​World Cup group stage brought surprises, from small nations to standout talents who are now making waves on the international scene. Here are eight players who exceeded expectations during the group phase.
Johan Manzambi – Switzerland: The midfielder born in 2005 from Freiburg tops the U21 World Cup scoring chart with 3 goals and an assist. Valued around 50 million, Manzambi is a box-to-box dynamo with sharp finishing, exceptional physical power, and excellent technique. He can still improve his movement between lines, but he embodies the modern, dominant midfielder.
Ayyoub Bouaddi – Morocco: The 2007-born Lille playmaker impressed against Brazil and Scotland, though he started on the bench against Haiti. Accurate passer, relentless in challenges, calm in decision-making, and intelligent positioning in both halves, Bouaddi is valued at roughly 70-80 million.
Gustavo Puerta – Colombia: Colombia’s breakthroughs owe much to Puerta, whose quick ball movement and sharp positional sense drive their build-up and transitions. The 2003-born midfielder has a keen first touch and can dribble through the press, contributing significantly to his team’s performance.
Yan Diomandé – Ivory Coast: The 2006-born Leipzig winger already carried a high valuation before the tournament, and his outstanding physical and technical attributes were confirmed in Qatar. Though he hasn’t found the net yet, his dribbling is among the best in the tournament, consistently signaling danger when he has the ball.
Kerim Alajbegovic – Bosnia: A revelation to a global audience, the 2007-born Bayer Leverkusen talent impressed with fearless dribbling, precise shooting, and remarkable mental toughness. Joked about by Iverson’s claim is the fact that an 18-year-old can play like he owns the stadium—a rarity that didn’t rely on mere luck or hype.
Gilberto Mora – Mexico: The youngest Mexican ever at a World Cup, 17-year-old Mora came on as a substitute in 24 minutes against South Africa and 72 against the Czech Republic. His speed in short bursts, vision in the final third, and composure beyond his years mark him as Mexico’s rising star, with his future likely beyond Tijuana.
Ismael Saibari – Morocco: The PSV forward, set to move to a bigger stage, continues to shine with his technical ability and forward-thinking play, reinforcing Morocco’s growing prestige and depth.