In terms of individual players in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, names such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland are the headliners. They’re the ones whose faces are plastered over graphics and whose likenesses are marketed all over the world.
However, there are always lesser-known players who emerge from any World Cup tournament as stars, such as Colombia’s James Rodríguez or Argentina’s Enzo Fernández in recent editions.
So, which under-the-radar players could make huge impacts in the 2026 World Cup? Here are a few that could break out on soccer’s largest stage and make names for themselves globally.
Ricardo Pepi, FW, United States
Let’s start with an American who was omitted from the 2022 United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) World Cup squad. Ricardo Pepi, 23, is the third-youngest player on this year’s U.S. team, and his 13 international goals are the second-most on the squad, trailing only Christian Pulisic (33).Pepi has been a part of three title-winning squads in the Eredivisie over the last three years, leading PSV Eindhoven with 16 goals this past season. With the United States not having to qualify for the World Cup as hosts, Americans haven’t seen much of Pepi, but outside of Pulisic and Folarin Balogun, he’s as good a bet as any American to find the back of the net.
Abdukodir Khusanov, CB, Uzbekistan
The first-ever Uzbek player to sign with an English Premier League (EPL) club, Abdukodir Khusanov applies his craft with Manchester City. He’s a rising star for an Uzbekistan squad that’s making its World Cup debut, and Khusanov has just the manager who could get the best out of the 22-year-old.The nation is led by former Italian great Fabio Cannavaro, who played the same position as Khusanov, won the 2006 World Cup, and won that year’s Ballon d'Or award. Khusanov was recently named the player of the tournament of the 2026 FIFA Series, and now he’s poised to excel on an even bigger FIFA stage.
Martin Ødegaard, MF, Norway
Martin Ødegaard is likely the biggest name on this list as he’s spent most of his career with Arsenal and Real Madrid. He’s finished in the top 10 in assists in the EPL each of the last three years, feeding the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Bukayo Saka, and Kai Havertz.However, none of those three names compares to who Ødegaard will be the set-up man for at the World Cup 26 in Erling Haaland. The three-time EPL Golden Boot winner also led all players in goals in World Cup qualifying, with many of those coming via Ødegaard assists. So, one can expect lots of highlights of Haaland’s goals to also feature Ødegaard as he makes his World Cup debut.
Alessandro Circati, CB, Australia
A 22-year-old who was born in Italy, Alessandro Circati, moved to Perth, Australia, at the age of one. Some two decades later, he became the youngest person in 44 years to captain the Socceroos, and while he won’t have the armband at the World Cup 2026, he does have the recognition as arguably Australia’s best player.
Alessandro Circati #3 of Australia controls the ball during a training session ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 at Oakland Roots and Soul Sports Club in Alameda, Calif., on June 3, 2026. Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images
Circati is coming off a club season as a 31-game starter for Parma in Italy, having previously helped the club earn promotion from Serie B to Serie A. He scored his first international goal in a March friendly against Curacao, but his ability in the defensive third could allow Australia to reach the knockout stage for the second World Cup in a row.
Ryan Mendes, FW, Cape Verde
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the tournament debut for Cape Verde, as it is the third-smallest country, in terms of population, to ever qualify for the event. Their reward? They get to face the World Cup favorites in Spain in their opening match.But that means someone like Ryan Mendes will have a grand stage, as he’s the all-time leader in both goals scored and caps for Cape Verde. At 36 years old, Mendes is no longer a 90-minute man, but in what’s his first, and likely last, World Cup appearance, he has the ability to have a throwback performance not only versus Spain but beyond.
Yahia Fofana, GK, Ivory Coast
What the 2014 World Cup was for USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard could be what the 2026 World Cup is for Yahia Fofana. The Ivorians were impenetrable during qualifying, not conceding a single goal across 10 matches.
Yahia Fofana of the Ivory Coast during an international friendly match between South Korea and the Ivory Coast in Milton Keynes, England, on March 28, 2026. Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Fofana played the full 90 minutes in nine of those 10 matches, and while the competition will certainly increase a notch or two in the World Cup, so could the brilliance of Fofana’s saves. He led France’s Ligue 1 in saves in 2024-25 and was fifth in saves in Super Lig this past season, so he’s proficient for both country and club.
Montassar Talbi, CB, Tunisia
Like the Ivory Coast, Tunisia also didn’t allow a goal in qualifying, pitching 10 clean sheets. However, two of the three goalkeepers that Tunisia has on its World Cup roster didn’t play a single minute during those qualifiers, and veteran GK Bechir Ben Said, who had four of those clean sheets, was left off the squad.Thus, the team’s defensive strength lies more in its back line, led by Montassar Talbi. The 6-foot-3 center back often cleans up mistakes from the several sub-6-foot defenders that Tunisia trots out, as his presence still allows the Tunisians to be stout without overwhelming size.
