The 2026 World Cup stars whose stock has risen this summer

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Football Muse

20 July 2026

Few things in football can alter a player's reputation more than the

World Cup

. The biggest spotlight in football has again raised the stock of participating players.

Here are six stars whose reputations have risen at the 2026

Hear us out.

Just over two months ago, a petition calling for

Real Madrid

to sell

Kylian Mbappe

attracted more than 30million signatures. Mbappe has scored prolifically at

, but two trophyless seasons and ongoing rumours around dressing room divides saw some call for his exit.

What nonsense.

Mbappe proved this summer that he might just be the best footballer on the planet right now.

He scored 10 goals to win the Golden Boot as

France

reached the semi-finals and, while

Les Bleus

fell short, their talisman was electric. At just 27, he's the record scorer in

history. What a talent.

–

Sunday, 19 July 2026

Europe's top teams are falling over themselves to sign

Ayyoub Bouaddi

, who took to world football's biggest stage like a duck to water.

Morocco

nabbed the former

u-21 captain before the tournament and might just have secured a star for the next decade.

Bouaddi's effortless performances in central midfield were a highlight of Morocco's march to the quarter-finals. A big move is imminent.

Sunday, 14 June 2026

A much-questioned squad selection and early scapegoat for

England

, Spence ended the tournament with something resembling cult status.

Some eye-catching cameos from the bench were followed by standout performances against Argentina and

, as England finished third to secure their best

performance since 1966.

Julian Quinones has never played in European football but that could change this summer. The Colombian-born Mexico international scored four goals as the co-hosts reached the last 16, a tournament that followed him leading the Saudi Pro League for goals in 2025/26.

He's scored 62 goals in 69 games for Al Qadsiah over the last two seasons.

Perhaps the breakout star of a tournament that was dominated by the game's superstars.

Manzambi's all-action performances for Switzerland saw him score three goals and add two assists, with their elimination arriving in his absence.

The 20-year-old's terrific performances have already earned him a £59.5m club-record move to

Aston Villa

Vozinha arrived at the 2026

as a 40-year-old veteran goalkeeper that had just been released by Portuguese second-tier side Chaves.

He departs having helped the debutants to the knockout rounds with some heroic performances, and a record-breaking following on

social media.

World Cup 2026: Mbappé impresses, France’s bench disappoints in 6-4 defeat to England

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Mbappe in pole position for Golden Boot despite France defeat, Trump fuels FIFA backlash

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France 4-6 England: Saka outshines record-breaking Mbappe in thrilling third-place play-off

⏪ England beat France to third in World Cup match featuring 10 goals

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