There is no bigger shop window in football than the World Cup – and goalscorers are certainly taking their chance to shine.
The goals are flying in at the tournament – 89 in 28 games in Mexico, Canada and the United States to date, while there have been two wonderful hat-tricks.
Could some of those goalscorers move to the Premier League soon?
After Lionel Messi, 38, turned back the clock to produce a masterclass for the ages in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria, Jonathan David also hit a treble in Canada’s 6-0 rout of Qatar in Group B.
It earned the co-hosts a first win at the eighth attempt on the World Cup stage as more than 50,000 fans in Vancouver witnessed an historic night.
David’s exploits came after Switzerland substitute Johan Manzambi wrote his name into the World Cup history books.
Aged 20 years and 247 days, he became the youngest player in the tournament’s history to score two or more goals in a game as a substitute as Switzerland dismantled Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-1, also in Group B.
Over the years, players have earned moves based on performances at the World Cup.
Both David and Manzambi have been linked with moves to the Premier League.
Are their scoring exploits likely to lead to a move to England in 2026-27?
- Canada thrash nine-man Qatar but Marsch in tears over Kone injury
- Substitute Manzambi inspires Switzerland to World Cup win over Bosnia
First Juventus player to score World Cup hat-trick for 44 years
Italy’s absence from this World Cup – and the two before it – has been well documented but at least David gave Juventus fans something to cheer about.
David, 26, became the first Juve player to record a hat-trick at the World Cup since Italy’s Paolo Rossi in 1982 against Brazil.
The Brooklyn-born forward has made a name for himself in Europe playing for Gent in Belgium before turning into a Ligue 1 goalscoring machine at Lille – and attracting interest from Premier League clubs.
After 87 goals in 178 league appearances, he moved to Juventus in 2025 and is being monitored by English clubs once more.
There are reports that Newcastle are interested in Canada’s all-time leading scorer – who has 39 goals in 78 international appearances – and that Juventus would be willing to let him go to free up their summer budget.
Leeds United have reportedly also been made aware of his availability, while several other Premier League clubs have also been linked.
Former England forward Dion Dublin, who witnessed Canada’s win for BBC Radio 5 Live, was impressed with what he saw from David.
“He has been great, got himself a nice hat-trick,” Dublin said. “Really good centre-forward play.”
Goalkeeper turned goalscorer
Manzambi was once a goalkeeper for his youth team – and his first footballing idol was Germany’s Manuel Neuer.
Now he is a creative midfielder who enjoys getting forward.
And his goalscoring exploits against Bosnia-Herzegovina suggests he could be far more than just a “super-sub” at this World Cup.
He broke into the Freiburg first XI last season and helped the German club reach the Europa League final.
Manzambi started against Aston Villa in the final and although he could not help his side win – they were beaten 3-0 – he has been linked with moves to Napoli, Chelsea and Manchester United.
His performance on Thursday at the Los Angeles Stadium suggests there could be more competition for his services this summer.
It could have been even better had he been allowed to take his side’s 97th-minute penalty, with captain Granit Xhaka stepping up to convert instead,
If Manzambi had taken it and scored, he would have become the third-youngest player to hit a World Cup treble, after a 17-year-old Pele for Brazil against France in the semi-finals in 1958 and 19-year-old German Edmund Conen against Belgium in 1934.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea were all linked with Manzambi in March and, if he continues making an impact like this, the interest will only increase.
Speaking about Manzambi’s first goal to give Switzerland a 1-0 lead, former Crystal Palace forward Clinton Morrison told BBC Radio 5 Live: “It’s a brilliant finish.
“Switzerland needed to make changes because they weren’t doing anything, they were dominating possession but weren’t a threat.
“It’s a fantastic volley and great technique to give Switzerland the lead.”
