Club World Cup: CONCACAF Player Stock Watch — Who’s Rising, Who’s Falling | OneFootball

One match through the Club World Cup group stage, we examine which CONCACAF players have stepped up, and which have faltered.

The Club World Cup has officially kicked off, and fans have been pleasantly surprised by the quality of the tournament — despite criticism surrounding this new iteration of the competition. With strong attendance figures early on and momentum expected to build, the world is watching both in person and on screens. For many soccer fans, it has been a chance to discover the quality of leagues they rarely get to see.

For players in CONCACAF, the tournament provides a unique opportunity to showcase themselves on a larger stage and against some of the world’s top clubs. We’ve seen several players rise to the occasion to earn newfound praise and support, while others have struggled to make an impact on the global stage. We break down whose stocks are rising, and whose have fallen.

Stock Up

Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos did it again. The former Real Madrid superstar and legendary Spanish defender scored a trademark header off a corner kick in classic Ramos fashion. CF Monterrey pulled off the unthinkable, holding UEFA Champions League finalists Inter Milan to a draw and putting themselves in position to potentially win Group E. With matches still to come against River Plate and Urawa Red Diamonds, the path is open for Monterrey to outscore the Italians and top the group.

Ramos and Monterrey have been the surprise of the tournament, helping put CONCACAF firmly on the map. This is the same Monterrey side that the Vancouver Whitecaps recently elminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup. MLS teams should pay attention to the formula for beating European teams, as Rayados have made it look possible.

Oscar Ustari

An Argentine star stole the show in Inter Miami’s opening match of the Club World Cup, just not the one fans around the world expected. Goalkeeper Oscar Ustari earned Man of the Match honors after a standout performance that included a crucial penalty save and several key blocks to keep Inter Miami from leaking goals at the back.

Al Ahly applied relentless pressure, launching wave after wave of attacks, but Ustari stood tall. The match ended in a 0-0 draw, and if not for the veteran goalkeeper, the Herons could have found themselves in a much deeper hole heading into their next tests against Porto and Palmeiras. At 38 years old, Ustari delivered his best performance in an Inter Miami kit, quieting any debate about who should be starting between the posts.

Cristian Roldan

The man who etched his name into MLS and Seattle Sounders history, Cristian Roldan became the first MLS player to ever score in the FIFA Club World Cup. While the result didn’t go the way Sounders or MLS fans had hoped, Seattle was far from an embarrassment. The Rave Green dominated Botafogo for much of the second half in their opener, creating multiple chances to equalize in front of a crowd of 30,000.

Leading into the match, Roldan called it “the biggest game in Seattle Sounders history,” and he backed up those words with his performance. He was arguably the best player on the pitch, showing the poise and composure of someone who’s been in big moments before, both in MLS and with the United States men’s national team. That clutch gene was on full display.

Stock Down

Luis Suarez

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While Luis Suárez has heard the critics throughout the MLS season, the world got a closer look at how the Uruguayan striker is holding up in pink — and it wasn’t pretty. His struggles in Javier Mascherano’s system were on full display, as Suárez looked off the pace and was largely ineffective in the match against Al Ahly.

Pundits and fans alike noted how the 38-year-old’s lack of mobility appeared to hinder Inter Miami’s attack, and even disrupted Lionel Messi’s rhythm in the final third.

Suárez’s most notable moment came not from a shot on goal but from laughing at the referee and picking up a yellow card after arguing. In a tournament where two yellows result in a suspension, discipline matters, and that moment of frustration could prove costly.

This may be Suárez’s final season as a professional, but Mascherano isn’t doing him any favors by asking him to play a full 90 minutes. If Inter Miami want to contend in the MLS postseason and beyond, they’ll need to find a younger, more dynamic striker, and fast.

Sergio Busquets

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Much like Suárez, Sergio Busquets was largely ineffective in Inter Miami’s opening match, raising serious questions about whether he’s lost a step. Once known for his ability to dictate tempo with pinpoint diagonal passes and quick turns under pressure, Busquets struggled to find any rhythm. He looked like a shadow of the world-class midfielder fans once knew.

As one of Inter Miami’s designated players and a reported $8 million-per-year signing, Busquets’ decline is becoming more visible with each match. Last season, head coach Tata Martino experimented with dropping him into a center back role to allow younger legs to take over midfield duties. Mascherano may need to consider a similar adjustment before the 36-year-old picks up a costly second yellow, especially as fatigue starts to impact his timing in challenges.

Nouhou Tolo

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The Seattle Sounders went toe-to-toe with reigning Copa Libertadores champions Botafogo in the opening 20 minutes of their Club World Cup debut. Seattle managed a few shots on goal and looked like they belonged on the same field as the Brazilian giants. But momentum quickly shifted after a costly mistake.

Nouhou Tolo, known for his strong defensive performances, including a standout showing against Mohamed Salah while with Cameroon, committed one of the most avoidable fouls of his career. In a moment of lost composure, he delivered a two-handed shove on a Botafogo player off the ball, gifting the opposition a free kick just outside the box. Botafogo capitalized, and from that moment, the momentum swung firmly in favor of the side from Rio de Janeiro. Seattle went into halftime down 2-0 and, despite a spirited push in the second half, the mountain created by Nouhou’s lapse in judgment proved too steep to climb.

Jeremy Ebobisse

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In a match where Olivier Giroud arguably should have started against his former club, Chelsea, it was striker Jeremy Ebobisse who got the nod for LAFC. The decision likely came down to head coach Steve Cherundolo anticipating a Chelsea-heavy possession game, opting for Ebobisse’s hold-up play and defensive work rate up top.

Ebobisse had one clean look at the goal but slipped at the crucial moment and failed to put his shot on frame. Unable to make a significant impact, he was subbed off at halftime. Once he exited, LAFC’s attack came alive. The Black and Gold began to put real pressure on Chelsea, generating multiple shots on target and creating several promising chances for Denis Bouanga.

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