tupac shakur, absolute legend of the game.

Thomas muller has to be mentioned for the 2010 World Cup. He had an amazing 2009/10 season and the World Cup was the cherry on top. He had only debuted for Germany a few months before the World Cup, and went on two win the golden ball and best young player of the tournament whilst Germany finished 3rd.

Those 90s photos lol. What a legend you are , lad.

The ridiculous amount of research Alfie does for tournaments nobody cares about and still makes people want to watch makes him the best football KZfaqr. Your next best option is football daily and they will put every person in Watford’s squad in a tier list and they have millions more subscribers I don’t know how that makes sense love Alfie

2010 break out star was Thomas Muller. He was relatively unknown (Maradonna thought he was a ball boy) and yet he became top scorer of the tournament.

Thomas Muller coming on the scene in 2010 as a 20yr old is a prime example of a young player establishing himself. He's had an amazing career with incredible performances and the trophies to show for it, and we can all go back to where this form really began: The 2010 FIFA World Cup

4:33 Minor correction. Despite the World Cup being in Uruguay, Uruguay did not actually open play at the tournament. That was France and Mexico, with France running out 4-1 winners. The first World Cup goal thus was scored not by Pablo Dorado in Uruguay's 4-0 thrashing of Romania, but by the French Lucien Laurent. Pablo Dorado DID, however, score the first ever goal in a World Cup FINAL.

He wasn't kidding about the random images from the 90's

Asamoah Gyan featured in the 2006 world cup scoring the quickest goal of the tournament Vs Czech Republic. Prior to the 2010 world cup, he was a recognised player for Ghana. He couldn't have been the breakout star of the 2010 tournament. Muller has once again been underrated.

27:29 Oh my god, that picture of Messi... I fucking died!

I would have considered Roger Milla from Cameroon as the breakout star in the 1990 World Cup, even if he was like 35 at the moment...his celebrations were also iconic! And don´t worry, here in Argentina we also don´t know why Messi didn´t even feature in the 2006 quarterfinal game.

Diego Forlan deserves a mention in the 2010 cup. Even if it was his only really great performance at a big tournament, it was enough to forever cement him in my heart. I loved watching every moment of him playing in that cup.

I'm disappointed that Hagi didn't get even an honorable mention for 1994. He was a revelation and the goals he scored were superb. He also finished 4th in Balon D'or rankings.

The 90’s pictures just crack me up 😂

One of the only people on KZfaq who i will watch a video from, start to finish, regardless of the subject matter. Truly great work!

The random 90's pictures are amazing 😂😂

2002 is my nostalgia world cup, despite being one of the least reminisced about I think! If only Roy Keane had been there to play for us 🇮🇪

Fair to say, The Career Trajectory of James Rodrigues did not go as Envisioned …. ⚽️

Excellent research and anecdotes ! / small error @ at 20.31-Manuel Amoros / France : ``who went on to LOSE in the 1982 S/FINAL``; he missed his kick..)

2002 was the first World Cup I remember. Ahn Jung Hwan was worth a shout on here, sacked from Perugia for scoring the winner vs Italy, truly iconic and also a disgraceful match too. Also Michael Ballack was incredible for Germany at that World Cup and I would go as far to say it was Ronaldinho's big breakthrough.

Love the World Cup content. Keep it up!!

Ozil or Muller had to be the pick in 2010 over Gyan man! Loved the stories about the players in the 50s and before. Must've taken titanic efforts to research that and I'm sure even the most diehard football history fanatics would barely know one of those stories. So huge respect for that

The random images from the 90s never fail to crack me up. Your channel is a breath of fresh air!

Alfie is a legend too now! :) Fantastic videos you make sir!

LOL I love the random 90s pics! HITC Sevens adds so much flavour to the beautiful game

His post-WC reputation notwithstanding, El Hadji Diouf deserves some shout for that 2002 World Cup. (Or Papa Bouba Diop.) That Senegal team came out of nowhere!

Broo i remember watching the 2014 wc. I watched almost every game. And every time Colombia played I was hyped af. Everyone at school was talking about Rodriguez. Man those were some good times 😄

Denis Cheryshev has to be a mention for the 2018 WC, the way he lit up the stadiums by scoring bangers from the bench, turning him into a starter by the final group game as russia progressed to the KO stages was so fun to watch

Your videos are really good dude. I actually appreciate your videos. The time is must take you. Big up man.

I can't be the only one dying cause of these random 1990 images 😭

An extremely so fantastic video in an enlighten the upcoming FIFA World Cup which is arguably the most controversial series to be held during the winter period,good friends!!!

