by Aneesa Dastgir and Rebecca McCurdy
The World Cup is now over, leaving football fans with nothing to do now until mid August, when the Premier League kicks in, and other tournaments start.
Throughout the tournament, players new and old competed for a spot in the final. Here are our top 5 pick for the best players in the World Cup:
- Kylian Mbappé
Mbappé is one to watch, being extremely talented and helping lead France to victory. Considering he was not even born when France won the World Cup in 1998, he has conquered high heights at the age of 19. Mbappé is going to rise through the ranks even more, with a rumoured move on the cards from Paris St. Germain. Watch this space!
2. Ivan Perišić
Croatia were the true underdogs of the tournament and reached the final. The team dynamics held by Croatia were incredible to see, with the likes of Manducjiz, Rakitić, Modrić – alongside Perišić, putting up a good fight throughout the tournament. The goals scored by Perišić were amazing to see and lead to their victory of 2nd place. Latest transfer news is that Manchester United are currently looking at Perišić to add to their squad, having previously failed to secure a deal.
3. Jordan Pickford
Pickford was one of the best rated English players from the whole tournament and was a crucial part of England’s victory, that is, until the end. Saving multiple goals against highly-ranked teams, he definitely showcased talent. Currently playing for Everton FC, the player will surely be getting multiple offers after showing off his penalty shoot-out skills in Colombia’s match against England.
4. Thibaut Courtois
Courtois won the Golden Glove at the World Cup for being the best goalkeeper of the tournament. He played a big part in Belgium securing 3rd place, beating England. From matches against Brazil to Panama, Courtois showed cool confidence in these matches. The latest news today is that Real Madrid are closing in on a deal to sign Courtois from Chelsea FC.
5. Yuto Nagatomo
Nagatomo is a decade into his career playing for the national team, being one of three players to have 100 caps in Japan’s Russia 2018 squad. Even though he didn’t score, he assisted well and Japan’s performance was exceptional, scoring in all games except one. However, they lost 3-2 to Belgium and their chances were cut short. As with Croatia, having the likes of Honda, Hasebe and Inui, they showcased skill and talent.
This list highlights who we thought were the Top 5, but this year, the WC was full of unexpected twists and turns. There are many talented players who will now be getting snapped up in the Summer transfer window and gave the World Cup an exciting edge – from South Korea beating Germany, to close calls and the controversial VAR system. It has certainly been a world cup to remember – can Qatar 2022 top Russia 2018?
Feature Image: FIFA
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