One of the most thrilling World Cup’s in memory came to an end with France lifting the Jules Rimet. While several unexpected surprises were thrown up, we at #TalentRadar weren’t too surprised to see some of favourite young players light up the grandest stage football has to offer.
5. Hirving Lozano // 22 // Mexico // Winger
Lozano has come in leaps and bounds in the last few years, with his performances at league winning PSV winning him many accolades. The Mexico side that came to the World Cup wasn’t expected to do much, but stole the show with their opening win against Germany. The star of that particular show was, of course, Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano. The pacy winger found space to run into and isolated defenders to trouble. He made the most of the opportunity, and scored the winning goal as well. Lozano looks set to launch himself into continued stardom after such performances, and it will be interesting to see where he goes from here.
4. Lucas Hernandez // 22 // France // Left Back
The other side of a strong French defence, Lucas of Atletico did a fantastic job. Picked ahead of the swashbuckling Mendy for his defensive nous, Lucas, in cahoots with Blaise Matuidi, kept most opposition attackers far away from Lloris’ goal. Hernandez did a fair job of getting forward as well, but like any converted centre back, earned his money with his work in the back line.
3. Aleksandr Golovin // 22 // Russia // Midfielder
The host nation had a dream run to the last 8 of this tournament, with even Vladimir Putin expressing his pride. An important part of the Russian charge was Golovin. The talisman, long regarded as someone who has outgrown his club, was at his best in the tournament. His passing was on point, and regularly a threat. His free kick on day 1 against a hapless Saudi Arabian side really set the tone for the tournament.
2. Benjamin Pavard // 22 // France // Right Back
Pavard has been a very highly rated youngster for a while now, but slips away from mainstream attention due to the fact that he plays for the relatively unglamourous Stuttgart. Nominally a centre back, Deschamps utilised his solid defensive skills out wide to stitch together a miserly backline. Pavard chipped in with one of the goals of the tournament as well, scoring an important equaliser against Argentina. He showed great resilience in the semi final despite being bullied by Eden Hazard in the early part of the game.
1. Kylian Mbappe // 19 // France // Forward
The France forward wasn’t even born when his coach lifted the World Cup in Paris back in 1998, but that didn’t stop him from leaving an indelible mark on this tournament. Mbappe’s pace, dribbling, and direct running put fear in the hearts of most defenders facing France. Tactically speaking, he was crucial to the way France played, as it allowed Deschamps to keep his team deep and strike on the break. 4 goals, including a brace against Argentina, and the crucial third in the finale mean that Mbappe made a very tangible contribution in terms of winning matches too. The second most expensive player in history has shown the world his true value.
- Analysis: Are Chelsea’s pressing issues a concern? - October 5, 2020
- Has Financial Fair Play Been Worth It? - August 27, 2020
- Tactical Philosophy: Frank Lampard - May 20, 2020
