In every World Cup, a number of standout emerging players emerge; in 2010, stars like Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, and Luis Suarez shone. In 2014, James Rodriguez became a shining name after leading Colombia to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in their history.

The last two tournaments saw the rise of Benjamin Pavard (France), Hirving Lozano (Mexico), Enzo Fernandez (Argentina), and Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco), among others. A star emerging during the World Cup does not necessarily guarantee future stardom. Lozano and Ounahi are prime examples of players who delivered impressive performances in the World Cup and continued their careers successfully, but did not capture the spotlight this time as they did in 2018 and 2022 respectively.

The same applies to Rodriguez, who had a brilliant first season with Real Madrid in 2014-2015, but his subsequent career was greatly affected by injuries and inconsistent performances. And of course, there is also a player like Luis Suarez, who later became one of the best players of the last decade at Liverpool and then Barcelona.

Perhaps the 2026 World Cup did not feature dazzling performances from emerging stars as we saw in previous tournaments. Instead, the most prominent feature was the brilliance of already shining stars - Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland - who are playing at very high levels. However, according to ESPN, we saw some talents that surprised some with what they offered:

Diomande showed his potential to become a top-class striker (Reuters)

Yann Diomande: Left winger for Leipzig (Ivory Coast)

Some may think he is not suitable for this list; in the 2025-2026 season, when he was 18 years old, he scored 20 goals and provided 20 assists in the German Bundesliga with Leipzig, who finished the season in third place in the Bundesliga. Even in a league that allows attacking talents to shine, young emerging players rarely deliver such impressive performances, and he fully deserved his World Cup participation amid high expectations for what he would show in the tournament. However, for those who saw Diomande for the first time, he showed his potential to become a top-class striker. His most important characteristics are that he may already be one of the most exciting dribblers in European football, with amazing bursts of speed and immense physical strength despite being only 19 years old. Add to that his proficiency with both feet, which makes him a tough opponent for any defender.

According to analysts at Opta, French star Kylian Mbappe is the only one who created more chances than Diomande in the World Cup through dribbling (9 chances for Mbappe vs 8 for Diomande), noting that the French star played 3 additional matches. The best example of Diomande's abilities was in Ivory Coast's opening group stage match against Ecuador in Philadelphia, where we saw his excellent dribbling skills and chance creation, including his brilliant pass to Elye Wahi in the first half. When Diomande was positioned on the right wing, he exhausted Arsenal defender Piero Hincapié with his constant changes in speed. Later in the second half, he moved to the left wing and became more aggressive in shooting. Diomande's performances in subsequent matches before Ivory Coast's elimination by Norway in the round of 32 did not reach the level of his stunning first match, although he showed some exceptional flashes. But it is not surprising that a big club like Paris Saint-Germain is seeking to sign him this summer. Given his continuous development, it would not be surprising if by 2030, Diomande is considered one of the best players in the world.

American Alex Freeman's header shakes the Australian net (AP)

Alex Freeman: Defender for Villarreal (United States)

During his first four matches in the 2026 World Cup, the US team performed well without any notable gaps. They achieved convincing victories over Paraguay and Australia in the group stage, then beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the round of 32. Even considering the strength of the opponents, it could be said that it was the best run of matches the US team has had. What made the US team look better than expected was their optimal use of their strengths; Sergiño Dest and Antonee Robinson occupied advanced positions as overlapping full-backs to pose threats to the opponent. The US also focused on direct attacks through runs by Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman through midfield. These two factors helped them successfully break through the opponent's defenses in the middle of the field.

To make this strategy work, the US team needed a defender capable of playing in multiple positions and providing the necessary support in different areas, and Freeman was the ideal choice for that. He often played as a third center-back on the right side but had the flexibility to move forward when the US had the ball in the final third. Among the excellent passes we saw throughout the US team's World Cup run was Freeman's pass to McKennie as he sprinted down the right side into space. Freeman topped the list of defenders with the most forward passes with 28 passes.

Freeman is also the type of defender who covers large areas of the pitch, which helps correct errors in various parts of the field. This includes covering spaces on the flanks and defending in one-on-one situations when needed. It also required him in some situations to make crucial interventions to clear clear-cut chances. Of course, the US team's good run did not continue, as they suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Belgium. This loss (especially since the current Belgium team was the weakest in over a decade) sparked debate about the strength of the US team, including the lack of enough emerging stars. But if there is one player who can hold his head high despite this result, it is Freeman. True, the odds of him becoming one of the stars the US team needs by 2030 are slim, but he showed in this tournament signs of being a complete defender of the highest class.

Johann Manzambi: Playmaker for Freiburg (Switzerland)