International tournaments are the ultimate shop windows for a player to shoot themselves into the footballing limelight.
With nothing else going on and all the eyes on them, it presents the ideal opportunity and a somewhat level playing field to impress at a high level and catch the eye of bigger sides watching on, catapulting certain players to stardom, or adding an extra chunk of cash onto an already brewing transfer fee for the selling party.
While the post-tournament impulse buy doesn’t quite happen as much anymore, it’ll never fully go away. Here’s 30 of the biggest.
Redemption / Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images
No, Ronaldo is not last because he’s a fraud. Please calm down.
Despite a nasty knee injury ruling him out for two to three years in all, R9 recovered in time for the 2002 World Cup and looked like he hadn’t missed a beat to carry Brazil to the trophy. His comeback on the world stage was frightening yet inevitable, and earned him Galactico status that summer.
Jensen tussles for possession / Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Scoring the opener as Denmark completed the fairytale and beat Germany to win Euro 92, midfielder Jensen’s contributions that summer earned him a move to England.
He signed for Arsenal under the management of George Graham who was looking to rebuild his midfield, and left in 1996 having won an FA Cup, a League Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
‘Alright this, innit?’ / PIERRE VERDY/Getty Images
Similarly to Ronaldo, a clinic at international level as France won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 was the final piece in the puzzle as Real Madrid pulled the trigger on Zidane.
He signed for Los Blancos in 2001 having already become a superstar in Turin, but now had the Galactico badge of honour to cement the feeling.
The Hammers thought they had a serious player / Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Having shone on the big stage at the 2014 World Cup, it was West Ham who took a punt on Ecuadorian forward Valencia for a fee of around £12m.
Aside from his self-declared affinity for Green Street and other hooligan films, and a thunderous strike against Hull, his career with the Irons wasn’t all that exhilarating and ended properly in 2017.
Philippe Albert was a resident Geordie / Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Unknown before 1994, Albert’s rise to prominence at the World Cup that year – bagging against the Netherlands and Germany – was the catalyst for his move to England.
He signed for Newcastle and was deployed as a defender who would rather attack and became a cult hero for it. Famously dinked Peter Schmeichel from 20 yards in 1996, too, before eventually returning to his native Belgium. Cult hero.
Vitor Baia in one helluva kit / Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Porto through and through, Portuguese goalkeeper Baia was making waves at club level in the mid-1990s before finally announcing himself properly at Euro 96.
Barcelona paid a record fee for a goalkeeper to sign him that summer, and he spent three years with La Blaugrana before heading back to Porto in 1999 following a tough time with injuries.
Sanchez was on his way to stardom / Christof Koepsel/Getty Images
Ultimately, it was Sanchez’s coming of age form and firing rate at Udinese that would secure him a move to Barcelona in 2010, having found his stride alongside Antonio di Natale.
Still, though, he put the icing on the cake that summer with a fine account for himself at the World Cup, playing all four games as Chile reached the last 16.
Diop starred as Senegal beat France / PATRICK HERTZOG/Getty Images
Having finished runners up with Senegal at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations, the late Diop balled out again from midfield at that year’s World Cup.
Beating France in the groups saw Senegal reach the quarter finals and ultimately earned Diop a move to French outfit Lens. Two years there were enough to get him a move to Fulham, where he became a bit of a Premier League cult hero.
Karel Poborsky moved to United / Stu Forster/Getty Images
Signing for Manchester United off the back of an underdog run to becoming runners up at Euro 96, things were looking good for Poborsky.
Timing seemed right for the winger as the move fell into place, but that was quickly turned on its head as David Beckham rose to prominence and hindered his progress and he left in 1998.
Spurs took a punt on Pavlyuchenko / Alex Livesey/Getty Images
A prolific goalscorer in his native Russia, Pavlyuchenko had impressed with Spartak Moscow over a five year stretch, but earned his move to England off the back of Euro 2008.
Pavlyuchenko made the team of the tournament as Russia reached the semi-final, and moved to Tottenham as a result. Never quite consistent enough, but always likeable. The streets probably won’t forget.
