Top News

Just a few days before the World Cup kicked off, we took on the tricky challenge of forecasting who the tournament’s breakout stars would be.

We were the first to admit that “we could get it horribly wrong.” And yes, we completely missed Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper. Our mistake.

We’ve now revisited our nine original picks and ranked them according to how much they truly broke out during the tournament.

What we said: He was still finding his footing in the Belgium squad, but there was growing buzz around him as one to watch – possibly even in the transfer market.

What happened: That’s still the case. He played only 41 minutes over three substitute appearances, all during the group stage, despite Belgium making it to the quarter-finals.

What we said: After finishing the previous season on loan at Lyon with solid performances, a strong World Cup could be the 19-year-old’s launchpad to become a key player at Real Madrid. While it seemed unlikely he’d start for Brazil, the lack of obvious centre-forwards in the squad meant his opportunity could come. The World Cup felt like the perfect stage to turn potential into proven talent.

What happened: Endrick will have to wait for another opportunity to kick-start his Real Madrid journey. As predicted, he came off the bench in all four of his appearances without scoring or assisting. Brazil’s earliest exit since 1990 certainly didn’t help his cause.

What we said: Paz wouldn’t stand out as much for Argentina as he does at club level, but he’d want to show he’s ready for the elite stage.

What happened: Paz was one of the lesser-used players in Argentina’s squad, which finished runners-up. He played 10 minutes in their first group match and about an hour in their last, but didn’t feature in the knockouts. He has since confirmed another year at Como, where he’ll continue developing, though he still needs to prove he’s ready for Real Madrid’s top level.

What we said: Croatia’s strong World Cup history meant he’d have a chance to prove himself in a competitive side. It could remind Tottenham Hotspur of his value as they rebuild their defence.

What happened: Croatia didn’t go far this time, exiting in the round of 32. Vuskovic started their opening match against England, which turned out to be his only appearance. Instead of returning to Spurs, he sealed a pricey move to Brighton. Transfers do count towards breakout status, but it’s doubtful his 66 World Cup minutes were the main reason.

What we said: The youngest player at the tournament, Mora wasn’t just tagging along for experience with co-hosts Mexico. At 17, he was expected to start regularly.

What happened: That prediction held true. Mora started three of Mexico’s four matches, including their round of 16 loss to England. He showed flashes of brilliance and remains one to keep an eye on.

What we said: Although unlikely to start for Brazil, his steady rise this year made him a potential surprise package.

What happened: Rayan actually started three matches and made one appearance from the bench. He provided an assist in the group-stage win over Scotland, becoming Brazil’s first teenage starter in a World Cup since 1970. His career trajectory continues to look promising.

What we said: Could Bosnia make it out of a group featuring Canada, Qatar and Switzerland? Possibly. While they’d depend heavily on veteran Dzeko, there was also a young player who could inspire them.

What happened: Bosnia did advance from their group, with Alajbegovic scoring once in his three starts after coming off the bench in their opener. He was the only one of our nine picks to find the net. Though Bosnia fell in the round of 32, the attacking midfielder has caught the attention of several European clubs.

What we said: Still just 19, the winger was already being linked to Liverpool in a potential nine-figure transfer but had a World Cup to focus on. Ivory Coast’s first World Cup since 2014 saw them drawn with Germany, Ecuador and Curaçao, a group they could realistically escape if Diomande performed.

What happened: Diomande is indeed one of the transfer window’s biggest names, now leaning towards PSG over Liverpool. He started all four of Ivory Coast’s matches until their round of 32 exit and registered an assist in their final group game.

What we said: He might become someone France regret losing, but he had the chance to make a name for himself with a Morocco side that had big dreams after their previous World Cup run.

What happened: Ironically, it was France who eliminated Morocco. Still, Bouaddi impressed on debut against Brazil with a 91% passing accuracy, commanding the midfield. Though his influence waned later, he’s now being eyed by Manchester City, who could reportedly pay £85 million for him.