NikkoFC

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[NikkoFC @NikkoFC]

A thread 🧵on one breakout candidate from EVERY nation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 🌎

Some are wonderkids, some are underrated gems, and some are stars ready for the next level. Nations are listed in alphabetical order.

Stats via FotMob & DataMB. 👇

[NikkoFC @NikkoFC]

FLORIAN WIRTZ BEAUTY TO KING KAI HAVERTZ.

GERMANY TIE 1-1 PARAGUAY

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Goal and assist for Manzambi vs Canada today.

[NikkoFC @NikkoFC]

🇨🇭 Switzerland: Johan Manzambi

This Freiburg midfielder was one of the reasons so many fans tuned into the Europa League Final.

Already linked with clubs such as Real Madrid and Manchester United, Manzambi has begun making a name for himself in European football. Now, he has the chance to introduce himself to a global audience.

Playing in his first World Cup, the Swiss midfielder ranks in the 97th percentile for shot attempts, the 90th percentile for goals, and the 74th percentile for aerial duels won despite standing at just 6 feet tall.

He recorded 13 G/A in 47 appearances for Freiburg last season.

Alongside a very underrated Swiss side, Manzambi could become one of the breakout stars of the tournament.

[NikkoFC @NikkoFC]

🇨🇭 Switzerland: Johan Manzambi

This Freiburg midfielder was one of the reasons so many fans tuned into the Europa League Final.

Already linked with clubs such as Real Madrid and Manchester United, Manzambi has begun making a name for himself in European football. Now, he has the chance to introduce himself to a global audience.

Playing in his first World Cup, the Swiss midfielder ranks in the 97th percentile for shot attempts, the 90th percentile for goals, and the 74th percentile for aerial duels won despite standing at just 6 feet tall.

He recorded 13 G/A in 47 appearances for Freiburg last season.

Alongside a very underrated Swiss side, Manzambi could become one of the breakout stars of the tournament.

[NikkoFC @NikkoFC]

Kerim Alajbegovic goal vs Qatar today 😉

[NikkoFC @NikkoFC]

🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina: Kerim Alajbegović

Linked with Arsenal, Napoli, Roma, and several other Italian clubs, the 18-year-old winger can play anywhere across the front line or as an attacking midfielder.

He recorded 12 G/A in 28 games for RB Salzburg and enters his first World Cup as one of the brightest up-and-coming talents in the Bosnia and Herzegovina squad.

Alajbegović possesses a powerful shot and is comfortable using both feet. He ranks in the 99th percentile for shot attempts among players in his position, the 92nd percentile for touches, and the 77th percentile for chances created.

He is pacey, technically gifted, and loves cutting inside onto his right foot to fire at goal. Standing at 6’1”, he has all the tools to become one of Bosnia’s breakout stars. He even scored the penalty that helped Bosnia qualify against Italy.

HM: Esmir Bajraktarević, Tarik Muharemović

[NikkoFC @NikkoFC]

🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina: Kerim Alajbegović

Linked with Arsenal, Napoli, Roma, and several other Italian clubs, the 18-year-old winger can play anywhere across the front line or as an attacking midfielder.

He recorded 12 G/A in 28 games for RB Salzburg and enters his first World Cup as one of the brightest up-and-coming talents in the Bosnia and Herzegovina squad.

Alajbegović possesses a powerful shot and is comfortable using both feet. He ranks in the 99th percentile for shot attempts among players in his position, the 92nd percentile for touches, and the 77th percentile for chances created.

He is pacey, technically gifted, and loves cutting inside onto his right foot to fire at goal. Standing at 6’1”, he has all the tools to become one of Bosnia’s breakout stars. He even scored the penalty that helped Bosnia qualify against Italy.

HM: Esmir Bajraktarević, Tarik Muharemović

[NikkoFC @NikkoFC]

USA have looked the best as a team over any other nation so far. A group of players that play as one, unlike any other USMNT we’ve seen.

Where one falls another is there to cover, and their attacking chemistry is unreal, the players all attack in unison.

[NikkoFC @NikkoFC]

Our future is stacked.

Myles Lewis-Skelly, Max Dowman, Ethan Nwaneri (hopefully), and soon Jeremy Monga.

The future of The Arsenal. ❤️

[Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano]

🚨🔴⚪️ EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal sent official bid to Leicester City to get Jeremy Monga deal done.

16 year old winger keen on joining #AFC and deal moving quickly now with optimism to sign #LCFC talent, seen as huge prospect for the future.

⏳⌛️

[NikkoFC @NikkoFC]

World Cup Matchday 6 Thoughts 🌎

• Lionel. Messi. What more must be said.

• Algeria looked really poor both defensively and going forward. I think most of us expected a bit more from them. Also, no Mahrez until the 64th minute?

• Mbappé still has a strong argument for best in the world. His link-up play with Olise was unreal, and the French backline might just be the best in the world.

• Cherki coming on late was a surprise. This guy has to start for France.

• Haaland is the pillar of this Norwegian attack. He does everything for them up front and could genuinely make a push for best in the world at this tournament.

• Ødegaard was good today, but I’d love to see him take more shots. At times he still seems to be playing with that passive Arsenal mindset.

• Sørloth on the wing was a very interesting decision that went very poorly.

[NikkoFC @NikkoFC]

I mean. The greatest to ever do it.

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Erling Haaland and Mbappe making their case for best in the world today. Literally unstoppable one man armies.

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Erling Haaland scores hit FIRST ever World Cup Goal vs Iraq!

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I TAKE IT ALL BACK. UNC STILL GOT IT.

[NikkoFC @NikkoFC]

Olise literally doing EVERYTHING for this French attack, Mbappe can’t finish anymore I guess.

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Landon Donovan mentioning Mateta and injured Hugo Emitike but not Rayan Cherki when talking about the French bench… Ban American analysts and commentators from the World Cup man.

[NikkoFC @NikkoFC]

FUTURE ARSENAL MAN BRADLEY BARCOLA GOALLL!

[NikkoFC @NikkoFC]

Deschamps is selling not running Cherki with this Olise Mbappe combo.

[NikkoFC @NikkoFC]

Olise literally doing EVERYTHING for this French attack, Mbappe can’t finish anymore I guess.

[NikkoFC @NikkoFC]

Olise literally doing EVERYTHING for this French attack, Mbappe can’t finish anymore I guess.

[NikkoFC @NikkoFC]

Just watch how much this game changes once Rayan Cherki comes on for France…

[NikkoFC @NikkoFC]

Actually a good signing, all this just to still get 3 in the back of their net by Eze next season.

[Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano]

🚨 Tottenham agree deal to sign Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton, here we go! 💣

New defender wanted by De Zerbi joining on £52m deal, agreement club to club done after player accepted #THFC conditions last week.

All done and Vuskovic separate case, as @David_Ornstein reports.

[NikkoFC @NikkoFC]

My World Cup Matchday 5 Thoughts 🌎:

• The day of the goalkeepers. Vozinha shocked the world against Spain, and Mohammed Al-Owais has this year’s tournament record for saves in a match with 9 against Uruguay.

• If you told me before the tournament that Iran vs New Zealand would be one of the most entertaining games so far, I would’ve called you crazy. What a match.

• Mikel Oyarzabal looked really poor as Spain’s number 9. Had plenty of opportunities but rarely looked threatening in front of goal.

• Kevin De Bruyne hasn’t lost a step. Doku, on the other hand, was far too inconsistent. That was nowhere near a world-class winger performance.

• Chris Wood and Elijah Just could genuinely drag New Zealand to a third-place finish.

What was your biggest takeaway from Matchday 5?