Best football channel on youtube

2010 has to be Thomas Müller

This'll be good! 😳Top drawer as usual Alfie. I'll save this one for my morning cuppa here in a mo' 😄

"The greatest Haitian footballer of all time" *pic of David Beckham*

Liked the blonde 1998 Romania photo reference. 👍

Wow.... I'm learning bucketloads here. Thank you, Alfie.

Came here for World Cup breakout stars, stayed for cool 90s pictures

Day 344: Indonesia XI If All Eligible Players Had Declared For Them.

Omg the images and the commentary accompanying them CHIEF'S KISS

4:34 Lucien Laurent scored the first world cup goal ever. Dorado scored the first ever WC Final goal. Great video!! "The Ringer"' has a podcast on the Laurent goal actually under the "22 Goals" series, which is very entertaining.

I love the 90s pictures😂

Timely Video Alfie 🎉

Franck Ribery deserves a shout for 2006, Messi showed his exploits at the 2005 Confederation Cup, good video though bro

Lol Messi won that Award in 2014 for marketing purposes. Even Blatter said so.

Haha this video was hilarious,seeing Alfie using images of 1990s celebrities when he could not find images of old school footballers lol! I liked the part when he spoke of a footballer who went into Politics without success and he showed image of ''guess who'' in his office lol!, laughed so hard. Otherwise good video Alfie,the World Cup tends to unleash superstars of the sport,it does not always happen often though,but when it happens football ends up winning.Kylian Mbappe had the biggest breakout impact of a World Cup tournament since Pele himself 60 years earlier. Today Mbappe is by far the biggest name in the sport who continues to create headlines on and off the pitch while breaking records in the process.

"one of the worst world wars" - one of the funniest phrases I've heard on this channel.

VIDEO SUGGESTION: I`ve always wanted to know how the hell was Arsene Wenger appointed as Arsenal manager back in 1996. This appointment looks absolutely random at the first look. A less than mediocre French footballer, had a somehow promising start of managerial career at Monaco, after a disappointing debut at Nancy. Somehow, he go all the way in Japan, with 1-2 trophies and then he is appointed in England, as Arsenal boss?? How?? Who saw him working, who recommended him for Arsenal position? Why Arsenal board decided to appoint him. It is unbelievable! Sure, after years, the bet was a huge success, but I am sure the fans were shocked at his appointment. I think this could be an interesting video. Looking forward for it.

Miroslav Klose is one of the most underrated players in the history of football

those random 90s pictures were sooooo distracting ngl but i appreciated all the models i guess

Love the 90s images

Watching the world cup on pirated streaming sites so that I can still watch it without unconsciously giving it credence and legitimacy by watching it on normal tv

Cubaillas, 1970, LEGEND. When he played for the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers in the late 70's, he was teammates with Gerd Muller and George Best.

Another great and most instructive video - thank you so much! 👏👌👍 It is strange that an old man like me remembers the world cups so differently, mostly because I had not heard of any of the influential players before. So it is Pelé in 1970, Cruyff in 1974. Kempes in 1978, Socrates in 1982, Maradona in 1986, no-one in 1990 (what a dire World Cup), Baggio in 1994, Zidane in 1998, Roberto Carlos in 2002, Pirlo in 2006, Iniesta in 2010, Neuer in 2014, Mbappeé in 2018 and Severovic in 2022 ... it is weird what memory does to you - sorry ...

2006 is Frank Ribéry, you were too young to remember Alfie! This guy was unknown outside of France... Messi hand already scored a hatrick in the classico

The mention of Robert Prosinecki got me thinking of an episode idea again: Best 7 single seasons spent in the Top Flight! Cheers!

Great channel, and I DO remember Owen. Phenomenal striker....though prospective England's greatest ever player is really stretching it. He wasn't well rounded at all. He didn't adapt to losing his pace via the hamstring injuries whatsoever.

Totally agree about Owen. He was a beast and if he stayed fit, he would be a legend.

4:25 actually Pablo Dorado is credited for scoring the first goal in a final vs Argentina!!... The first world cup goal was for Lucien Laurent for France against Mexico...

My grandfather used to say wonders about Perácio. On par with Leônidas, the old man would say. He could name the entire squad of 1938. And of course, he was certain that we were nicked by Italy in the semis. "That w*p c***s" "Then why did you let your daughter marry one?" "Your father at the time was an amateur youth winger born in Brazil." "Makes sense". Grandpa is long gone, but pop still have that hell of a left foot, even with some vertebrae damage.

Can you do a video of the 7 greatest players in the 7 most popular sports in the world. Like football, basketball, cricket etc.

Wow I didn’t know there were so many great players from Haiti 🇭🇹.

