapid positional changes and simultaneously participate in Dinamo's attempts to play the ball out under pressure. The Athletic highlighted that particular contest as one of the striking moments in his development before his departure for Italy. Although a single performance cannot form the basis of a final assessment of a player, displays on the international stage often serve as an important signal to clubs monitoring talent from different football environments.
Jakirović signed a professional contract with Dinamo in June 2025, and the club then recalled his contribution in the UEFA Youth League and the fact that he had already been included in the senior squad. Such a developmental path shows that he crossed the boundaries between age categories early. However, the transition from junior football to a stable senior career is often the most sensitive part of development. Aerial dominance or confidence on the ball among peers does not automatically carry over to a level where opponents are faster, stronger and more tactically disciplined. That is why continuity of senior minutes in Italy will be more important than individual recognition and media projections.
From an early Dinamo debut to a transfer to Inter
Jakirović made his debut for Dinamo's first team on May 18, 2024, in a 3-2 victory over Slaven Belupo in Koprivnica. According to the Zagreb club's official report, he entered the match in the 83rd minute at the age of 16 years, four months and two days, making him one of Dinamo's youngest debutants. The team was then managed by his father Sergej Jakirović, so the appearance also had a rare family dimension, but the club stressed that the young defender was already among the academy's most prominent talents. He later made a total of four appearances for the senior team, including coming on in the closing stages of Dinamo's 2-1 Champions League victory over Milan in January 2025. UEFA's match record confirms that he was among the players used in that fixture, which gave him his first experience at the highest level of European club football.
Inter officially confirmed his arrival from Dinamo on January 26, 2026, in a permanent transfer and immediately assigned him to the newly formed under-23 team. The Milan club did not disclose the financial details of the deal, while The Athletic reports a transfer fee of €2.5 million. The distinction between officially confirmed information and media reports is important: it is certain that the transfer was permanent, but the amount and structure of any potential bonuses were not publicly confirmed by the clubs. According to The Athletic's analysis, Jakirović made 20 appearances for Inter's U-23 team after his arrival. That figure shows that he was not brought in merely as a long-term investment without an immediate competitive plan, but that he was already given considerable room in his first months to adapt to Italian senior football.
Inter U23 competes in Serie C, the third tier of Italian football, which offers young players a different developmental context from a conventional junior league. Matches are highly competitive, teams are tactically organised, and many opponents are experienced professionals for whom physical contact and game management are nothing new. Such experience is particularly valuable for a defender because he must cope with different types of attackers, from strong players seeking duels with their backs to goal to fast forwards attacking the space behind the defence. At the same time, the status of an U-23 team means that its main purpose is to prepare players for Inter's first team or for other levels of professional football. Jakirović's progress will therefore be measured not only by the number of appearances, but also by whether he can gradually assume greater responsibility in organising the defence.
What the projection for 2030 actually means
Inclusion in an imagined lineup of future stars is no guarantee of an appearance at the World Cup. Four years in the development of a young footballer can bring a sudden rise, a change of position, a loan move, injuries or a lack of playing time. The Athletic and Eyeball therefore offer a projection based on current indicators, not a definitive career forecast. Eyeball states on its official website that it provides clubs and agencies with access to videos, performance data and insights on a large number of players from different countries. Such systems broaden the pool of available information and assist with player comparisons, but final decisions still depend on scouts, coaches, health, character and the ability to adapt to a higher level.
A statistic such as 8.77 ball recoveries per match can be a useful indicator of activity and defensive output, but it does not provide the complete picture without context. The number of defensive actions depends on the player's role, the strength of the team, the height of the defensive line, the quality of the opposition and the amount of time spent without the ball. It is therefore more important to consider how Jakirović wins the ball, what he does immediately afterwards and how often his decision allows the team to retain possession or initiate an attack. In his case, analysts emphasise precisely the combination of defensive anticipation and attacking contribution. It is a profile that can be extremely valuable, but only if accompanied by reliability, consistency and progress in the details that are punished almost immediately at elite level.
The 2030 World Cup will also be special because of its organisational format. FIFA confirmed that the principal hosts will be Morocco, Portugal and Spain, while one match each commemorating the centenary of the first World Cup will be played in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. The tournament will therefore connect three continents and six countries, while Croatia will have to earn its place through qualification. Even if Jakirović becomes a regular player in a strong European league by then, his participation in the tournament will also depend on the national team's qualification, competition for his position and the coach's assessment. The Athletic's projection is therefore only the starting point of the story, not a place reserved in advance in the team.
The biggest challenge will be the transition to Inter's first team
Jakirović's immediate goal is not 2030, but the next step within Inter's system. To move closer to the first team, he must demonstrate that his qualities can be transferred from Serie C to significantly faster and more technically demanding football. Inter traditionally demands tactical discipline, the ability to defend the penalty area and security in structured build-up play from players in defensive positions. The young centre-back is not competing only with his peers, but also with established professionals and other players whom the club develops or recruits from the international market. The possible path does not have to be linear: a loan to a higher division, gradual involvement in first-team preparations or a transfer to an environment offering more playing time may be just as important as direct entry into Inter's senior squad.
Competition for centre-back positions in the Croatian senior national team also demands proof at a high club level. Jakirović has represented Croatia's youth selections, but a call-up to the senior team will depend on consistency, form and development in the years ahead. His advantage may be his ability to play on the left side of the defence, as it gives coaches the possibility of adapting to different systems. Nevertheless, international football requires reliability during short preparation periods and rapid understanding of roles, so experience in the tactically demanding Italian environment will be useful only if accompanied by regular playing time. Without a stable place at club level, it is difficult to establish a position in the national team, regardless of early projections and recognition.
His inclusion among the potential stars of the 2030 World Cup confirms that Jakirović's development is being followed beyond the borders of Croatia and Italy. His early debut for Dinamo, his Champions League appearance, two goals against Barcelona in a junior competition and his first months of senior football at Inter create a compelling initial biography. However, the next period will be decisive because it will show whether he can transform from a promising profile into a reliable professional at the highest level. The Athletic has opened the door to a major projection, but the real answer will be provided by matches, playing time and development in daily work. Jakirović has enough time to make a major leap by 2030, but also enough obstacles to overcome before his name can truly be associated with the world stage.
Sources:
- The Athletic Football – official post about the projection of young players for the 2030 World Cup (link)
- Gol.hr – summary of The Athletic's analysis and information about Jakirović's profile, statistics and appearances (link)
- FC Internazionale Milano – official confirmation of the permanent transfer from Dinamo to Inter U23 dated January 26, 2026 (link)
- GNK Dinamo Zagreb – information about his senior debut against Slaven Belupo and his age at the time of his first appearance (link)
- GNK Dinamo Zagreb – information about the professional contract and two goals against Barcelona in the UEFA Youth League (link)
- UEFA – official record of the Barcelona and Dinamo match in the UEFA Youth League (link)
- FIFA – official information about the hosts and organisational framework of the 2030 World Cup (link)
- Eyeball – official description of the football video and data scouting platform (link)
- Atlético de Madrid – official confirmation of Dávid Hancko's arrival and information about his player profile (link)