10 players who will become household names in 2018

#2 Mariano Diaz (Lyon)

One of Ligue 1's most underrated talents

Age: 24

Mariano Diaz came through Real Madrid's academy, and represented both their reserve sides, producing a very impressive goals-to-games ratio.

He did make 8 league appearances for Real last season, scoring one goal, but was always the third-choice behind Karim Benzema and Alvaro Morata. But, after selling both Morata and Mariano in the summer to Chelsea and Lyon respectively, Zidane might be starting to regret not holding on to one of them.

Mariano has been prolific for Lyon in Ligue 1, forming a lethal partnership with Nabil Fekir and Memphis Depay.

The 24-year-old is currently only behind Radamel Falcao and Edinson Cavani in the Ligue 1 scoring charts, with 13 goals in 18 matches. He's even ahead of the likes of Neymar, Mario Balotelli and Kylian Mbappe.

Mariano's playing position as a centre-forward was the reason that he didn't get sufficient game time in Madrid. He's incapable of operating in a no.10 role or out wide as a winger, which meant he had no chance of ousting Benzema or Morata as Real's main man up front.

Ironically, it is his poacher's instinct in front of goal that has seen him become France's third-highest goalscorer this season.

He has one cap for the Dominican Republic in 2013, but has since retired from the national team, in view of a possible Spanish call-up. The Spaniards also have Morata and Diego Costa as no. 9 options, but Mariano has arguably been as good as either of them this season.

Don't be surprised if you find him leading the line during Spain's World Cup campaign in Russia.