Canada's World Cup Stars Shine: Ranking This Week's Top 5 Standout Performers
The 2026 World Cup draws near, and Canada's men's national soccer team faces numerous lineup uncertainties as they enter the concluding months of preparation, with just four exhibition matches remaining before their tournament debut on June 12.
Though head coach Jesse Marsch's team knows they'll meet Qatar and Switzerland in their final group stage matches in Vancouver, uncertainty surrounds their opening match opponent in Toronto, as the victor from the UEFA playoff featuring Italy, Northern Ireland, Bosnia & Herzegovina, or Wales will claim that position.
However, with under half a year remaining before the competition begins, current club performance has become increasingly crucial for Canada's athletes, who are not only fighting for roster inclusion but also competing for positions in a highly contested starting formation.
Below, Sports Illustrated evaluates the top five displays from players worldwide over the past week.
5. Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)
Alphonso Davies made his comeback to action with Bayern Munich after 262 days away, having healed from an ACL tear sustained during a victory against the U.S. men's national team in March's Concacaf Nations League.
Canada's premier and arguably most crucial player for the World Cup, Davies entered the match in the 88th minute during Bayern's 3–1 victory over Sporting CP in Champions League competition, appearing as though no time had elapsed, sprinting back defensively at maximum pace and executing a swift recovery.
He continued his return to competitive action over the weekend, substituting in for a 29-minute appearance in Bayern's 2–2 tie with struggling FSV Mainz, where he delivered five passes into the attacking third and made three defensive recoveries.
The most significant achievement of the week, however, was simply his return to competitive matches and being on schedule to feature for Canada this summer.
4. Daniel Jebbison (Preston North End)
Daniel Jebbison was absent from recent Canadian men's national team gatherings, but Marsch has maintained that he remains a candidate for a World Cup position. His current form certainly supports this consideration.
This week witnessed Jebbison find the net in two Championship fixtures with Preston North End, contributing to a 1–1 stalemate against Coventry City followed by a 2–1 triumph over Oxford United that elevated his team to third place in the standings.
The 22-year-old has reached five goals this season and demonstrates excellent form, though he must maintain this level of play to compete with other leading forwards for a national team spot this summer.
3. Nathan Saliba (Anderlecht)
Nathan Saliba has experienced an exceptional inaugural European season with Anderlecht and delivered another impressive display in his most recent outing, netting a goal in a 2–1 victory over St. Truiden for his second strike of the campaign.
Operating in a more defensive capacity than his role in Marsch's 4-4-2 formation, Saliba has demonstrated his capability to remain composed during transitions and provide balance in a double-pivot, this week doing so as a 21-year-old experienced player partnered with 17-year-old Nathan De Cat.
Beyond his goal, he completed 33 passes and generated three scoring opportunities, executed three tackles and six recoveries, and assisted his team in securing all three points, propelling them to third position in Belgium's premier division.
2. Promise David (Royale Union St. Gilloise)
Promise David's performances in Belgium continue to impress as he competes for a starting position in Marsch's World Cup squad. This week, he netted his 11th goal of the season and fifth in his previous eight appearances as RUSG settled for a 1–1 draw with Sporting Charleroi in the Juliper Pro League.
David converted a finish from the penalty area's edge for the opening goal on Sunday, set up by Kevin Mac Allister in the 39th minute, before Charleroi equalized in the second period.
Along with his goal, he remained active throughout the contest, creating two opportunities and recording 42 touches. This represented an energetic showing after having a goal disallowed for offside in midweek Champions League play against Marseille.
With Promise David, Jonathan David, Tani Oluwaseyi, Theo Bair, Daniel Jebbison and Cyle Larin all competing for World Cup squad inclusion, Marsch faces some challenging selection decisions.
1. Ismaël Koné (U.S. Sassuolo)
Ismaël Koné experienced a memorable week in Italy, scoring a goal and recording an MLS-style assist in Sassuolo's 2–2 draw with Christian Pulisic's impressive AC Milan on Sunday.
The 23-year-old midfielder found the target in the 13th minute with an elegant chip using the outside of his boot to defeat Mike Maignan in Milan's goal, capping off excellent buildup play from Sassuolo.
His strike represented his third Serie A goal of the season, as he enjoys some of the most regular playing time of his professional career. Shortly afterward, he helped coordinate a rapid sequence involving Andrea Pinamonti and goalscorer Armand Laurienté to secure a point for the San Siro visitors.
While Koné experienced inconsistent spells with Watford, Marseille and Rennes following his European move, he appears to have discovered his ideal environment at Sassuolo, who currently occupy ninth place in Italy's top division.