The World Cup always represents a prime opportunity for previously unheard-of players to put themselves into contention for a move to one of the world’s finest clubs. Back in 2014, James Rodriguez shot to superstardom following his incredible performances for Colombia as they stormed to the quarter-finals in Brazil. Just weeks following the culmination of the tournament, the playmaking midfielder had signed for Real Madrid for an eye-watering €75m.

And it wasn’t just Rodriguez. Four years ago, Aleksandr Golovin sealed a move from CSKA Moscow to AS Monaco following his brilliant performances for hosts Russia as they reached the last eight against all odds. Yerry Mina also secured a move to Barcelona following his brilliant displays for Colombia, which included a last-gasp equalizer against England in the second round.

Following Brazil 2014, Toni Kroos joined James Rodriguez at the Bernabeu after his sensational displays in central midfield led Germany to a first FIFA World Cup win since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij also signed a big money deal of his own after leading the Netherlands to the semi-finals. He left his boyhood club Feyenoord to join Lazio.

The weeks following the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be no different. While soccer odds have made Brazil the favourite for success this winter, there are no Brazilians that feature in our list of players who have put themselves in the shop window in Qatar.

Cody Gakpo – The Netherlands

PSV Eindhoven winger Gody Gakpo is hardly an unknown quantity. The 23-year-old was linked with a move to Manchester United throughout the summer. But with the Old Trafford club being somewhat of a laughing stock in recent times, the move never materialized.

With that failed move in the back of his mind, Gakpo has been one of the standout players for the Netherlands on football’s grandest stage. He has started and scored in all three group games for the Dutch, including a late winner against Senegal in their toughest game. That will come as no surprise to supporters of PSV.

The powerful wide man broke into the first team at the Philips Stadium three months prior to his 20th birthday, helping himself to a goal and five assists as the Eindhoven club finished just three points behind Ajax in the Eredivisie. Since then, he has gone from strength to strength.

Prior to the World Cup getting underway, Gakpo had hit 13 goals and provided 17 assists – a total of 30 goal involvements – in just 24 games. Now he has three in three in Qatar and looks set to add to that as the competition continues. On his current run of form, it’s safe to say that he took that failed move to Old Trafford personally.

 Enzo Fernandez – Argentina

Argentina is currently enduring a strange old tournament. They headed to the Arabian Gulf State as second favourites behind their great rivals Brazil – whom they defeated last summer on enemy territory to lift the Copa America – and many expected them to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy for the first time since the days of Diego Maradona.

But almost immediately, those plans were in tatters courtesy of 33/1 outsiders Saudi Arabia. The underdogs stunned their more illustrious rivals in their opening game of the tournament, winning 2-1 much to the delight of the tens of thousands of Saudis in attendance. That defeat heaped the pressure on the Albicelestes in their second group game against Mexico.

And for the opening hour, it looked like that pressure would be too much to handle. But then, wondergoals from a certain Lionel Messi – who else? – and an unheralded midfielder by the name of Enzo Fernandez secured a 2-0 victory, and all was right with the world.

But once the dust had settled on Messi once again pulling his nation out of the fire, the attention turned to their second goal scorer. Just who is Enzo Fernandez?

Well, as players of Football Manager will tell you, the 21-year-old central midfielder is one of the finest prospects in world football. The former River Plate youngster moved to Portuguese league leaders Benfica in the summer for €12m and since moving to Lisbon, has emerged as one of the best players in the country.

The young playmaker has featured in every game for The Eagles this term and, despite only being at the club for barely five months, could be on the move once again. Both Real Madrid and Manchester United are said to be interested in the midfielder, and Portugal’s record 30-time champions could face an uphill struggle if they wish to hang on to their prized asset this winter. With that being said, however, Benfica has reportedly slapped a €100m price tag on Fernandez’s head and it will be interesting to see who blinks first.

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