KEY POINTS:
It seems extraordinary to think this year's Fifa Under-17 Women's World Cup will be Auckland teenager Annalie Longo's third world tournament. But then Longo is an extraordinary player.
Selected for the senior women's side at 15, the diminutive Longo became New Zealand's youngest full football international and has already represented New Zealand at the Under-20 and Women's World Cup.
As one of the stars of the Young Football Ferns, you can almost put your house on the fact Longo will be selected for the Kiwi team for the Under-17 World Cup held in New Zealand in October-November this year.
The Under-17 side are in Auckland this week for a Future Stars tournament involving Germany, the US and Australia as part of their build-up to the World Cup. With their opponents sitting much higher in the world rankings, the tournament has so far proved tough going for the young Kiwi side, but Longo said at this stage of the campaign it is more about learning and development.
"It's a great opportunity for all of us to really try and push our case to make the starting Xl and to get into the team for the World Cup," she said.
Given Longo has already made the New Zealand senior women's team and played in tournaments in far flung corners of the globe, she could be forgiven if she lacks the enthusiasm of her teammates heading into the Under-17 programme.
But the Auckland teen is excited about the prospect of playing in the host team of a major tournament.
Longo is one of the key cogs in the wheel of the Under-17 team with her experience at senior level proving vital for the young squad. The Three Kings United player said she enjoys having a starting spot and playing a leadership role.
"It's nice to come down and play with your own age-group. In the Under-17s I'm sort of more of a leader because I have a bit more experience so it's good to pass down," the 16-year-old said.
Her coach at Under-17 level, Paul Temple said the youngster possesses a special kind of talent.
"She's one that excels from a technical point of view really," he said. "I think she's got a rare ability to be composed under pressure, she retains the ball well and she has very good balance when she plays. I think that sort of separates her from a lot of the other players."
Along with making the Under-17 team for the World Cup, Longo has another big goal in her sights. She is hoping to go to the Olympics this year. The women's team have already won a spot at the Games via a qualifying tournament last year, but Longo's Beijing aspirations firstly depend on the New Zealand Olympic Committee approving the women's team's place, and secondly on being re-selected for the women's side.
"Going to the Olympics is a huge dream for me and I really want to push for that starting line-up in the senior team," Longo said.
After her early success, you get the feeling Longo will soon out-grow the domestic scene. She has said her eventual goal is to play in a professional league overseas.
Young Football Ferns coach Paul Temple believes with a number of colleges in the United States having already made approaches to Longo offering scholarships, this is a very real possibility for the teenager.
"She certainly has the ability there's no doubt about that, and I know there's been a number of colleges already making inquiries about her doing a scholarship in America, so she's on the right track," he said.
Temple said at 16 years of age, there is still plenty of improvement left in Longo and if the youngster continues to work hard there is no reason why she can't make an impact in a professional league.
"She has vast amounts of experience for her age but we do forget sometimes she's only 16 and there's still quite a few things for her to develop in her game and become better at. She's a good worker and she's ready to put in the hard yards to make her a better player so it's quite an exciting future I think."
* ANNALIE LONGO
DOB: July 1, 1991
Height: 1.54m
Position: Central midfield
Club: Three Kings United
School: Epsom Girls Grammar