Cavani balled out as Uruguay finished third at the World Cup / Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Having already become a regular scorer in Italy, Cavani was likely destined for a step up the ladder anyway in 2010.
But his move to Napoli that year was further fuelled by a promising showing for Uruguay at the 2010 World Cup. The striker headed to Naples and quickly became seriously hot property.
The trio that was meant to save Manchester United / Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
With Robin van Persie already at the club and Louis van Gaal taking over as manager following the 2014 World Cup, adding another Dutchman in Blind had United fans giddy.
Rightly so, considering how he was pinging balls from the left flank in Brazil. The Blind/Van Persie connection was on show and the Red Devils snapped him up on the cheap. Blind was a fine servant, but a victim of his own versatility.
Number three, but we’ll let it slide / Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
Stepping up in South Africa in 2010, it was Gyan’s goal that sent Ghana to the quarter final of the World Cup that year.
He was rewarded by becoming Sunderland’s record signing that summer, and things started well for the forward who scored on his debut. But despite his success in front of goal and odd choice to take the number three shirt in his second season, he was gone by 2012 for financial reasons.
Rojo earned a move to the Theatre of Dreams / Amin Mohammad Jamali/Getty Images
United kept a keen eye on the World Cup in 2014. As well as Blind, Argentina’s Rojo impressed enough to earn a move in an attempt to rebuild a struggling side.
Rojo never amounted to much, but earned a reputation for his…well, passionate tackling and meme content before leaving in 2021 for Boca Juniors. Fitting. Somehow, he never got a red card during his stay with the Red Devils.
Football needs more big men / Jamie McDonald/Getty Images
One half of a severely underappreciated Croatian strike force of himself and Nikica Jelavic at Euro 2012, Mandzukic made it work.
He finished joint top scorer at the competition in order to angle himself into a move to Germany’s giants Bayern Munich that summer and became the man for goals when needed; unorthodox and lacking elegance, but a useful asset.
Mascherano was solid for Argentina at the 2006 World Cup / T. Quinn/Getty Images
Ah yes. That one.
Back when West Ham were undisputed champions of the third party ownership rings, one of two weird signings was their 2006 capture of Mascherano, off the back of him impressing at the World Cup. He was at Liverpool by January 2007.
Mina and his pesky, towering frame / YURI CORTEZ/Getty Images
That towering Colombian setting scoring records for defenders and threatening England’s run of dreams at the 2018 World Cup. Yeah that one, Everton just had to go and sign him.
Mina moved to Merseyside that summer with Barcelona deeming him somewhat surplus to requirements. And in fairness, he’s been a shrewd bit of business. Mainly because he’s absolutely massive.
Euro 2008 birthed a Premier League cult hero / Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Another standout from Russia’s fine run at Euro 2008, Arsenal struck a deal for Arshavin in January 2009 following heaps of interest – but no deal – the previous summer.
The streets definitely won’t forget Arshavin’s knack for a big goal and a cheeky celebration. His four goal haul against Liverpool and a winner against Barcelona at the Emirates spring to mind. The Barclays in full stride.
Lineker was on the ball in Mexico / STAFF/Getty Images
Six goals at the 1986 World Cup saw Lineker come away with the tournament’s Golden Boot – a first for any Englishman.
His rampant form in Mexico was enough to tempt Barcelona to part with £2.8m for his services that summer. Lineker spent three years with La Blaugrana before coming home to create Walkers crisps. That last part might not be completely true, but whatever. He went to Tottenham or something.
Patrick Berger celebrates for the Reds / Michael Cooper/Getty Images
One single season with Borussia Dortmund was all Berger got before heading to Merseyside in 1996, with Liverpool snapping him up off the back of his fine displays at the European Championships.
While Poborsky struggled at United, Berger settled at Liverpool and was generally a regular player and an attacking boost from midfield, before injuries began to bog him down in the early 2000s. Still, though, always a fan favourite.
