Each World Cup reveals a group of players who shine as breakout stars. In 2010, athletes like Alexis Sánchez, Mesut Özil, and Luis Suárez made their mark on the global stage. Four years later, James Rodríguez gained fame leading Colombia to their first quarterfinal appearance. Recent tournaments have seen stars like Benjamin Pavard (France), Hirving Lozano (Mexico), Enzo Fernández (Argentina), and Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco) gain recognition for their performances.
However, emerging as a star during the World Cup does not guarantee future excellence. Players like Lozano and Ounahi had strong showings but didn’t continue to captivate audiences after 2018 and 2022. Similarly, Rodríguez began his career impressively with Real Madrid in 2014-15 but faced a series of injuries and inconsistent performances thereafter. In contrast, Suárez went on to become one of the standout players of the 2010s with stints at Liverpool and Barcelona.
The 2026 World Cup seems to lack the breathtaking performances from emerging stars seen in previous editions. Instead, the spotlight has been on established icons such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland performing at high levels together. Nevertheless, a few rising talents have piqued interest with their displays.
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One player who caught attention was Diomandé, who, at 18 years old, managed to contribute 20 goals and assists in the Bundesliga for RB Leipzig, finishing in third place. His remarkable season set high expectations for his World Cup performance.
For those witnessing Diomandé for the first time, he exhibited considerable potential as a forward. His standout ability lies in his electric dribbling; at just 19 years, he already demonstrates an impressive capacity to absorb contact. Coupled with his two-footedness, he poses significant problems for defenders.
Only Kylian Mbappé has created more goal-scoring chances from ball carries in the tournament than Diomandé, with eight chances created to Mbappé’s nine, despite playing two additional matches.
One of Diomandé’s highlights occurred during Ivory Coast’s opening match against Ecuador in Philadelphia, where he showcased his quick footwork, notably with a two-touch pass that set up Elye Wahi for a promising chance. Operating on the right flank, he challenged Arsenal defender Piero Hincapié with varying pace, and later moved to the left side, increasing his shooting aggressiveness.
The action map below highlights the trouble Diomandé presented to Ecuador, a team that conceded only five goals during their 18-match World Cup qualifying campaign in South America.
While his performances in subsequent matches prior to Ivory Coast’s round of 32 elimination against Norway couldn’t quite match the level of his debut, he still delivered notable moments. It’s no surprise that Paris Saint-Germain is reportedly interested in acquiring him this summer. Given his ongoing development, it would not be shocking if Diomandé becomes widely regarded as one of the top players by 2030.
The United States performed impressively through their initial four matches in the 2026 World Cup, achieving convincing wins against Paraguay and Australia in the group stage, followed by a 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32. Regardless of their opponents’ quality, their performance seemed to be their most convincing in a single stretch of matches.
The U.S.’s improvement stemmed from playing to their strengths, with wing-backs Sergiño Dest and Antonee Robinson pushing forward to create offensive threats. Runs through the midfield from players such as Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman emphasized their tactical approach and facilitated their ability to break down mid-block defenses.
To make this strategy effective, the U.S. required a versatile defender, which was fulfilled by Freeman. Often playing as an additional central defender on the right, he also showcased the flexibility to advance into the final third during attacking phases.
A common scene during their World Cup journey was Freeman finding McKennie on the right side, either creating secondary scoring opportunities or setting up assists. According to Futi, Freeman led in progressive passes with 28, which pleasantly surprised given his anticipated role.
Freeman’s capabilities as a ground-covering defender allowed him to help rectify mistakes all over the pitch—whether defending wide spaces or handling one-on-one situations. There were crucial moments where he intervened to prevent clear scoring chances.
Unfortunately, the U.S. couldn’t sustain their performance, suffering a 4-1 loss to Belgium. This disappointing result, especially against a Belgium side that was weaker than in previous years, ignited discussions about the men’s program, including concerns about the absence of emerging stars. Freeman, however, was one player who could hold his head high despite the outcome. While his odds of becoming one of the U.S.’s necessary stars by 2030 are slim, he demonstrated potential as a top-tier all-around defender throughout the tournament.
Staying in the Bundesliga, Manzambi’s emergence with Freiburg was noted by fans. Though he began making first-team appearances towards the end of the 2024-25 season, he truly established himself during the last season with nine goals and assists over 2,000 minutes, proving to be a valuable box-to-box midfielder. His capacity to cover significant distances through progressive carries adds to his allure as a prospect.
In the 2026 World Cup, Manzambi has played a more limited role, starting just two matches against Canada and Algeria in the round of 32. Although nursing an injury later in the tournament, he may have faced tactical challenges as Switzerland aimed to maintain defensive organization under Murat Yakin. This sometimes resulted in lapses in concentration during defensive duties and a lack of synchronicity with teammates when pressing.
Despite that, some argue he should have been a starter from the outset. With three goals and two assists in four appearances, his contributions were notable—two goals came while he was a substitute against Bosnia-Herzegovina, while he managed to score and provide an assist against Canada, and assisted in their victory against Algeria. According to Futi, he ranks within the top 50 for total progressive carries in the tournament. His remarkable individual carry and assist against Algeria helped Switzerland secure an early lead in the match, allowing them to maintain control.
Beyond his exceptional ball-carrying ability, Manzambi possesses other strengths. He has shown adeptness in linking up with Breel Embolo when the Swiss striker operates with his back to goal. Manzambi’s talent for exploiting space from deeper positions becomes vital when the opposition keys in on Embolo. Their synergy was evident when they contributed to Switzerland’s second goal in a 2-1 win over Canada, as Embolo drew two defenders before laying off the ball to Manzambi in the box.
Manzambi has showcased impressive moments in the World Cup, displaying his capacity to progress play and crash the box. However, questions linger regarding the enhancement of his progressive passing and defensive capabilities. Nonetheless, the glimpses of brilliance he showcased both at Freiburg and during the tournament indicate he has the potential to develop into a top-class midfielder in the near future.
Similar to the U.S., Colombia looked strong through their round of 32 matches, positioning themselves as potential dark horses in this World Cup. Conceding just one goal across four matches, they managed to score five, generating a high number of shots (ranking third in shots per match according to Opta Analyst) with a commendable quality of chances (ranking 13th in non-penalty expected goals per match).
Colombia displayed the ability to maintain possession and conduct fluid positional interchanges, while launching direct attacks stemming from a robust mid-block defense. They employed various strategic shapes on the ball, including an aggressive 3-1-6 formation to outmaneuver defensive setups, as seen in their round of 32 clash against Ghana. Despite facing challenges in converting opportunities, their underlying metrics were promising. For example, they outshot Portugal 24-13 in a 0-0 group-stage draw, showcasing their overall dominance.
To execute their style effectively, Colombia required players capable of filling multiple roles, and Puerta proved invaluable. He demonstrated his ability to orchestrate play between the lines or make runs in support of the front line. Statistics from FIFA indicate Puerta ranked second in offers within the team structure and fourth in runs behind opposition defenses. According to data from Futi, only Juan Fernando Quintero created more total expected assists. Puerta contributed solidly across various dimensions of play.
Defensively, Puerta’s activity level was pivotal, as he applied the most defensive pressures and direct pressures on the team. This high work rate, observed during his time with Racing de Santander in Spain, continued in the World Cup. Arguably, his best performance came against Ghana, where he was instrumental and likely the standout player of the match.