Sri Lanka, July 31 -- Sri Lanka has unearthed a rare football gem. Sixteen-year-old Aditha Menuhas Wickramarathne, born in Italy to Sri Lankan parents, is now on the brink of making history in the sport - and he's just getting started.

Aditha has been picked for Sri Lanka's Under-23 football pool for the upcoming AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers to be held in Uzbekistan in September, becoming the youngest player ever selected. What's more remarkable is that he is already a member of the current Sri Lanka Under-17 national football team.

With fearless ambition and fast feet, Aditha is now knocking on the door of senior international football. He is among the 25-member preliminary squad for the U-23s, which will be cut to 20 before their dep...