Эрлинг Хааланд, Лионель Месси, Килиан Мбаппе нар “Алтан шаахай”-ны төлөөх өрсөлдөөнийг тэргүүлж байгаа ч энэ удаагийн Дэлхийн аварга шалгаруулах тэмцээн олон шинэ авьяастныг нээж байна.
АНУ-ын хамгаалагч Алекс Фримен Парагвайн эсрэг тоглолтод 12 дамжуулалт өгч, Австралийн хаалганд гоол оруулснаар багийнхаа амжилтад чухал хувь нэмэр орууллаа. Испанийн шигшээгийн Микель Оярзабал төвийн довтлогчийн байрлалд шилжсэнээс хойш тун бүтээмжтэй тоглож, сүүлийн гурван тоглолтод дөрвөн гоол бүртгүүлээд байна. Залуу жигүүрийн довтлогч Ян Диоманде Кюрасаогийн эсрэг гайхалтай тоглолтоороо олны анхаарлыг татсан бол Жон Ариас Колумбын төлөө Ганы эсрэг ялалтын гоолыг оруулж, Палмейрас дахь формтой тоглолтоо үргэлжлүүлж байна.
Швейцарын хагас хамгаалагч Йохан Манзамби Босни ба Герцеговиний хаалганд хоёр гоол оруулж, гарааны бүрэлдэхүүнд тогтвортой тоглож буй бол Трабзонспорын тоглогч Кристин Инао Оулаи Германы эсрэг тоглолтод талбайн төвд давамгайлж, дриблингээрээ онцгойрлоо. Кабо-Вердегийн Сидни Лопес Кабрал Аргентины хаалганд гайхалтай гоол оруулж, Шведийн Ясин Аяри Тунисын эсрэг дубль хийн багийнхаа ялалтад гол үүрэг гүйцэтгэв.
Борнмутын довтлогч Раян Бразилийн гарааны бүрэлдэхүүнд багтаж, Гаитигийн эсрэг 3:0-ээр хожсон тоглолтод өөрийгөө харууллаа. Египетийн Эмам Ашур Бельги болон Австралийн эсрэг гоол оруулсан бол Элижа Жаст Шинэ Зеландын төлөө хоёр гоолтой тэмцээнээ өндөрлөв. Мөн Мексикийн довтлогч Хулиан Киньонес Саудын Арабын лигт үзүүлсэн амжилтаа Дэлхийн аваргад давтаж, таван тоглолтод дөрвөн гоол оруулсан амжилттай байна.
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The World Cup has been dominated by household names trying to outscore each other. In an incredible race for the Golden Boot, Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe are tied on seven, with Harry Kane just one goal further back.
But a look beyond the headline stars shows us that this tournament is not short of emerging talents.
With 104 matches at varying times, it is tough to keep track of those making a name for themselves. So, like Michael Olise, The Athletic is here to assist…
Alex Freeman, USMNT, Villarreal
Freeman celebrates after scoring the second goal for the United States against Australia (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Weighted against expectation, the United States have arguably been the most impressive team at this summer’s World Cup. Their forward line has taken most of the plaudits, but the U.S.’s storming start would not have been possible without a solid defence — and Freeman deserves a sizeable portion of credit.
The 21-year-old has started as a right-back or right-sided centre-back under Mauricio Pochettino, shining with and without the ball. In the USMNT’s 4-1 win against Paraguay, Freeman made 12 passes into the final third and attempted three dribbles. In the next game, he scored and helped his side keep a clean sheet as they beat Australia 2-0.
After joining Villarreal from Orlando City in January, Freeman was not given many opportunities to nail down a starting spot in Spain, but he’s one to keep an eye on for a big future transfer once he earns regular minutes at club level.
Mikel Oyarzabal, Spain, Real Sociedad
Hardly a new name on the international scene, having scored the winning goal in Spain’s 2-1 European Championship final win over England two years ago, but Oyarzabal is only starting to earn the worldwide status his performances have deserved.
The 29-year-old has played on the wing for most of his career, but has looked like a different player since becoming a central striker for Real Sociedad and Spain. Last season was his most productive, netting 15 goals in 34 league matches for La Real, before following it up with an outstanding World Cup. Since Spain’s goalless draw to Cape Verde, Oyarzabal has exploded into form, netting four goals in three matches.
Yan Diomande, Ivory Coast, RB Leipzig
Lucrative links to Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain on the eve of the tournament boosted Diomande’s profile, but aside from regular Bundesliga followers, few fans will have seen much of the 19-year-old.
However, this summer, the electric winger has announced himself as one of the game’s most exciting youngsters. One assist, from the 2-0 win over Curacao, does nothing to indicate how thrilling it was to watch Diomande torment opposing full-backs in one-v-one situations. Even if that high-profile move does not come this summer, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario, fitness permitting, in which he plays for RB Leipzig for too long.
Jhon Arias, Colombia, Palmeiras
Wolverhampton Wanderers fans must be wondering whether they signed his identical twin brother from Fluminense last summer, as Arias has been outstanding for Colombia, scoring the only goal in their last-32 victory over Ghana.
The versatile midfielder and forward followed an impressive Copa America in 2024 with an eye-catching Club World Cup last year, prompting Wolves to spend an initial €17million (£14.7m/$20m) shortly after, but Arias did not adapt to the Premier League and was shipped back to Brazil in January with Wolves facing certain relegation.
