The World Cup has always been a platform for most players struggling at club level to revive their careers.
Players often use their World Cup performances to send indirect messages to club coaches, and the 2022 tournament will be no exception as some players rediscover their form with the national team.
Let’s take a look at four players who have reasserted themselves.
4. Maguire – England/Manchester United
England defender Harry Maguire has endured a difficult time at club Manchester United ahead of the 2022 World Cup Schedule. The 29-year-old defender has been restricted to a bit-part role at Old Trafford since Dutch tactician Tenhag joined the club in the summer.
The former Ajax manager has always favoured a defensive partnership of Varane and Lisandro Martinez, limiting Maguire to just 280 minutes in the Premier League in 2022-23, yet the Manchester United captain looked a World Cup away from his national side England in Qatar.
Having played in all five games for the Three Lions, who reached the quarter-finals, Maguire was solid in Southgate’s defensive system, helping England keep three clean sheets in five games.
His performance in the opening game of the Football Cup will no doubt send a message to the club’s head coach, Tenhage, that the Dutchman may have to put more faith in Maguire when the 2022-23 season resumes.
3. Pulisic – USA/Chelsea
Another player who has looked refreshed is Chelsea and United States winger Ivan Pulisic, who has not been a regular starter under Chelsea manager Graham Potter.
The American started just five of 18 games for the Blues in all competitions in 2022-23, however, the striker has shown flashes of what he can offer in attack when given the chance to show off his immense footballing ability.
Pulisic helped the United States advance to the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup, where he has one goal and two assists in four games. The 24-year-old winger was also named Player of the match for his performance in the second Group B match against England.
2. Felix – Portugal/Atletico Madrid
Felix hopes his performance at the 2022 World Cup will send a message to the club’s manager, Simeone, after the Portugal forward endured a very difficult time at Atletico Madrid, especially in the current 2022-23 season when he was limited to 510 minutes of La Liga play.
However, the 23-year-old did well at the World Cup in Qatar, showing several impressive moments for Portugal. He played four games for Portugal on the way to the quarter-finals, scoring one goal and making two assists.
1. Ziyech – Morocco/Chelsea
Chelsea winger Ziyech is in the midst of a dream match with his national team Morocco at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Morocco became the first ever African side to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup, however, and the contrast between Ziyech’s performances in Qatar and those of his club Chelsea appears to have been huge, with the 29-year-old struggling to get enough game time at Stamford Bridge.
Before the World Cup, Ziyech had played the fewest minutes of any Chelsea striker in 2022-23 (270), and he also played nine games for the Blues, starting just two of them.
His performance at the 2022 World Cup could be a defining moment in his career and he could be trusted even more with Ziyech if Chelsea manager Potter decides to stay at Chelsea at the end of the season.
So far he has scored a goal and set up an assist for Morocco and is looking to make his country the first ever African team to win football’s top prize.