The stage of the ongoing 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico has proven to be a cruel yet beautiful arena for young players. Entering the quarterfinal stage, the dividing line between those who have successfully conquered extreme pressure and those who have withered under massive expectations is becoming increasingly visible.
Currently, there are four players nominated for the best young player award at the 2026 World Cup. They are Lamine Yamal (Spain), Ayyoub Bouaddi (Morocco), Desire Doue (France), and Nico O’Reilly (England). Despite their young age and being in their first-ever World Cup, these four players have played a major role in guiding their respective countries to qualify for the quarterfinals of the world’s most prestigious football tournament.
The name Lamine Yamal is certainly familiar, especially to Barcelona fans. The 18-year-old figure is also one of the vital players for the Spanish national team. During the World Cup, Yamal has played in four matches, starting in three of them. He admitted he is very happy to play for Spain in the World Cup, as it has been one of his childhood dreams. “The coach (Luis de la Fuente) has been very careful with my condition after the injury. Being in the World Cup quarterfinals at this age feels like a dream, but we are not here just to participate. We want to bring this trophy home to Spain,” Yamal said, as quoted by FIFA recently.
Aside from Yamal, there is also Morocco’s intelligent midfielder, Ayyoub Bouaddi. He has also become the talk of the town after performing with immense composure in anchoring his country’s midfield to a historic quarterfinal berth. His debut in this major tournament immediately captured the world’s attention, particularly after he played without fear and successfully disrupted Brazil’s midfield in the group stage match. Thanks to his brilliant performance, he is now one of the strongest candidates to clinch the FIFA Best Young Player award at the 2026 World Cup, while also triggering a transfer war among European giant clubs like Chelsea and Liverpool. “He is an intelligent young man, highly mature for his age, and I am sure he will stay grounded,” said Morocco National Team coach Mohammed Ouahbi.
Other widely discussed names are Desire Doue and Nico O’Reilly. Both have performed stunningly in this World Cup. Doue, who currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain, is 21 years old. This marks his debut with France in the World Cup. He has recorded appearances in five of France’s matches in this tournament. His peak moment occurred in the group stage when he scored a beautiful goal in a 4-1 victory over Norway. Meanwhile, England also boasts a shining young talent in Nico O’Reilly. The 21-year-old youth developed by Manchester City has transformed into a modern left-back under Thomas Tuchel. He has started in four of England’s five matches so far, proving the immense trust placed in him by the coach.
Fading
Behind the shining young stars, there are also young players who have instead faded while playing in the World Cup, and one of them is Endrick, who plays for Brazil. The 19-year-old player, who currently plays for Real Madrid, failed to help his country stay alive in the World Cup. Arriving with the status of one of the hottest commodities in world football, Endrick’s path in his first World Cup felt highly steep. Instead of becoming the main spearhead of the Selecao’s attacking line, the future Real Madrid forward more frequently started matches from the substitutes’ bench.
The climax occurred in the Round of 16, when Brazil was shockingly eliminated by Norway with a 1-2 scoreline. Endrick came on in the 57th minute to replace his teammate, but failed to unleash a single shot on target and looked isolated in the forward line. The glow of the youth once dubbed the reincarnation of Pele had to fade prematurely on American soil. “This is a very harsh lesson for me. Watching from the bench and trying to change things in a short amount of time in the World Cup is not easy,” he said.
