Sign up here to receive Rory Smith’s weekly newsletter on world soccer, delivered to your inbox every Friday.

All of a sudden, it feels as if the future is at hand.

Kylian Mbappé has replaced Neymar as the centerpiece of Paris St.-Germain’s bid to conquer world soccer. Frenkie de Jong is ensconced in Barcelona’s midfield. Matthijs de Ligt is the cornerstone of Juventus’s defense. Kai Havertz has been identified as the solution to all of the German national team’s many and varied problems.

And, in Madrid, Diego Simeone has reshaped his Atlético Madrid team around a slight teenager from Viseu, Portugal, with only one season of senior soccer under his belt — if that, really — named João Félix.

In many ways, Félix’s story is the same as all the others. The details might vary a little, but the pattern is familiar. His talent always shone brightly. He had to overcome some hardship or challenge. He has the strength of character to deal with the pressure being heaped on his young shoulders.