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

The last two tournaments saw the emergence of Benjamin Pavard (France), Hirving Lozano (Mexico), Enzo Fernández (Argentina), and Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco), among others. However, a breakout performance in the World Cup does not necessarily guarantee future success. Lozano and Ounahi are prime examples of players who delivered impressive displays in the World Cup and continued their careers successfully, but failed to capture the same attention this time as they did in 2018 and 2022, respectively.

The same applies to Rodríguez, who had a stellar 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 last decade at Liverpool and then Barcelona.

Perhaps the 2026 World Cup did not witness the same level of dazzling performances from emerging stars as in previous tournaments. Instead, the most prominent feature was the brilliance of a number of already-established stars - Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland - who played at very high levels. Nevertheless, according to ESPN, we saw some talents that surprised observers with their displays:

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

Yann Diomande: left winger for Leipzig (Ivory Coast)

Some may consider him out of place in this list; in the 2025-2026 season, at the age of 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, young emerging players rarely produce such impressive performances, and he fully deserved his World Cup call-up amid high expectations for his displays. However, for those who saw Diomande for the first time, he showed his potential to become a top-class striker. His most important strengths are that he may already be one of the most exciting dribblers in European football, with explosive pace and immense physical strength, despite being only 19 years old. Add to that his ability to use both feet, making him a tough opponent for any defender.

According to analysts at Opta, French star Kylian Mbappé is the only player who created more chances than Diomande in the World Cup through dribbling (9 chances for Mbappé vs 8 for Diomande), noting that Mbappé played three additional matches. The best example of Diomande's abilities was in Ivory Coast's opening group match against Ecuador in Philadelphia; we saw his remarkable dribbling skills 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 constant changes of pace. Later in the second half, he moved to the left wing, becoming 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, though he showed some exceptional glimpses. But it is not surprising that a big club like Paris Saint-Germain is seeking to sign him this summer. Considering 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 (USA)

During his first four matches in the 2026 World Cup, the US team performed well without any notable weaknesses. They secured 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 opposition, it could be said this was the best run of matches the US has ever had. What made the US team look better than expected was their optimal use of their strengths; Sergiño Dest and Antonee Robinson advanced as overlapping full-backs to pose a threat. The US also focused on direct attacks through runs by Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman through midfield. These two factors helped them successfully penetrate the opponent's defenses in midfield.

To make this strategy work, the US needed a defender capable of playing in multiple positions and providing necessary support in different areas, and Freeman was the ideal choice. 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 impressive passes we saw throughout the US campaign was Freeman's pass to McKennie as he sprinted down the right flank into space. Freeman led all defenders in forward passes with 28.

Freeman is also the type of defender who covers large areas of the pitch, which helps correct mistakes in various zones. This included 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's good run did not last, as they suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Belgium. This loss (especially given that 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. While the chances of him becoming one of the stars the US needs by 2030 are slim, he showed in this tournament signs of being a complete top-class defender.

Johann Manzambi: Freiburg playmaker (Switzerland)