Tevez earned his move at the World Cup / Simon M Bruty/Getty Images
The second of West Ham’s weird third party package deal, they managed to keep hold of Tevez beyond the 2006/07 winter window and reaped the rewards of his goals in the second half of the season.
Tevez scored the goal that kept West Ham in the Premier League that season, making the whopping £5.5m fine worth it. Well, until he buggered off to Manchester United the following season.
Ramires became a key player for Chelsea / Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
The Brazilian midfielder burst to life at the 2010 World Cup and was cited by then head coach Dunga as the reason Brazil were knocked out, with Ramires suspended for the quarter final.
His exploits from midfield – including that assist for Robinho in the last 16 – were enough to convince Chelsea to purchase Ramires, and what a buy it was. He was a key player in a six year stint and became a Premier League and Champions League winner.
Khedira impressed for Die Mannschaft / Boris Streubel/Getty Images
Taking the place of an injured Michael Ballack in 2010, the pressure was on Khedira to perform for Germany, big time. And he did.
Khedira blossomed into a fine holding midfielder and Real Madrid saw him as the answer when looking to strengthen their midfield as a result. They snapped him up that summer and he went on to win seven domestic and international trophies.
A move to Bayern Munich came a year later / Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Now, we’re not saying Bayern Munich signed Pavard purely because he signed that goal. But if they did, we would completely understand and support. Absolute peach.
Pavard blossomed out of nowhere as France won the 2018 World Cup, before heading back for one more season with Stuttgart and then being plucked out by Die Roten in 2019.
Hagi turned up big in 1994 / Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Having already played two years at Real Madrid and being sold to Brescia, many would’ve assumed Gheorghe Hagi’s time at the very top was up.
No chance. Hagi carried Romania to the quarter final of the 1994 World Cup, bagging three times as penalties was the boiling point for his nation against Sweden. He moved back to Spain with Barcelona that summer, enjoying two more years in La Liga in the later stages of his career.
An incredible buy from Arsene Wenger / Ben Radford/Getty Images
Expected to play a lesser role in the 2002 World Cup, injuries meant Gilberto Silva was thrust into the role as Brazil’s defensive midfielder and excelled, playing every minute of every game as Brazil lifted the trophy.
His form earned him a move out of his native and straight to a Premier League winning calibre Arsenal side. Having taken his first season to settle, Gilberto was key as Arsenal went unbeaten in 2003/04.
One of international football’s all time great individual tournaments / Jamie Squire/Getty Images
We don’t even need to remind you about how good Rodriguez was at the 2014 World Cup. Wonder goals only as Colombia made the quarter final.
It was precisely his World Cup performance that prompted Real Madrid to snap him up for a cool £63m. He started strongly in the capital, but his career fizzled out among managerial swaps and endless signings, before finally leaving for Everton in 2020/21.
The German was snapped up swiftly / Angel Martinez/Getty Images
A young Ozil balling out for Werder Bremen and assisting them to a DFB-Pokal final in 2009/10 was the pre-season for an electric 2010 World Cup with Germany.
As they do, Real Madrid snapped him up straight after the tournament and Ozil thrived on the big move, fitting like a glove as the assist lynchpin in the side. Short but sweet, his three years in Madrid were nothing short of mesmerising.
Maguire found a new level / Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
Maguire’s stock was already high before England went to Russia for the 2018 World Cup.
Come the end of the summer, Maguire was a different beast. ‘Slabhead’ had shown up on the international stage as England made the semi-final, forcing Manchester United to cough up a record £80m fee to sign him. They’re getting their money’s worth, in fairness.
Cannavaro moved to Real after this / Simon M Bruty/Getty Images
In stark contrast, Real Madrid paid Juventus just €7m for Fabio Cannavaro’s services after he had put on a defensive clinic as Italy won the 2006 World Cup.
He won the Ballon d’Or and World Player of the Year later on in 2006 and won back-to-back league titles with Los Blancos, cementing his legacy as one of the game’s greatest defenders by heading over to Madrid and doing it across Europe, before returning to Juve in 2009. Mammoth.
