Colombia stunned Spain in the quarterfinals in Talca, powered by an 18-year-old who played as if possessed. The Tricolor may have found its next great icon in Neyser Villareal, the young forward who dismantled Spain’s defense with a sensational hat-trick — a performance that shattered La Roja’s hopes of reaching the FIFA U-20 World Cup final in Chile.
At just 18, Villareal has already made his debut in Colombia’s top flight — even sharing the pitch with Radamel Falcao — and cites Neymar as his biggest inspiration, mirroring the Brazilian’s flair and audacity. Born in Tumaco, on Colombia’s Pacific coast, Neyser now stands at the heart of the football world’s attention.
Villareal now sits joint top of the FIFA U-20 World Cup scoring chart alongside the United States’ Benjamin Cremaschi, both with five goals. Two of Villareal’s came in the Round of 16 against South Africa, and the other three arrived tonight — the hat-trick that carried Colombia into the semifinals. Cremaschi, meanwhile, struck three times against New Caledonia and twice against Italy in the knockout stage.
From the opening whistle, Colombia played with a fierce, almost desperate energy — a team in survival mode. The first half was tightly contested, but Colombia looked sharper, hungrier. In the 38th minute, Villareal broke through with a calm, clinical finish to give his side a deserved halftime lead.
Spain roared back early in the second half, netting twice in just three minutes to turn the game on its head. But Villareal refused to fade. In the 64th minute, he struck again, equalizing and reigniting Colombian belief. Then, with the clock ticking down, he completed his hat-trick — and Colombia’s comeback — in the 89th minute. One shot, one heartbeat, and an entire nation erupted in joy.
The victory sent Colombia to the semifinals for the first time since 2003, when the tournament was held in the UAE.
After the match, a beaming Villareal spoke to AIPS, his voice steady with pride and purpose.
“We are so happy to make history,” said Neyser Villareal. “But the real history will be made when we bring the cup back home to our people. This has been years in the making — it hasn’t been easy, but we believe in this team.”
His words captured the spirit of a generation unafraid to dream — and to fight for those dreams.
Colombia now faces Argentina — a rivalry steeped in history. It will be their third meeting at a FIFA U-20 World Cup. Argentina edged Colombia 2–1 in the Round of 16 back in 2005, while Colombia claimed third place in 2003 with a 1–0 victory.
This time, Villareal and his teammates are determined to write a new chapter — one goal, one dream, and one nation at a time.
