But given that there are only two games, the content of this post would ordinarily be brief. So to counter that, I wanted to discuss the breakout stars of this tournament. These are the players that have really made a name for themselves even though they may be young, or play for a smaller club team, or are overshadowed at club or country by a star - and in some cases multiple of these. Nevertheless, they managed to standout in these games and made me pay attention.
15. Helio Varela (Cabo Verde) - The 24-year-old winger scored in the 2-2 draw with Uruguay, helping Cabo Verde reach the knockout round! Varela currently plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Premier League, but I could see him make a move to a team near the relegation points in one of the other European Leagues.
14. Julio Enciso (Paraguay) The 22-year-old from Paraguay has been their quarterback, scoring the opening goal against Germany in the Round of 32 - which helped knock the European power out of the tournament. He currently plays for Strasbourg in Ligue 1, whose team is likely to look to him to become more involved and make more plays for them this season.
13. Esmir Bajraktarvic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) - The 21-year old winger plays for PSV Eindhoven, and made his World Cup debut for Bosnia and Herzegovina, after having his football citizenship changed from the United States, where he was born.
12. Gilberto Mora (Mexico) - The 17-year old currently plies his trade in Liga MX for Tijuana, and is a future STAR! He was the youngest player in this tournament, making his debut off the bench against south Africa. He started in the knockout round against Ecuador, becoming the second-youngest player to start in a knockout round - behind only Pele'.
11. Deniv Undav (Germany) - How can a 29-year old that plays in the Bundesliga after having played previously played in the English Premier League? Easy, win "Man of the Match" after scoring two-goals late against Cote d'Ivoire when Germany was down 1-0. He also had a goal and 2 assists coming off the bench against Curacao.
10. Arda Guler (Turkiye) - Ordinarily somebody that plays for a club like Real Madrid cannot "breakthrough" in a tournament like this, but the 21-year-old is still young enough that he hasn't really made international acclaim, despite featuring regularly in Real Madrid's lineup. But, despite Turkiye being eliminated from the knockout rounds, Guler scored Turkiye's opening goal against the United States and earning "Man of the Match!" I expect bigger and brighter things for the youngster moving forward.
9. Ibrahim Maza (Algeria) - Another youngster (20) who plays in a major league, Maza is an attacking midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, but has played for the club, but in a limited capacity so far. He is expected to become a fixture in the starting lineup for years to come - of Bayer Leverkusen or another large club - after impressing in teh World Cup.
8. Elijah Just (New Zealand) – The 26-year-old winger plays professionally in New Zealand, so he has little to no international acclaim. But, he announced himself in the World Cup by scoring three goals — two in a 2-2 draw with Iran and another against Belgium — making this his breakthrough on the world stage.
7. Nathan Saliba (Canada) – Only 22, Saliba plays in the Belgian league for perennial power Anderlecht, and was critical Canada’s historic run to the last 16, especially with the Canadian's being shorthanded with Alphonso Davies' playing time minimized due to injury and Ismael Knoe breaking his leg against Qatar. He scored a goal and had 2 assists in the 6-0 win over Qatar.
6. Ayyoub Bouaddi (Morocco) – Only 18, Bouaddi has been with the senior squad in Ligue 1 in France for Lille. After playing early in his international career for France, he switching to Morocco just a couple of months ago, and had some absolutely stunning performances. Against Brazil, he won 9 duels and completed 91% of his passes while playing the entire game.
5. Antonio Nusa (Norway) - Norway is all about star striker Erling Haaland and captain Martin Odegaard, but the Scandinavian country advanced to the quarterfinals largely because of the emergence of Nusa. Nusa's attacking presence helps set up plays for Haaland, and he provides an additional target for Odegaard's pin-point passing. He certainly looks like a mainstay for Norway, and at 21 years of age, an almost certain future captain.
4. Nico O'Reilly (England) - It is hard for somebody who already starts at Manchester City "break through," as it would seem star acclaim would have already occurred. But O'Reilly's performance as left back and his advance on the left flank (and his teamwork with Anthony Gordon) has really stunned this tournament. O'Reilly has cemented his place in the England lineup for a good decade, and Manchester City would do well to keep him locked up for the same.
3. Yan Diomande (Cote d’Ivoire) - Diomande, only 19, has impressed a lot of soccer impresarios in his one year at RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, having already agreed to a transfer to Paris St. Germain pending club agreement to terms of the transfer. But to really watch Diomande as he speeds up the left flank with total control of the ball at his feet is a wonder. A different style of player than compatriot Didier Drogba, but Diomande looks destined to a similar place in Ivorian soccer history.
2. Johan Manzambi
(Switzerland) – The last young player on the list. The 20-year-old has played the last two seasons for Freiburg, in the Bundesliga, was known in soccer circles prior to the World Cup, and was all set to transfer to Newcastle United in the English Premier League. That was until his monster performances in the World Cup had the rest of the World take notice. Aston Villa, fresh off a fourth-place campaign this season has swooped in to take the midfielder away from Newcastle, and who wouldn't after he scored three times in the group stage and helped lead Switzerland into the quarterfinals. He substituted into the game against Bosnia-Herzegovina to score a brace, and then followed that game up with a goal and an assist - and the Man of the Match Award - against Canada. Alas, he injured his knee while training for the Round of 32 game and missed the remainder of the tournament.
For the biggest breakout star of World Cup 2026, there is only one word ...
1. Vozinha!!! (Cabo Verde) - If you have to ask why then you have neither watched nor followed this year's World Cup, as the 40-year-old goalkeeper has just absolutely stole the show. Here is EVERY SAVE HE MADE IN THIS CUP!!! - from the mundane to the spectacular.
With only two games, there are only a few things upon which to comment, so here are the best/interesting things that happened in the Semi-Finals, the ranking of the games from the Semi-Finals, and the ranking of the remaining teams heading into the finals and third-place games.
Interesting Things from the Semi-Finals
6. Spain has only conceded one 1 goal this entire World Cup.
5. Lamine Yamal's head-up play to draw the penalty which Mikel Oyarzabal struck home for the opener.
4. This MESSI CROSS to Lautaro Martinez for the game-winner against England.
3. I could not find a video, since the highlights only show a snippet - but please, please, go back and watch Spain's entire buildup to Pedro Porro's goal to go up 2-0. It is sublime teamwork, dribbling and passing.
2. This ENZO FERNANDEZ STRIKE!!!
1. I don't know if I could actually describe this, so I am just going to say UNAI SIMON DOUBLE SAVE?!.
Semi-Finals Game Rankings
2. Spain 2-0 over France
1. Argentina 2-1 over England
Team Rankings
Spain (3)
Argentina (2)
England (4)
France (1)
So glad you took time to do the breakout players. It’s like a mini preview to the 2030/100 year event that will be here before we know it. These young men will be a factor! And who knows, Vozinha might know where the real fountain of youth is!
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