He rediscovered his form at Palmeiras, and has continued to shine at the World Cup. Colombia will rely on his skill and energy if they are to embark on a historic deep run.
Jhon Arias celebrates after scoring against Ghana (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Johan Manzambi, Switzerland, Freiburg
One of the stars of Freiburg’s run to the Europa League final, but Manzambi has boosted his profile significantly with an outstanding World Cup.
The 20-year-old came off the bench to score twice in Switzerland’s 4-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, including a brilliant volley to break the deadlock in the 74th minute. Since then, he has been named in both of Murat Yakin’s starting line-ups, impressing in an all-action role behind the striker.
With experience playing across midfield, on the wings, and as a striker for his club, Manzambi has the versatility and the technical and physical attributes to be a global star.
Christ Inao Oulai, Ivory Coast, Trabzonspor
At just 20 years old and playing for Trabzonspor in Turkey, Oulai was not on many people’s radar when he was called into the Ivory Coast squad, but he departs the tournament as one to watch.
Oulai came off the bench in the opening 1-0 win over Ecuador, but started their second game against Germany, and was excellent despite the 2-1 defeat. Against Champions League-level talent, Oulai bossed the midfield, completing the joint-most dribbles (five) in the match and broke through Germany’s press with composure and grace.
Sidny Lopes Cabral, Cape Verde, Trabzonspor
Goalkeeper Vozinha deservedly got the early attention with his stellar display against Spain, and subsequent performances, but Cape Verde found another hero in their last-32 match against holders Argentina.
Just over a year ago, Lopes Cabral was playing in the German third tier for Viktoria Koln. Since then, the 23-year-old has signed for Benfica, Portugal’s most successful club, before switching this summer to Trabzonspor, where he will play with fellow breakout star Oulai.
Sidny Lopes Cabral celebrates his goal against Argentina (Jussi Eskola/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Regardless of the heights he may scale in Turkey or elsewhere, he may never have a better moment in his career than his extra-time equaliser against Argentina. Approaching from an improbable angle, Lopes Cabral knocked the ball past Alexis Mac Allister on the wing before curling into the far top corner of Emiliano Martinez’s goal. Argentina went on to progress, eventually winning 3-2, but Lopes Cabral and Cape Verde won our hearts.
It is one for the end-of-tournament highlight reel, and may even win the award for the best goal.
Yasin Ayari, Sweden, Brighton & Hove Albion
Despite an impressive season at Brighton & Hove Albion, the Premier League club are so well-run that it’s hard to assess whether a player’s success stems from their system and culture or from his talent.
But the 22-year-old proved he can shine outside of the streamlined settings on the south coast of England, starring in Graham Potter’s midfield for Sweden. He was the best player on the pitch as Sweden thrashed Tunisia 5-1 in their opening match, scoring twice in a high-energy performance from midfield.
Unfortunately, his tournament ended after a 3-0 defeat against France, but there will be plenty more opportunities to track his development next season.
Rayan, Brazil, Bournemouth
Rayan could not stop Brazil exiting against Norway (Marcel Bonte/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Another south coast-based Premier League youngster who has caught the eye at the World Cup, Rayan nailed down a spot on Brazil’s right wing.
The 19-year-old, who plays his club football for Bournemouth, only made his Brazil debut in April, but impressed Carlo Ancelotti enough to be promoted to the starting line-up for their 3-0 win over Haiti, and Rayan kept his place for their remaining three games.
Judging from his performances at his first World Cup, Rayan could be set for a long and fruitful career with Brazil and at the top level of the European game, but he will surely face competition from Chelsea’s Estevao, also 19, who missed this tournament with a hamstring injury.
Emam Ashour, Egypt, Al Ahly
Naturally, much of the pre-tournament discussion about Egypt centred on their star attackers, Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, and whether they could finally turn up for their national team on the world stage.
As it transpired, Ashour has been equally, if not more, influential to Egypt’s attack, operating from the right wing. The 28-year-old, who plays his club football for Al Ahly in Egypt, opened his country’s account at the tournament with an excellent driven effort to beat Thibaut Courtois from outside the box in their 1-1 draw with Belgium, before scoring the opener against Australia in a last-32 match they won on penalties.
Elijah Just, New Zealand, Motherwell
Just in action against Egypt (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Just was on target twice in New Zealand’s opening 2-2 draw against Iran, both times profiting from Chris Wood’s outstanding hold-up play in attack. He was quieter in their second game but exited the tournament with his head held high, scoring in the 5-1 defeat to a far superior Belgium side.
Aged 26, time is still on Just’s side. Those displays on the world stage have boosted his stock, and his impressive first season with Motherwell should stand him in good stead for a big move in the future.
Julian Quinones, Mexico, Al Qadsiah
A late bloomer, Quinones now plays his club football in Saudi Arabia, so you’d be forgiven for not knowing much about him a month ago, but his performances for Mexico have turned him into a star and earned him hero status in his adopted nation.
Quinones was born and raised in Colombia but had only played professionally in Mexico before his move to Al Qadsiah in 2024. He was called up for his home nation in 2023, having played for their under-20s, but declined the invitation and later that year opted to represent Mexico after completing the naturalisation process.
Since then, the 29-year-old forward’s career has taken off. Last season, he beat Cristiano Ronaldo and Ivan Toney to the Golden Boot in Saudi Arabia with 33 goals, and has taken his goalscoring form into the World Cup, scoring four times in five matches. However, his last goal, against England in the last 16, was not enough to drag his side to victory.
