The World Cup is not only a chance to win the biggest tournament of all for your country; it’s also a chance for players to earn a big transfer with a breakout performance on the biggest stage. James Rodríguez is perhaps the most famous example of all.
His extraordinary 2014 World Cup with Colombia earned him a monster move to Real Madrid, something that also happened to Mesut Özil when he burst onto the scene for Germany in 2010. Enzo Fernández became Chelsea’s record signing thanks to his performances
for Argentina in 2022, and several players could earn a big move this summer in America.
Here are four players in the transfer spotlight ahead of the 2026 World Cup:
Julián Alvarez (Atlético Madrid/Argentina)
The Atlético Madrid superstar is the subject of a lot of speculation heading into the summer, with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal said to be seriously interested in the Argentina forward. Alvarez had a very good tournament in 2022 but is now firmly established as Argentina’s best attacker alongside Lionel Messi, and his performance in the World Cup will be closely tied to the Albiceleste’s success.
If Argentina defy the odds and manage to repeat as champions, with Julián having a career-defining run, he will undoubtedly be the most coveted name in the market this summer.
Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig/Ivory Coast)
The 19-year-old exploded onto the Bundesliga scene this season with a fantastic year for RB Leipzig, and will be part of a talented Ivory Coast squad that will face Germany in the group stage and could have a good run in the tournament.
Diomande is very highly rated and is rumored to be Liverpool’s main target to replace Mo Salah on the right wing, but a great World Cup could open the eyes (and checkbooks) of other big clubs who are looking for a lightning-fast, ultra-skilled playmaker on the wing.
Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa/England)
The Aston Villa number 10 finished the season as perhaps England’s most in-form player alongside Harry Kane, and could very well start ahead of Jude Bellingham in Thomas Tuchel’s first XI in America. Rogers recently signed a new deal with Villa but his current club might not be able to keep him if Rogers can showcase his tremendous goal-scoring and playmaking abilities on the biggest stage.
Every big Premier League club is looking at Rogers as their next big signing, and they might just decide to pull the trigger this summer if his World Cup performance can help end England’s six-decade wait for the biggest trophy of all.
Igor Thiago (Brentford/Brazil)
The Brentford striker was the Premier League’s second top scorer behind Erling Haaland, and his performances were overwhelming enough that Carlo Ancelotti had no choice but to name him in Brazil’s squad for the World Cup. Thiago is Brazil’s only pure number 9, and old-school physical strikers with expert finishing ability are a rare breed in today’s game.
There is still some doubt if Thiago’s season was simply the product of Brentford’s excellent system, but he could answer every question about his individual quality this summer if he’s given the chance to break into the team and score some big goals in Brazil’s tournament run.
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