Stop Fixating on Alphonso Davies — Canada's Real Power Lies Elsewhere

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — It's hard to imagine any previous World Cup being quite so fixated on individual players as this summer's tournament.

Every Portugal match descends into a discussion about Cristiano Ronaldo's fitness and movement; Argentina's squad has intentionally placed Lionel Messi front and center, while Brazil's on-field performances feel secondary to the ongoing Neymar Jr drama, now seemingly in its 27th season. Canada's run so far has been defined by a player who had gone 15 months without featuring for the national side.

The intense fascination surrounding Alphonso Davies is something to behold. The lightning-quick Bayern Munich winger is unquestionably the most accomplished and technically refined player of his Canadian generation, if not any generation before him. As Jesse Marsch openly acknowledges, Davies is the "best player" on his roster. Yet being available is itself a virtue — and one that Davies has struggled to offer consistently.