World Cup 2026: 12 underrated players to watch

Martin Baturina

Age: 23
Position: Left winger 
Club: Como

After breaking into the Dinamo Zagreb team at age 19, Baturina enjoyed a successful loan to high-flying Como last season, helping them secure Champions League football on the final day of the season. He has only made 8 appearances for Croatia over the last two years and competes for game time with more senior players.

His direct play down the wing and ability to hold the width of an attack are key features that make him compatible playing with a traditional number nine. Lots of Champions League clubs have moved towards a target man up front, or even a two-striker system, so the demand for width-holding wingers is likely to be high during this window.

Luka Vušković

Age: 19
Position: Centre back
Club: Hamburger SV

At 19 years old, 193cm (6'4'') with six league goals this season, Luka Vušković will be high on the shopping list of many big clubs. He is owned by Tottenham, on loan at Hamburg, with his future is uncertain as Spurs may look to cash in on one of Europe’s best defensive prospects. Vušković has said he will not decide on his future until after the end of the World Cup.

He has already played top division football in four countries (Germany, Poland, Croatia, Belgium) and fits the mould of a modern centre back; physical, good on the ball and an aerial threat. He is also key to Hamburg's set-piece strategy, at both ends of the pitch, having scored two headers, one penalty, one direct free kick, and two from open play in the league.

Ernest Nuamah

Age: 22
Position: Right winger
Club: Lyon

After a difficult period of over a year out with an ACL injury, Nuamah has returned to his club and will likely feature for Ghana in the tournament if he can stay fit. He began his career at Nordsjælland in Denmark and is now in his second season with Lyon, where he provides an exceptional attacking threat across all areas. His pass reception and touch in the final third are also key strengths.

Abdul Fatawu

Age: 22
Position: Right winger
Club: Leicester

Fatawu has ridden the ups and downs of the English league system with Leicester City since 2023/24. With 43 league starts (and one substitute appearance), he has been a rare light in a club that has ended up relegated for a second consecutive season.

He missed much of Leicester’s Premier League season due to an ACL tear but returned as their top assister and second-top scorer in the Championship. He may be up for sale as Leicester look to reduce costs in League One and is already attracting interest from Everton and Sunderland.

Adalberto Carrasquilla

Age: 27
Position: Central midfielder
Club: Pumas UNAM

Carrasquilla won the Best Player award at the 2023 Gold Cup and has remained a key player both for his club and national team. He plays primarily as a central midfielder but was also used across the front line for his club last season. At 27, he is at his peak and so unlikely to be picked up by a European club in the transfer window, but could cause England problems in their final group game.

Ismael Díaz

Age:28
Position: Left winger
Club: Leon

As Panama's joint top scorer, Díaz is coming off a phenomenal scoring run over the last five seasons, spanning the Colombian Liga Pro and Liga México. However, his main threat comes from carrying the ball from deep on the left wing into the edge of the box, beating defenders one-on-one and pulling defensive structures out of space. He is unlikely to attract big European clubs due to his age, but his output at club level makes him worth watching.

Danley Jean Jacques

Age: 25
Position: Central attacking midfielder 
Club: Philadelphia Union

Jean Jacques moved to the MLS after getting Metz promoted to Ligue 1. In his first full season at Union, he made 29 starts and scored three goals, but his main threat comes from his forward passing and skipping through defensive structures with line-breaking passes. Having left Europe for the MLS, a move back seems unlikely, but given that the Philadelphia Union currently have the worst record in the league, he may be looking for a transfer within the league.

Josué Casimir

Age: 24
Position: Right winger
Club: Auxerre

Casimir moved to Auxerre after five seasons at Le Havre. Despite a slight decrease in playing time after the transfer, he may be looking for a further move, given that Auxerre narrowly avoided relegation this year. A versatile player across both wings and in wing-back positions, he will be hoping to find a slot in the national team, having made only six appearances to date.

Bilal El Khannouss

Age: 22
Position: Central attacking midfielder
Club: Stuttgart

After Morocco’s semi-final defeat to France in the World Cup, El Khannouss made his international debut at 18 in the third-place play-off against Croatia.

On loan from Leicester last season, he has now made his Stuttgart move permanent with his new contract expiring in 2030. This makes a move in the summer unlikely, although it's not unprecedented for a player to move for a large fee soon after signing a long-term contract (Grealish and Coutinho come to mind).

Ismael Saibari

Age: 25
Position: Central attacking midfielder
Club: PSV Eindhoven

Saibari made his debut for Morocco shortly after their run to the semi-final, and so will be featuring in his first World Cup. He faces tough competition for his preferred attacking positions and may struggle for minutes, but he has proven himself in the national team shirt, scoring 7 goals in 27 appearances.

He is an incredibly versatile player and has lined up across the entire frontline and throughout the midfield this season. He is also in his second season with double-digit league goals. At 185cm (6'1''), he also has the physical build that many elite sides look for and may well be on the list for a Premier League side this summer, looking for more physicality in the middle of the pitch.

Endrick

Age: 19
Position: Striker/Right winger
Club: Olympique Lyonnais

Endrick's journey from Palmeiras to Real Madrid, then to a loan spell at Olympique Lyonnais, was one of the best documented in recent history. Since his move to Ligue 1, he has scored 5 goals from 14 starts, reigniting excitement about his talent. But he is currently out of favour with the Brazilian national side, now headed by his former Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti.

Endrick has only played two games for Brazil since 2024. He scored his first international goal in a 1-0 win against England at Wembley in March 2024. Real Madrid paid Palmeiras a fee rising to €72 million with add-ons, and so will be looking for a return on investment, either through his return to the first-team playing squad, or sale to a Champions League rival. The big question this summer is whether he will be able to get any time on the pitch. Endrick's merits as a player are not up for debate; however, he has signed a long-term deal with one of the biggest clubs in the world, which doesn't want him to play.

Wesley França

Age: 22
Position: Left wing back
Club: Roma

Wesley has enjoyed a strong start to his career in Europe after moving to Roma from Flamengo this season. He has started 28 times in the league and scored five goals. Looking at his heat map, he is responsible for progressing the ball down both wings. He provides width in attack and ranks amongst the best in the world for crosses and deliveries into the box. Unlike many attacking fullbacks, his defence is also a strong part of his game. His speed and positioning high up the pitch contribute to a lot of high-quality interceptions and important tackles, preventing the opposition from breaking.

Listed as a defender in the Brazilian squad, he is competing for game time with some of the most established players in international football. All six of his Brazil appearances have come under Ancelotti, a display of faith in one of the few youngsters going with this squad.