TORONTO (AP) — They are non-Messi, they are non-Mbappe. They are not Haaland or Kane.
While the biggest names in soccer are attracting the most attention, world cup, The expanded tournament also gave unprecedented players their moments to shine. Here are some of their accomplishments from the season opener that ended on Wednesday.
Spoiler alert: Vosinya He should have been on this list, but the 40-year-old Cape Verdean goalkeeper, who has more than 13 million followers on Instagram and counting, has become too famous.
Libano Comencia, Curacao
Conencia became the first World Cup scorer for the smallest country in history to qualify for the World Cup. Curacao fans may not remember Their team won 7-1 It fell into the hands of Germany. They are likely to remember Conencia’s attack from inside the box.
Winger Kenji Gore said: “This goal was really great for all of us and for the country.” “More history is in the making. To score the first ever goal on the world stage is just incredible. We’re all grateful to be here to experience it with everyone in the stadium.”
Conencia is a 22-year-old midfielder who plays for Zurich in the Swiss Super League and has only recently reached the top level. He played for PSV Eindhoven and Juventus’ reserve teams before securing a move to Zurich ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Now he has achieved his goal at the World Cup.
Bualem Kuki, Qatar
The 35-year-old centre-back’s goal went unappreciated, but Fuki pounced on Swiss midfielder Milo Mouhaiim and crossed the ball, forcing Mouhaiim into his own net and leveling the game in stoppage time.
Kouki celebrated the goal as if it were his own, driving off to the far corner of the pitch as his team-mates molested him on the ground. his efforts were helpful Qatar earned their first point in World Cup history.
Despite playing professionally for more than 15 years, Kouki has rarely left Qatar. The defender spent the first seven years of his senior career at Al Arabi and the last nine at Al Sadd.
Jovo Lukic, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Lukic had never scored a goal for Bosnia before. that opening draw Tournament co-host Canada. Lukic, who played for Romania’s University of Cluj, had made just one appearance for his country until May 29.
However, due to injuries to Edin Dzeko and Haris Tabakovic, Lukic was asked to make his first competitive appearance for Bosnia in Toronto.
The striker’s close-range header from a corner kick in the first half will forever be the answer to the trivia question, “Who scored the first World Cup goal on Canadian soil?”
Elijah Just, New Zealand
New Zealand’s first match was perfectly put together. Only two shots were needed to score two goals against Iran. With a 2-2 draw.
The winger plays for Scottish club Motherwell and has also played in Denmark and Austria.
He became the first New Zealand player to score two goals in a World Cup match.
Imam Ashour, Egypt
Not a bad way to score your first international goal.
Ashour’s blast from outside the box puts Egypt in the lead at the World Cup. 1-1 draw A match against the European powerhouse Belgium. Teammate Mostafa Zico was so excited about Ashour that he knocked the goalscorer down during his celebration.
Despite Seattle having stars such as Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah on the pitch, it was Al Ahly’s winger who was named Man of the Match.
Ashour played just one season in Europe and spent most of his professional career in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
But World Cups tend to feature unlikely stars.
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Owen Cameros is a student at Penn State University’s John Curley Center for Sports Journalism.
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
