The 2026 FIFA World Cup just wrapped up, and while Spain finished on top of a tournament packed with memorable moments, one player absolutely exploded onto the global stage: England’s own Jude Bellingham. He didn’t just play well, he delivered the standout performance for the Three Lions, leading their charge to a third-place finish and absolutely smashing an English record by scoring seven goals. Seven! That’s more than Harry Kane, whose form notably dipped as he grew tired in the latter stages of the competition.
The Rise of an English Icon and a Swiss Surprise
Bellingham’s ability to stand up and be counted now makes him England’s most indispensable player. His complete lack of fear feeds into everything he does, from blitzing through the French team to being the man who stood up to Valentin Barco’s antics after Argentina won the semi-final. This kid is the real deal and the most likely player to lead his nation to the promised land. Honestly, if Elliot Anderson is worth £116M and Morgan Rogers is worth £117M, it’s scary to think how much the best English midfielder of a generation would cost right now. We’re talking £180 million? Maybe even £200 million?
And Bellingham wasn’t the only one making jaws drop. Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi had almost the exact opposite World Cup experience to some of the other hyped youngsters. He wasn’t even a starter for his nation’s first two matches, despite entering the tournament after excellent seasons in Germany. But then, he looked bright in a 25-minute appearance against Qatar. After that, he exploded, producing two goals in just 19 minutes to help take down Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-1. Manzambi then scored and assisted in a 2-1 victory over Canada, before assisting again in their 2-0 win over Algeria. His incredible tournament was cruelly cut short by injury, and Switzerland never looked the same without him. Aston Villa had seen enough, though, and moved quickly to sign the 20-year-old prospect, beating out Newcastle United. What a move!
When the Hype Doesn’t Deliver, and When You Become a Villain
On the flip side, some players found their stock taking a hit. Yan Diomande from Côte d’Ivoire just couldn’t quite make it happen at the World Cup. The youngster played with relative freedom, but he was unable to impact matches much, grabbing himself just one assist in four games. Even with links to Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool, his lack of output didn’t seem to be from the hype getting to him. He was still trying to get on the ball and confident enough to make things happen, which is a good sign for the RB Leipzig winger. Supporters of his potential next clubs may have cooled a bit, but he’s likely to still have his pick when the summer transfer window kicks into gear.
Then there’s Enzo Fernández of Argentina. At what point does he become more trouble than he’s worth? He was dropped for two Chelsea games at the end of last season after indicating he wanted to leave, with his agent confirming he was exploring moves away from Stamford Bridge. New manager Xabi Alonso wants him to stay, but after Enzo’s World Cup antics, how many supporters will follow that line of thinking? He’s now a villain in English football, and not just because he scored the equalizer that contributed to England’s elimination. His cocky celebration in the final came back to haunt him when he was sent off, leaving us with that enduring image of him with his ears cupped and a lip. Yikes.
So, while Spain is celebrating their championship, the real story for fans moving forward will be watching these players. Will Bellingham continue his meteoric rise? Will Diomande land a big move despite his World Cup performance? How will Manzambi recover and perform for Aston Villa? And what in the world is next for Enzo Fernández as he faces a tough road ahead?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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