DAY 13: Hey Alfie, could you do a video on the life, career, controversies and tragedy of Justin Fashanu. It'd be your best video yet and it's a criminally underheard story. ❤️

Those random pics are KILLING ME Lmfaoo love it

Alfie, your Getty game is top notch 👌

2006 Messi is such a fanboy pick (especially considering the ommision of Mbappe 2018). Fabio Grosso was the true breakout star of 2006.

2014 World Cup should’ve been keylor navas he was amazing for Costa Rica that tournament

Hagi or Brolin should’ve at least been mentioned when talking about 1994.

Klose isnt bad.. but the world cup introduced us to Ronaldinho.. the smiling/laughing, the teeth, the free kick against england..

I like how completely random these photos (regardless of the situation)

"The blondes came and the training went". Josimar had that dawg in him.

Ahhh the Spice Girls, absolutely class at Italia 90, legends, reshaped the game

The 2010 wc is nothing but heartbreak for me as a Ghanaian

Could you do a video on 7 most likely players to be 2022's breakout star?

I remember Manno Sanon’s goal against Italy like it was yesterday!

As for me, I think I prefer Michael Ballack as the greatest and biggest star player for the 2002 world Cup breakthrough! He is also unknown before the world Cup. But before the 2002 tournament, he was very impressed and guide the club bayer leverkusen to the Champions League final and also being runners up in both bundesliga and German Cup competition. The champions league 2002 final was unexpected for the club as a huge underdog but leverkusen beat both favourites Liverpool and Man Utd to progress all the way to the final. He then guide Germany to the world cup final and was Germany second topscorer with 3 goals including two goals in the quarter and semi final. After the 2002, he has had a great career with both Bayern Munich and Chelsea before being ruled out in 2010 world cup due to injury.

I would have given 2002 to Ronaldinho. He was 22 at the time and fresh into PSG, in a time when PSG or the french league were not that well known. Klose was 2 years older.

Originally, I thought he was just taking the piss when he said he would put random pics. I forgot about it, but then I was like “what is the posting a picture of 2Pac for?”🤣

Putting a request in for a best second generation 11 + subs. Kasper Schmeichel in goal, Erling Haaland up front, other people in the other positions etc.

20:40 "Να λοιπόν, ο Josimar, ο αποκαλούμενος Μαύρος Rambo από τον πατέρα του, που ήθελε λέει να τον κάνει πυγμάχο για να πάρει τα πρωτεία του Cactus Clay... Τελικά ο ίδιος προτίμησε να γίνει ποδοσφαιριστής και πράγματι φαίνεται ότι τελικά αυτός είχε το δίκιο. Το δίκιο λοιπόν με το μέρος του Josimar"

2010 should've been either muller or ozil

Josiimars goals in 1986! Wow!!

Amazing how few of these are from the winners that year

Visually, this may be Alfie's greatest video.

James Rodriguez is my favourite by a mile

Honorable mention Cheryshev for 2018

Gaetjens is an odd choice, given that he didn't really 'break out' as his career didn't really develop - I'd go for Hasse Jeppson, who after the finals made a dream move to Charlton. Then he turned up regularly for Atalanta, Napoli and Torino. Likewise Rainer Bonhof in '74 - he wasn't a regular before the finals, yet played a significant role in both the semi-final and final.

Am so glad am sober and got the mention of the stock photos to be used because for an inkling I wondered how Tupac and Justin Timberlake played in a World Cup Final.

It’s going to be garnacho this World Cup

Eusebio in 1966 shouldve got a Mention or He Shouldve made the List

Have you done a video about football rattles Alfie? I couldn't imagine fans having them now haha.

I love your vidoes. But i do like looking at the screen and the random images were rather distracting for me. I would listen to it as a podcast (honestly, please do a limited world cup series podcast delving into 5-10 mini stories) , but you usually have supporting images.

Miami Americans 🙃 San Diego Soccers 🤔 As an American I am so glad our team names have gotten better

Please explain the sequence of photos at 2:48 lol. They’re not related to the story are they?

Takashi Inui was great in 2018

What’s going on with some of these background photos? Oh I literally can’t wait another 30 seconds to find out 😂

The random images are just to funny

2006 WC was the tournament that Podolski announced himself to the world. Was voted "Young Player of the Tournament". Yet, Messi get's the pick? Are you drunk???

Only 2 names come to mind when I think in 2010 WC... Mesut Ozil and Luis Suarez. Any name besides these two has no logical explanation. I´ve never heard about them and their perfomances were really impressive leading Germany and Uruguay to semi-finals.

The World Cup used to be so special because of these players from South America or behind the Iron Curtain that the world only got to see play at all in the World Cup.