World Cup Players of the Day: Isak, Diomande & Kimmich shine on matchday 4

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Matthew Judge | Editor

FootballTransfers takes a look at the stars who caught the eye on matchday four of the 2026 World Cup, with Alexander Isak, Yan Diomande and Joshua Kimmich impressing for their countries.

Isak does the damage for Sweden

After an injury-ravaged first season with Liverpool, Alexander Isak needed no extra motivation to sparkle for Sweden at the World Cup.

And the 26-year-old delivered the goods against Tunisia at the Monterrey Stadium in Mexico, scoring once and recording two assists.

In a ruthless counter attack on the half-hour mark, Isak collected a pass from Viktor Gyokeres and surged forward at speed, before cutting inside and finding the far corner with a sumptuous low drive.

Alexander Isak expertly doubles Sweden's advantage on his #FIFAWorldCup debut 🔥 pic.twitter.com/tcZ5jZCGHd

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 15, 2026

And Isak then returned the favour in the second half, winning the ball from Tunisia captain Ellyes Skhiri before teeing up Gyokeres for Sweden’s third.

Isak helped make history moments later as his deft flick from a corner found Mattias Svanberg, who - in the fastest goal ever scored by a substitute in World Cup history - prodded home 12 seconds after coming on.

That is incredible! 😲

Mattias Svanberg scores for Sweden within seconds of entering the pitch 🔥 pic.twitter.com/IDhpWDfN89

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 15, 2026

…And Ayari also cut the mustard for Sweden

Isak was not the only player who managed to shine for Sweden as Yasin Ayari scored two goal-of-the-tournament contenders in one match.

After Tunisia blocked a goal-bound effort from Gyokeres, Ayari took the perfect first touch before smashing Sweden in front after just seven minutes.

Brighton's Yasin Ayari thumps Sweden into an early lead against Tunisia 💫 pic.twitter.com/AP5Lu03Ne9

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 15, 2026

The Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder, who also won three tackles and made two blocks, then scored a second which was just as good.

Latching onto a loose ball deep into stoppage time, the 22-year-old then rifled another effort past Abdelmouhib Chamakh.

Born to parents from Tunisia and Morocco, Ayari chose not celebrate his first wondergoal, but after scoring a second in the same game, he couldn’t help himself, cupping his ear to a Sweden fanbase who, understandably, were in raptures.

A statement start for Sweden 🇸🇪

Yasin Ayari bags a brace for his country in style 💫 pic.twitter.com/dxvM3gqH4Y

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 15, 2026

Diomande lights up the right flank for Ivory Coast

A young man who has already won the attention of Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, Yan Diomande does not need any introduction.

However, the 19-year-old earned even more admirers by inspiring Ivory Coast to a 1-0 win over Ecuador for their first World Cup victory in 12 years.

RB Leipzig winger Diomande was at his creative best down the right-hand side, creating the most chances (5), making the most progressive carries (15) and also taking the most touches in the opposition box (12).

No wonder he is a wanted man…

Ivory Coast’s winner also came from the right flank, though it was Wilfried Singo’s lung-busting run forward which brought about Amad Diallo’s all-important winner.

Cote D'Ivoire's Yan Diomande on his World
Cup debut:

▪️ Most touches (80)
▫️ Most chances created (5)
▪️ Most duels won (11)
▫️ Most progressive carries (15)

This 19-year-old is one to watch 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0TWlgeG4TA

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 15, 2026

Gravenberch bags the assists against Japan

Ryan Gravenberch opened his World Cup account in perfect fashion by setting up both of the Netherlands’ goals in their 2-2 draw with Japan.

The 24-year-old picked out his Liverpool team-mate Virgil van Dijk with a teasing cross after 50 minutes, before collecting his second assist of the day when feeding Crysencio Summerville for his second-half strike.

While the Netherlands were unable to hold on for three points, it was a positive start from Ronald Koeman’s side, who will be hoping Gravenberch can pick up from where he left off against Japan in their next fixture against Sweden on Saturday.

HAD TO BE HIM 🔥

Van Dijk ends the drought for the Dutch against Japan 🟧 pic.twitter.com/jAzHCaBuJ9

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 14, 2026

Kimmich also sets up two goals in Germany’s thumping win

Another man who chalked up two assists in the same game was Germany captain Joshua Kimmich, who had a huge hand in his country’s thumping 7-1 win over debutants Curacao.

The Bayern Munich star calved open the Group E minnows with a beautiful through ball to Jamal Musiala, whose superb finish made it 4-1.

And then Kimmich teed up substitute Deniz Undav for Germany’s sixth in Houston, capping off a terrific individual performance.

In addition to his two assists, the 31-year-old also created the most chances (5) and completed 89 per cent (65/73) of his attempted passes against Curacao.

Jamal Musiala finds the bottom corner!

Germany off to a flyer in the second half pic.twitter.com/v0tPT3kMPu

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 14, 2026

Written by

Matthew Judge | Editor

Matthew Judge is a freelance sports writer from Liverpool, United Kingdom. He has worked for/had words published by Everton Football Club, The Independent, Daily Mirror, Stats Perform, Goal, and Squawka, among others.

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