From Ozil to James: World Cup stars Who earned blockbuster transfers

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The FIFA World Cup remains football’s biggest stage, where players have the opportunity to announce themselves to the world. Beyond the goals, drama and unforgettable moments, the tournament has also served as a career-changing platform for several footballers.

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For many players, impressive World Cup performances have opened the door to major transfers, turning them from relatively unknown talents into global stars.

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The latest example is Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, whose heroics at the 2026 World Cup earned him a move to Chilean giants Colo-Colo at the age of 40.

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While his journey from Portuguese second division football to one of South America’s biggest clubs is remarkable, Vozinha joins a long list compiled by BBC Sport on Thursday of players whose World Cup displays transformed their careers.

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Marc-Vivien Foe: Canon Yaounde to Lens (1994)

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Marc-Vivien Foe was not widely known before the 1994 World Cup, but his performances for Cameroon helped introduce him to a wider audience.

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Despite Cameroon’s disappointing campaign in the United States compared with their historic run in 1990, Foe emerged as one of the team’s standout players.

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His impressive display against Brazil attracted attention and earned him a move from Canon Yaounde to French club Lens on a free transfer.

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Foe spent four seasons at Lens, helping the club win their first Ligue 1 title in the 1997/98 season. He later played for West Ham United, Manchester City and Lyon before his tragic death in 2003 during the Confederations Cup.

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Gilberto Silva: Atletico Mineiro to Arsenal (2002)

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Gilberto Silva became a household name after Brazil’s triumph at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

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The midfielder played every minute of Brazil’s campaign after replacing injured captain Emerson in the starting lineup.

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His commanding performances earned him a move to Premier League champions Arsenal, who signed him from Atletico Mineiro for about £4.5m.

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Nicknamed “The Invisible Wall”, Silva became a key figure in Arsene Wenger’s team, winning two FA Cups and playing a major role in Arsenal’s unbeaten 2003/04 Premier League title-winning campaign.

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Javier Mascherano: Corinthians to West Ham United (2006)

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Javier Mascherano announced himself on the global stage at the 2006 World Cup, where he helped Argentina reach the quarter-finals.

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His performances for Corinthians and the national team attracted interest from European clubs, leading to a move to West Ham United alongside Argentina teammate Carlos Tevez.

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Although his spell at West Ham was short, Mascherano later joined Liverpool before moving to Barcelona, where he won two Champions League titles and several domestic trophies.

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**Mesut Ozil: Werder Bremen to Real Madrid (2010)**

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Mesut Ozil was one of the breakout stars of the 2010 World Cup after helping Germany finish third in South Africa.

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The attacking midfielder recorded four goals and four assists during the tournament, catching the attention of Europe’s biggest clubs.

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Real Madrid signed Ozil from Werder Bremen for around €15m in August 2010.

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During his time at the Spanish giants, he won the Copa del Rey, La Liga and Spanish Super Cup before joining Arsenal in 2013 as the club’s record signing at the time.

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James Rodriguez: Monaco to Real Madrid (2014)

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James Rodriguez produced one of the most memorable individual performances at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

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The Colombian scored six goals during his country’s run to the quarter-finals, winning the Golden Boot and earning a place in FIFA’s team of the tournament.

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His stunning volley against Uruguay became one of the defining moments of the competition and later won the FIFA Puskás Award.

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Real Madrid responded by signing Rodriguez from Monaco for about €75m, and he went on to win several trophies, including two Champions League titles.

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Vozinha: Chaves to Colo-Colo (2026)

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Vozinha became one of the surprise stars of the 2026 World Cup after helping Cape Verde achieve their first World Cup point with a clean sheet against eventual champions Spain.

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His performances helped Cape Verde reach the knockout stages and earned him widespread recognition.

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After a career that included spells in Slovakia, Angola, Moldova, Cyprus and Portugal, the veteran goalkeeper secured a dream move to Colo-Colo, one of Chile’s most successful clubs.

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His transfer serves as another reminder that the World Cup remains a powerful platform capable of changing footballers’ careers.

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Other players who earned major moves after World Cup performances

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Gheorghe Hagi — Brescia to Barcelona (1994)

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Dejan Stankovic — Red Star Belgrade to Lazio (1998)

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Carlos Salcido — Guadalajara to PSV Eindhoven (2006)

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Nicolas Otamendi — Velez Sarsfield to Porto (2010)

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Edinson Cavani — Palermo to Napoli (2010)

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Sami Khedira — Stuttgart to Real Madrid (2010)

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Alexis Sanchez — Udinese to Barcelona (2010)

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Keylor Navas — Levante to Real Madrid (2014)

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Enner Valencia — Pachuca to West Ham United (2014)

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Enzo Fernández — Benfica to Chelsea (2022)

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