An unstoppable arrow down the left. A burst into space, a simple finish waiting in the middle, and suddenly the game opens up: whenever Switzerland have turned to Johan Manzambi of late, their opponents have begun with a handicap. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder from Freiburg is showing the world—and this World Cup—exactly what he is made of. Sharp acceleration, an instinct for goal and the final pass, uncommon authority for a stage like this. Three goals and two assists so far. Only Dembélé, Kane, Haaland, Messi and Mbappé have done better. The established names. Then, alongside Vini Jr. and Oyarzabal, comes Johan.
There is no greater stage than the World Cup, and Manzambi is making every minute count. Three months ago his market value sat at around €35 million; now it could quite comfortably be twice that. Born to Angolan and Congolese parents, the midfielder has only two professional seasons behind him, though it was the last that marked his real breakthrough: seven goals and nine assists in 47 appearances for a Freiburg side that came within touching distance of a historic Europa League triumph. His performances earned him the 2025/26 Breakthrough Player of the Season award. He could hardly have introduced himself to Switzerland at a better moment.
Breel Embolo remains the team’s trusted reference point in attack, but the Swiss arrived in America short of imagination. Shaqiri’s era had already come to an end. Granit Xhaka’s is entering its final chapter. A player like Manzambi belonged more to wishful thinking than careful planning. Instead, here he is: physically overwhelming, fearless with the ball at his feet, technically refined despite a style that can look slightly ungainly at first glance. Appearances deceive.
Bosnia had travelled with similar expectations around Kerim Alajbegovic, and there were flashes of the talent everyone had been waiting for, including a superb goal against Qatar. When the two sides met, though, the evening belonged almost entirely to Manzambi. His brace lifted the weight that had settled over Switzerland after the frustrating draw in their opening match. From there the path became considerably smoother. Another goal and an assist against Canada. The decisive pass for Embolo against Algeria. Switzerland are through to the last sixteen now, waiting for the winner of Colombia and Ghana.
From this point on they have little to lose and everything to surprise with. Manzambi, however, has already done that. Some of the credit belongs to Murat Yakin, now Switzerland’s head coach after a long career as a defender, and brother of the most gifted Swiss playmaker of the early 2000s. He must have learned something about recognising—and trusting—players with this kind of attacking imagination.
The comparisons have come quickly. Arda Güler for the profile. Malik Tillman, another revelation of this World Cup, for the freedom between the lines. Jérémy Doku for the willingness to attack defenders without hesitation. They are comparisons made at the highest level. Should the performances continue to arrive like this, Switzerland will have plenty of time to enjoy him. Freiburg, one suspects, rather less.