10 World Championship players who made a great impression on the football world in the group stage

2026-06-28 15:00 © ZUMAPRESS.com

The format of 48 teams in the World Cup has given viewers the chance to see more players than in previous tournaments. The diversity of players is significant, and a considerable portion of that diversity stands out, earning their dream transfers after the championships.

Eurofootball.lt highlights 10 players who, while lesser-known, made a strong impression on the football community.

1. Johan Manzambi (Switzerland)

Johan Manzambi already had his first truly good season in Europe, scoring 7 goals and providing 6 assists for the Freiburg team, and now he is cementing his name in the World Cup. In the group stage, the 20-year-old Swiss scored 3 goals and made 1 assist, despite starting only one match in the starting lineup.

2. Yan Diomande (Ivory Coast)

The player whose name is perhaps most well-known on this list is Yan Diomande. He became particularly known earlier this summer when his name was linked to a transfer to Liverpool. And it's not just any transfer but potentially one with a nine-figure sum. The 19-year-old is currently one of the leaders from Ivory Coast, with his team successfully advancing to the knockout stage.

3. Elijah Just (New Zealand)

New Zealand's unexpected leader Elijah Just is the only one on the list whose championship has ended, but he must be mentioned. The Motherwell forward shone in the championship with 3 goals in 3 matches, so it's realistic to see him in a slightly stronger club than Scotland's mid-table teams next season.

4. Folarin Balogun (USA)

Folarin Balogun did an excellent job with the USA in just 2 matches, with the third being merely formal. Led by the Arsenal graduate, the USA team took first place in their group, thus earning a solid path to the tournament quarter-finals. The forward, currently representing AS Monaco, was very bright, scoring 2 goals and providing 1 assist.

5. Nathaniel Brown (Germany)

He is the first future Bayern Munich newcomer on this list. After spending last season with Eintracht, N. Brown earned Julian Nagelsmann's trust, securing a starting spot in the match against Curaçao, where he managed to attract global attention. Following that, he had a decent showing against Ivory Coast but was somewhat hindered by a minor injury. Nevertheless, the full-back should be ready for the start of the knockout stage.

6. Ismaël Saïbari (Morocco)

Ismaël Saïbari, like Brown, is expected to move to Bayern this summer. Until now, Saïbari, who has played in the Netherlands, hasn’t received much attention, but now with three goals in the World Cup, all football fans will know about him. The Moroccan leader had a good season at PSV, and Vincent Kompany wants him. That says a lot.

7. Julián Quiñones (Mexico)

As the Mexicans told 15min.lt journalist Marius Bagdonas, who visited Mexico during the championship, the Mexican national team is currently led by a Colombian. Such times have come. Julián Quiñones, with Colombian roots, scored 2 goals in this championship, and the host team has not yet lost a single point. It’s worth noting that this technical forward is racking up goals in the Saudi Arabian league (33 goals in 31 matches), outpacing even Cristiano Ronaldo. He has never played in Europe, but maybe the time has come?

8. Vozinha (Cape Verde)

One of the sensations of this championship is the 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha from Cape Verde. After an excellent first match against Spain, he became popular worldwide, and now he has 17.1 million followers on the Instagram platform. For comparison, that's more followers than American football legend Tom Brady. Vozinha has played in his home country, as well as in various European clubs, and he is currently a free agent. Perhaps this is a chance for a more well-known club?

9. Felix Nmecha (Germany)

Another player who has firmly established his market value is German midfielder Felix Nmecha. With his agility, correct decisions, and strong long-range shots, the Borussia midfielder has notably attracted the attention of Manchester United. However, the Dortmund club, known for selling its players, will not back down and probably wants to keep the 25-year-old midfielder for another season. He scored one goal and provided one assist in the championship.

10. Pedro Vite (Ecuador)

Ecuador's midfielder Pedro Vite currently forms a wonderful duet with Moisés Caicedo. He is only 24 and has never played in Europe, but everything could change after the championship. Football apps have given him very high ratings for his first three matches, so it will be interesting to see how he performs going forward. There’s no doubt that his club, Pumas UNAM, will receive many tempting offers after the championship.

Worth mentioning: Jan Paul van Hecke (Netherlands); Christan Inao Oulai (Ivory Coast); Patrick Beach (Australia); Martin Baturina (Croatia); Deniz Undav (Germany); Daniel Muñoz (Colombia)