In every World Cup, a number of standout emerging players shine; in 2010, players like Alexis Sánchez, Mesut Özil, and Luis Suárez rose to prominence. In 2014, James Rodríguez became a big name after leading Colombia to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in its history.

The last two tournaments saw the rise of Benjamin Pavard (France), Hirving Lozano (Mexico), Enzo Fernández (Argentina), and Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco), among others. A breakout during the World Cup does not necessarily guarantee future stardom. Lozano and Ounahi are prime examples of players who delivered dazzling 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 Rodríguez, who had a brilliant first season with Real Madrid in 2014-2015, but his subsequent career was heavily affected by injuries and inconsistent form. And of course, there is also a player like Luis Suárez, who later became one of the best players of the past decade at Liverpool and then Barcelona.

Perhaps the 2026 World Cup did not witness the dazzling displays from emerging stars as we saw in previous tournaments. Instead, the most notable feature was the brilliance of already established stars – Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland – who are playing at extremely high levels. However, according to ESPN, we saw some talents that surprised many with what they offered:

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

Yan Diomande: Left winger, Leipzig (Ivory Coast)

Some may deem him unfit to be on this list; in the 2025-2026 season, at age 18, he scored 20 goals and provided 20 assists in the German Bundesliga with Leipzig, who finished third in the league. Even in a league that allows attacking talents to shine, it is rare for young emerging players to deliver such a stunning performance, and he rightfully earned a World Cup spot amid high anticipation for what he would do in the tournament. However, for those who saw Diomande for the first time, he showed his potential to become a top-class forward. His most important traits are that he may already be one of the most exciting dribblers in European football, with incredible bursts of speed and immense physical strength despite being only 19 years old. Add to that his proficiency with both feet, meaning he is a tough opponent for any defender.

According to analysts at Opta statistics, French star Kylian Mbappé is the only one who created more chances than Diomande in the World Cup through dribbling (9 chances for Mbappé 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 match against Ecuador in Philadelphia, where we saw his brilliant dribbling and chance creation, including his wonderful pass to Ely Wahi in the first half. When Diomande was positioned on the right wing, he exhausted Arsenal defender Piero Hincapié with his constant changes of pace. Later in the second half, he moved to the left wing to become more aggressive in shooting. Diomande's performance in subsequent matches before Ivory Coast's exit to Norway in the round of 32 did not reach the stunning level of his first match, although he showed some exceptional glimpses. But it is unsurprising that a big club like Paris Saint-Germain is trying to sign him this summer. Given his continuous development, it would not be surprising if by 2030, Diomande is regarded as one of the best players in the world.

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

Alex Freeman: Defender, Villarreal (United States)

During his first four matches of the 2026 World Cup, the US team performed well without any notable gaps. They achieved convincing wins over Paraguay and Australia in the group stage, then defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the round of 32. Even considering the strength of the opponents, it can be said that this was the best series of matches the US team has ever played. 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 fullbacks to pose a threat to the opponent. The US team also focused on direct attacks through the runs of Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman through midfield. These two factors helped them successfully penetrate the opponents' defenses in midfield.

To make this strategy work, the US team needed a defender capable of playing in multiple positions and able to provide the necessary support in different areas, and Freeman was the ideal choice. He often played as a third defender in the center of the defensive line on the right side, but he had the flexibility to move forward when the US team had possession in the final third. Among the brilliant passes we saw throughout the US team's World Cup campaign was Freeman's pass to McKinnie as he ran 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, helping to correct mistakes in various parts of the field. This included covering spaces on the flanks and defending in one-on-one situations when needed. It also sometimes required him 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 Belgian team is 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 top-class complete defender.

Johann Manzambi: Playmaker, Freiburg (Switzerland)