World Cup stars of the Bundesliga: Freiburg's Johan Manzambi
Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi is playing an increasingly important role for Switzerland at this summer's FIFA World Cup, despite being a relative newcomer to the international stage.
Name: Johan Manzambi
Club: Freiburg
Nation: Switzerland
International debut: 7 June 2025
Caps: 15
International goals: 6
Stats correct as of 24 June 2026
How was his 2025/26 campaign?
After playing an increasingly prominent role towards the end of 2024/25, Manzambi was a crucial part of Freiburg's impressive performances across three competitions this term. The youngster even scored a vital goal in Freiburg's UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg against Braga, a strike that put them in front on aggregate for the first time as they reached a maiden European final.
In addition, he registered five Bundesliga goals, including a run of three strikes in as many games across November and December, while only Maximilian Eggestein won more duels for Freiburg than the versatile youngster. Still only 20, he is still adapting to the top level - underlined by his two straight league red cards this term - but there is no denying his raw ability could take him to the very top.
What he brings to the national team
Manzambi has bounds of energy and is a real force of nature at the heart of the midfield, especially alongside the orchestrator that is former Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Mönchengladbach man Granit Xhaka.
He already has six goals in 15 caps for his country, two of which came in Switzerland's resounding win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in their second group game at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
That earned him a starting spot in the team's final Group B game, which they won 2-1 against Canada thanks to a goal and an assist from Manzambi, a result which moved them into the round of 32 as section winners. It also makes the 20-year-old only the third player under the age of 21 since the 2002 edition to have a hand in four or more goals at a World Cup, after Kylian Mbappé (eight in 2018) and Thomas Müller (eight in 2010).
What his coaches say
"You'd rather have someone like Johan on your team in training than on the opponent's team because he invests a lot and tries to improve week by week. He's really good in challenges and can hold his own both offensively and defensively. It's a joy when we bring up lads from our own academy and they perform like this." - Freiburg head coach Julian Schuster
"He has an incredible hunger for goals, I've rarely seen that in a player. He's so hungry to score. He's a real joy to watch. You can simply throw him in as a winger. He brings a carefree attitude that does us good. He is our secret weapon." - Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin
