In every World Cup tournament, a number of outstanding young players emerge; in 2010, players like Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, and Luis Suarez shone. In 2014, James Rodriguez became a prominent 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 Fernandez (Argentina), and Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco), among others. The emergence of a star during the World Cup does not necessarily guarantee future brilliance. Lozano and Ounahi are prime examples of players who delivered impressive performances in the World Cup and continued their careers successfully, but they 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 heavily affected by injuries and inconsistent form. And of course, there is also a player like Luis Suarez, who later became one of the best players of the past decade at Liverpool and then Barcelona.

Perhaps the 2026 World Cup did not feature dazzling performances from rising stars to the extent we saw in previous tournaments. Instead, the most prominent feature was the brilliance of several already luminous 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 delivered:

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

Yan Diomande: Left winger for Leipzig (Ivory Coast)

Some may consider him unsuitable 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 rising players rarely deliver such impressive performances, and he fully deserved his place in the World Cup amid great 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 striker. His main advantage is that he may already be one of the most exciting dribblers in European football, with amazing acceleration 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 data company Opta, French star Kylian Mbappe is the only player 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 ability was in Ivory Coast's opening group stage match against Ecuador in Philadelphia; we witnessed his brilliant dribbling and chance creation, including his wonderful pass to Elye Wahi in the first half. When Diomande was stationed on the right wing, he exhausted Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie with his constant changes of pace. 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 exit to Norway in the round of 32 did not reach the level of his stunning first match, although he produced some exceptional moments. 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 regarded as one of the best players in the world.

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

Alex Freeman: Villarreal defender (United States)

In its first four matches of the 2026 World Cup, the US team performed well without any notable gaps. It achieved convincing victories over Paraguay and Australia in the group stage, before defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the round of 32. Even considering the strength of the opponents, it could be said that this was the best run of matches the US team has ever produced. What made the US team look better than expected was its optimal use of its strengths; Sergino Dest and Anthony Robinson occupied advanced positions as overlapping full-backs to create danger for the opponent. The US also focused on direct attacking through the runs of Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman through midfield. These two factors helped them successfully break through the opponent's defensive lines in the middle of the park.

To make this strategy work, the US needed a defender capable of playing in multiple positions, able to provide 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 possession in the final third. One of the great passes we saw throughout the US team's World Cup campaign 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.

Freeman is also the type of defender who covers large areas of the pitch, which helps correct mistakes in various parts of the field. This included covering space 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, these good performances by the US team did not last, 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 a debate about the strength of the US team, including the lack of enough rising 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 well-rounded top-class defender.

Yohan Manzambi: Playmaker for Freiburg (Switzerland)