An award will be given to the best young player at the World Cup for the first time.

The two biggest young stars in club soccer, however, may have a hard time getting the award, which FIFA's technical study group calls "Best Young Player Award."

England striker Wayne Rooney, who plays for Manchester United, will be able to join his teammates after breaking his foot but is not expected to play until the second round _ if England advances.

Argentina forward Lionel Messi, who plays for Champions League champion FC Barcelona, may have trouble getting playing time behind Javier Saviola.

Candidates will need to play a minimum number of games to be considered, but that number wasn't set as half the team in the field will be eliminated after the first round. Players born after January 1, 1985, will be considered.

"It would be great for the World Cup to have Rooney," said Holger Osieck, the assistant coach on Germany's 1990 World Cup-winning team who heads the study group. "But we will only judge them on their performances here at the World Cup."