The 2026 World Cup was remembered not only for spectacular games and records, but also for the emergence of new football stars. A number of players who showed unexpected performance in the tournament played a key role in the success of their teams and attracted the attention of leading European clubs. Many players' transfer values are expected to increase significantly during the summer transfer window.
Modern.az presents a list of players whose stars shone at the World Cup.
One of the most notable players was 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande. Known for his speed, dribbling, and bold play, the young footballer is considered one of the biggest discoveries of the tournament and has already attracted the interest of leading European clubs.
Switzerland national team midfielder Johan Manzambi was also one of the shining faces of the World Cup. Thanks to his creative play, technical skills, and contribution to attacks, he is considered one of the most successful young midfielders of the tournament.
Spain national team defender Pau Cubarsi, despite his age, gained great popularity with his confident play in defense. The young footballer was chosen as one of the best young defenders of the tournament with his high passing accuracy and calm performance.
France national team winger Michael Olise became one of the main figures of his team with his productive performance. His speed, technique, and assists further increased the interest of world giants.
Morocco national team's young midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi, Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Hill, talented Mexican national team player Gilberto Mora, Norwegian winger Antonio Nusa, 21-year-old Andreas Schjelderup, and DR Congo national team midfielder Nicolas Sadiki were also among the players who attracted the attention of the transfer market with their performances in the tournament.
This list also includes two players from the Egyptian national team - Emam Ashour and Hasim Hassan. Ashour was one of the most important figures of his team with his leadership in midfield, game direction, and ball control. Haissem Hassan, on the other hand, caused difficult moments for the opposing defense, especially in the match against Argentina, with his speed, bold dribbling, and superiority in one-on-one duels. Most of the threats created by Egypt against the world champion occurred thanks to the activity of these two players, and their performance was considered one of the most memorable individual performances of the tournament.
One of the biggest surprises of the World Cup was Cape Verde national team's 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha. The experienced goalkeeper became one of the main contributors to his team's successful performance with his magnificent saves. Vozinha, the goalkeeper of the Cape Verde national team, who started with 46 thousand Instagram followers before the World Cup, quickly reached over 22 million followers thanks to his magnificent performance, becoming the biggest social media phenomenon of the tournament. His performance in the matches against Spain and Argentina resonated widely in the football community. A newly discovered sea slug was even named "Aldisa vozinha" in his honor.
In addition, already well-known figures in world football such as Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Rodri, and Harry Kane once again confirmed their status with high-level performances. Bellingham and Yamal, in particular, were among the most discussed footballers of the tournament.
According to football experts, World Cups have always had a significant impact on the transfer market. The leap made by players like James Rodriguez, Enzo Fernandez, and Sofyan Amrabat after previous World Cups is expected to be repeated this year for Yan Diomande, Johan Manzambi, Pau Cubarsi, and other young talents. WC-2026 once again proved that the World Cup is not only a struggle for the trophy, but also the biggest stage where future football stars are born.
