The Stage for the Difference at the 2026 World Cup

As the older generation of gold players ages, the 2026 World Cup presents the emergence of new stars. The title of the tournament's best player usually goes to those who have made significant contributions to their team's progress as far as possible. For this World Cup, players who can make a difference have their own added value.

In the last 10 editions of the World Cup, the best player award is typically associated with those who can lead their team to at least the semifinals. Lionel Messi is the only player to have won this award twice. The forward from Inter Miami has indicated that he will play in the sixth World Cup of his career.

However, with age increasingly catching up, the attacking responsibility of the Argentina team cannot rely solely on Messi. Moreover, a few weeks before the World Cup, Messi experienced pain in the back of his thigh while playing for Inter Miami in the continuation of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States. Argentina's coach, Lionel Scaloni, has long been preparing another weapon in the front line, namely Julian Alvarez.

In the previous World Cup edition, Alvarez continued to evolve into more than just a prolific goal scorer. He is a player who tirelessly pressures opponents without relent. His physical strength is also impressive. He utilizes that strength to disrupt the rhythm of the game while simultaneously preventing opponents from building attacks from the back. Alvarez's role in this manner has become a crucial component in Scaloni's playing system.

Alvarez's attributes are further enhanced by his impressive finishing ability. His skills in executing free kicks have also improved significantly. His ability to convert free kicks into goals played a crucial role in Atletico Madrid's important victory in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

Tactical intelligence allows Alvarez to operate in various roles during attacks. At Atletico, Alvarez is often asked to drop deeper or move to the flanks while center forward Alexander Sorloth plays. He has scored 17 goals in all competitions for Atletico Madrid this season, including eight goals in the Champions League.

It is not surprising that players like Alvarez have become favorites among many coaches, including Scaloni. As Messi's brilliance begins to fade, Alvarez could be the answer to Argentina's need for scoring goals. Alvarez's contributions in terms of goals and assists for the Argentina team rank second only to Messi, with four goals and three assists. He is the player born to make a difference.

"He did what the coach asked, even though he doesn't always feel comfortable with it. He fulfills his duties and he does it well," said Scaloni.

As the defending champions, Argentina's potential opponents will almost certainly choose to play with a low defensive line. From there, they will look for openings to launch counterattacks. This situation can be avoided if Argentina has at least two things: a strong defense or players who can break the deadlock.

Alvarez possesses all the attributes to be Argentina's breakthrough player. He has excellent finishing quality and is also skilled at taking free kicks.

At a nearly similar level, Alvarez's flexibility can be matched by Raphinha from Brazil. These two giant football nations in Latin America are indeed sources of talented footballers who can play in multiple positions. In addition to being skilled at playing on the left wing, Raphinha can also be positioned as an attacking midfielder and on the right wing.

While defending Barcelona, Raphinha is often asked to play on the left and right wings according to the needs of the team. He performs all these roles perfectly. Wherever Raphinha is positioned, his movements consistently pose a threat to the opponent's goal.

Thanks to that ability, Raphinha has collected 13 goals and 3 assists at Barcelona this season. This achievement makes him the third player with the most goal involvement in the team.

Besides being calm when receiving ‘pressing’, Olise is also great in one-on-one duels.

Like Alvarez, Raphinha is also a strong contender for the title of best player in the World Cup. While Alvarez excels in finishing and set-piece execution, Raphinha is highly skilled in one-on-one duels and speed.

His maneuvers often attract the movements of opponents, allowing his teammates to exploit open spaces. Such abilities are very useful for breaking through the opponent's low defense line.

"He is able to create space on the field and possesses extraordinary quality. Playing alongside him makes my job much easier," said Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior, as quoted from the FIFA website.

Raphinha's contribution to Brazil's qualification for the World Cup is considerable. He became Brazil's top scorer with a total of five goals. This achievement is quite remarkable considering Raphinha's position as a winger, rather than a central striker who is closer to the goal.

If Raphinha and Alvarez have experience playing in the World Cup, it is a different case for Michael Olise. The right winger from France has the opportunity to make his debut at the 2026 World Cup. Olise has emerged as an intriguing phenomenon this season, contributing to Bayern Munich's advancement to the semifinals of the Champions League.

Alongside Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappé, Olise's presence makes the French national team's attack one to be feared. Besides being calm when receiving pressing, Olise is also excellent in one-on-one duels.

Playing on the wing, Olise's crosses are so accurate that they make it easy for strikers to convert them into goals. This season, Olise has accumulated 30 assists across all competitions. This achievement makes him the French player with the most assists for a single club in the top five European leagues.

"He offers us real fluidity. His technical ability allows him to make a difference. He has tremendous potential," said French Coach Didier Deschamps.

The 2026 World Cup will be the final stage for past greats such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, and Lionel Messi. On the other hand, there will be new stars ready to take their place. Olise is one of them. (REUTERS)