Defining the Unicorn
Before we can spot a unicorn on the soccer pitch, we have to understand what makes Shohei Ohtani one in baseball. It isn't just that he pitches and hits; it's that he performs both tasks at a world-class level, something thought impossible in the modern
era of specialization. He is often among the league leaders in home runs as a hitter and strikeouts as a pitcher, a combination of offensive power and defensive dominance bundled into one athlete. A true unicorn, therefore, isn't a jack-of-all-trades. They are a master of two, possessing an elite skillset in two distinct and often contradictory disciplines of their sport. In a soccer context, this means looking for players who fundamentally break the mold of their position.
The Two-Way Full-Back: Achraf Hakimi
In soccer, a full-back’s primary job is to defend the flanks. But Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi isn’t just a defender; he’s one of his team’s most dangerous attackers. Often called the best right-back in the world, Hakimi plays in such an advanced and aggressive role that he functions almost as a right-winger in possession. He combines the defensive discipline, recovery pace, and tackling of an elite defender with the crosses, dribbling, and goal threat of a forward. His performance was key to Morocco's historic semifinal run in 2022 and has been crucial again in 2026. This dual-threat capability, being a lockdown defender who is also a primary offensive weapon, makes him a perfect example of a soccer unicorn. He doesn't just support the attack; he often leads it.
The All-Phases Midfielder: Jude Bellingham
If a full-back who attacks is one type of unicorn, the midfielder who truly does everything at an elite level is another. England’s Jude Bellingham embodies this rare blend of offensive and defensive mastery from the center of the pitch. He is a critical component of England’s press-resistant midfield structure, doing the hard work of winning the ball and controlling the game's tempo. But unlike traditional holding midfielders, he is also a potent goal threat, known for his powerful late runs into the penalty box to score crucial goals. This ability to be both the engine room and the finisher, to control the game without the ball and decide it with the ball, is what sets him apart. He is not just an attacking midfielder or a defensive one; he is both, at the highest level, within the same game.
The Winger-Playmaker Hybrid: Michael Olise
On paper, France’s Michael Olise is a winger. In reality, he’s a hybrid creator who blends the individual brilliance of a touchline attacker with the vision of a central playmaker. For a star-studded French team, Olise has emerged as a primary creative spark in this World Cup, providing assists for scorers like Kylian Mbappé. Yet he is far more than just a setup man. In key knockout games, he has recorded more shots and more touches than any other player, demonstrating his central role in orchestrating the entire attack. His game is a fusion of silky one-on-one dribbling and the kind of dead-ball delivery from set plays that can decide a tight match. This combination of a winger's flair and a classic No. 10's influence makes him a unique tactical weapon.
