The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was overshadowed by criticism of the host country prior to kick-off, with many left questioning the Gulf state’s approach to human rights and the LGBTQ+ community. While politics threatened to dominate this winter’s tournament, it was football that came out superior, with a record number of goals scored (172) for a FIFA World Cup, and a hatful of surprises that came along the way. Some of the usual suspects shined in Qatar, most notably Argentina’s talisman Lionel Messi, who won the golden ball, and France’s poster boy Kylian Mbappe, who took home the golden boot after eight goals in seven games. However, plenty of surprise names broke through at this winter’s World Cup, as teams like Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco gained an abundance of admirers. Here are seven players that have earned a big move based on their 2022 World Cup performances.<\/p>\n
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Not many people would have recognised Sofyan Amrabat before the tournament, in fact, it was likely that more people would have remembered Sofyan’s older brother Nordin, who turned out for Watford in the Premier League in the 2015\/16 season. Nonetheless, the 26-year-old ended the tournament in most people’s teams of the tournament, as well as collecting accolades such as ‘the new Kant\u00e9’, having won possession 57 times – the most by any African player since the 1966 World Cup. Alongside his Moroccan teammate Azzedine Ounahi, Amrabat excelled in Qatar and significantly contributed to Morocco becoming the first-ever African side to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup.<\/p>\n
Even before the tournament, there were some rumours linking Amrabat with a move away from Fiorentina, but the 2022 World Cup only added fuel to the fire, with some of the biggest clubs in the world now battling for the midfielder’s signature. If the latest rumours are to be believed, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur seem to be in a direct battle for the Moroccan, but Newcastle United, Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, and Sevilla are also linked. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Fiorentina are only willing to let Amrabat go for at least \u20ac40m – with Liverpool only recently spending close to that for Cody Gakpo, does this give Tottenham an advantage in the race for the Atlas Lion?<\/p>\n
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England midfielder Jude Bellingham was by no means an unknown entity before this winter’s World Cup, after already becoming one of the best young players in the world following his \u20ac25m move from Birmingham City to Borussia Dortmund as a 17-year-old in 2020. However, this was perhaps the 19-year-old’s statement tournament, becoming a crucial member of the Three Lions’ midfield in Qatar. The Birmingham native had not scored for his national side ahead of the tournament, but in England’s opener against Iran, it was Bellingham who notched the first goal of the tournament for the Three Lions, also adding an assist for Jordan Henderson in the round of 16 tie against Senegal. At 19, Bellingham became one of the most important pieces of the England team, having finished first in shot-creating chances, tackles won, blocks, and dribbles completed out of the entire squad.<\/p>\n
The Borussia Dortmund man’s stock has only risen after the 2022 World Cup, with the usual suspects, such as Real Madrid and PSG, linked with a move for the England star, but it seems more likely that the 19-year-old midfielder will head back to England, with Liverpool and Manchester City set to go head-to-head for his signature. Manchester City have already snapped up his good pal Haaland last summer, with City perhaps the more logical option for Bellingham, however, according to reports in England, Jude’s father is trying to convince his son to choose Liverpool instead. Only time will tell whether Bellingham will listen to his father or become his own man in 2023. gon<\/p>\n
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The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was overshadowed by criticism of the host country prior to kick-off, with many left questioning the Gulf state’s approach to human rights and the LGBTQ+ community. While politics threatened to dominate this winter’s tournament, it was football that came out superior, with a record number of goals scored (172)<\/p>\n