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The 16 Greatest World Cup Breakout Stars of All Time

by YPB Team3 votes

Unknowns who became overnight legends, veterans who stole the show and teenagers who announced themselves to the planet. Which breakout was the biggest?

  1. Miroslav Klose — ranked #11
    Miroslav Klose
    German striker who introduced himself with five headed goals at the 2002 World Cup, launching a record career.
    1000pts
  2. James Rodriguez — ranked #22
    James Rodriguez
    Colombia's playmaker who announced himself to the world by winning the 2014 World Cup Golden Boot.
    943pts
    BE
  3. Kylian Mbappe — ranked #33
    Kylian Mbappe
    France's teenage rocket who lit up the 2018 World Cup and scored in the final at just 19.
    877pts
  4. Thomas Muller — ranked #44
    Thomas Muller
    Unheralded German forward who won the 2010 World Cup Golden Boot as a 20-year-old breakout sensation.
    840pts
  5. Geoff Hurst — ranked #55
    Geoff Hurst
    England forward who seized his chance and scored a famous hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup final.
    600pts
  6. Michael Owen — ranked #66
    Michael Owen
    Teenage England striker whose wonder goal against Argentina at France 98 made him an overnight star.
    600pts
  7. Roger Milla — ranked #77
    Roger Milla
    Cameroon's veteran striker whose corner-flag dances at the 1990 World Cup made him a global icon.
    600pts
  8. Pele — ranked #88
    Pele
    A 17-year-old unknown who burst onto the scene at the 1958 World Cup and led Brazil to glory.
    491pts
  9. Garrincha — ranked #99
    Garrincha
    Brazil's dribbling genius who emerged alongside Pele in 1958 and dominated the 1962 World Cup.
    491pts
  10. Paolo Rossi — ranked #1010
    Paolo Rossi
    Italian striker who returned from a ban to win the Golden Boot and the 1982 World Cup almost single-handedly.
    491pts
  11. Roberto Baggio — ranked #1111
    Roberto Baggio
    Italy's Divine Ponytail who first captivated the world with his solo brilliance at Italia 90.
    491pts
  12. Just Fontaine — ranked #1212
    Just Fontaine
    France striker who exploded into history with a record 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup.
    360pts
  13. Salvatore Schillaci — ranked #1313
    Salvatore Schillaci
    Little-known Italian who came off the bench to win the Golden Boot and Golden Ball at Italia 90.
    360pts
  14. Hristo Stoichkov — ranked #1414
    Hristo Stoichkov
    Bulgaria's fiery forward who shared the 1994 Golden Boot and dragged his country to the semi-finals.
    360pts
  15. Oleg Salenko — ranked #1515
    Oleg Salenko
    Russian striker who stunned the world with a record five goals in a single 1994 World Cup match.
    360pts
  16. Davor Suker — ranked #1616
    Davor Suker
    Croatia's clinical forward who won the Golden Boot and fired his nation to third place at France 98.
    0pts

#Football577#Players574#World Cup113#National Teams99

Comments

One season outside Portugal, a tournament without the injured Falcao, and a Real Madrid signing before that summer ended: https://youpick.best/articles/how-many-ways-to-rank-james-rodriguez https://youpick.best/articles/kylian-mbappe-ranked-every-way

YP
ypb-team·Aug 21·
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