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Switzerland, often regarded as the perennial dark horse in international tournaments, are on course to finish at the top of Group B after netting twice in the second half against co-hosts Canada, taking a 2-1 lead with less than 15 minutes remaining.

At the heart of this impressive performance is Freiburg’s young sensation, Johan Manzambi.

In the past, Switzerland’s big-game moments were often shaped by the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri and Alexander Frei. However, this summer in North America, the 20-year-old Bundesliga prodigy has emerged as the face of a new generation, stepping up in ways few had anticipated.

Before the tournament began, much of the attention centred around striker Breel Embolo. Yet, it is Manzambi who has captured the headlines during the group stage with his exceptional displays.

The 2025/26 Europa League Young Player of the Season, who played a key role in helping Freiburg reach the final, was initially left out of Murat Yakin’s starting line-up against both Qatar and Bosnia and Herzegovina. But after coming off the bench to score a brace against Sergej Barbarez’s side, he made his impact impossible to ignore.

Now starting in today’s match, Manzambi has delivered once again – first assisting Rúben Vargas for the opening goal before adding one himself to strengthen Switzerland’s lead.

With that contribution, Manzambi has become the top scorer in the tournament among players aged 21 or younger (according to Squawka), and the youngest player since Memphis Depay in 2014 to both score and assist in a World Cup match.

Relatively unknown before the start of the 2026 World Cup, Johan Manzambi has now firmly announced himself on the global stage.