The 2022 World Cup might have been the final hurrah for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, however the event additionally witnessed the arrival of a brand new crop of proficient younger gamers, from Dutch striker Cody Gakpo and England’s Jude Bellingham to Croatian Josko Gvardiol.
English teenager Bellingham arrived in Qatar tipped as a possible World Cup star and left as one of many hottest properties in world soccer.
The Borussia Dortmund participant – a contemporary box-to-box midfielder – opened England’s account on the event with a nice header within the group’s 6-2 romp in opposition to Iran.
The 19-year-old additionally shone within the 3-0 quarterfinal win in opposition to Senegal, crossing for Jordan Henderson to stroke house the primary and driving by means of the midfield to launch the assault that led to the second.
“I think he’s a fantastic player. He has everything with and without the ball, presses really well, gets around the pitch, tackles,” mentioned captain Harry Kane.
The Netherlands’ 23-year-old ahead Cody Gakpo was the one participant to attain in all three group video games as he carried over his red-hot kind for PSV Eindhoven onto the largest stage.
Gakpo’s header within the Netherlands’ opening match in opposition to Senegal broke the impasse late on in a 2-0 victory. He drilled the Dutch forward with a fierce left-footed drive in opposition to Ecuador in a 1-1 draw and once more set the Oranje on their method with one other tidy end as they beat Qatar 2-0.
Gakpo didn’t add any extra targets however nonetheless performed his half as Louis van Gaal’s facet solely succumbed on penalties to Argentina within the quarterfinals.
“He has everything it takes to become a star,” mentioned Van Gaal. It is unquestionably solely a matter of time earlier than he’s prised away from his boyhood membership, with Manchester United a attainable vacation spot.
Ronaldo out, Ramos in
Portugal had its personal breakout star in Goncalo Ramos. The ahead confirmed he has the potential to be the successor to Cristiano Ronaldo on the worldwide stage, seizing his alternative in sensational fashion when he was chosen forward of Portugal’s captain for the 6-1 demolition of Switzerland within the final 16.
Known as “Pistoleiro” for his gun-toting celebration, Ramos shot his method into world soccer’s consciousness with a hat trick on his full debut.
The 21-year-old took simply 17 minutes to open the scoring and obtain one thing Ronaldo by no means has – web in a World Cup knockout recreation.
Ramos couldn’t replicate his heroics as Portugal misplaced within the quarterfinals, however the Benfica striker has time on his facet and can absolutely get a future within the group as soon as Ronaldo steps apart, if not earlier than.
Argentina’s 22-year-old striker Julian Alvarez is the newest to roll off the nation’s conveyor belt of attacking expertise.
A 12 months that started with a high-profile switch from River Plate to Premier League champions Manchester City ended with the ahead being acclaimed as one of many brightest skills in world soccer after a blinding World Cup.
Left on the bench for Argentina’s opening two group video games, Alvarez began and scored in a 2-0 win over Poland after which netted a vital second objective within the 2-1 last-16 win over Australia.
Another stable exhibiting in opposition to the Netherlands was adopted by two targets within the semifinal win over Croatia.
“At his age, it is normal that he wants to conquer the world,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni mentioned of Alvarez. “He is a boy who will do whatever you say to him.”
Croatia’s 20-year-old defender, Josko Gvardiol, rose to prominence on the largest stage with a collection of fantastic shows throughout Croatia’s run to the semifinals.
Gvardiol’s World Cup was practically over earlier than it began after he fractured his nostril and suffered extreme swelling round his proper eye whereas taking part in for RB Leipzig final month, forcing him to put on a protecting masks in Qatar.
Not solely was the middle again straightforward to identify, however he stood out for his unforgiving defending and luxury on the ball. His sort out on Romelu Lukaku late in Croatia’s closing group match spared them an early exit.
He then helped nullify Brazil’s attacking threats in a shock quarterfinal win on penalties and capped off a formidable event with the opening objective in a man-of-the-match show in opposition to Morocco within the third place play-off.
