Sometimes seen as an unwelcome interruption to club football, international breaks are a necessary part of the FIFA calendar. For some, it’s an opportunity to express their patriotism, while for others, it’s a cycle of disappointment at not being called up. As club football resumes this Saturday, we’ve compiled a list of top performers from the most recent international break, who made it a memorable one.
Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen has been at the center of controversy in recent months. The reigning African Footballer of the Year caused a stir on Instagram Live after being publicly criticized by former Super Eagles coach Finidi George in June. As if that wasn’t enough, a falling out with Napoli resulted in him being loaned to Galatasaray. However, the striker seems to have left the drama behind as he returned to the national team during the last international break, scoring a goal in Nigeria’s comfortable win over neighboring Benin Republic.
Ademola Lookman
After silencing any doubts about his ability with a hat-trick performance for Atalanta in the Europa League final, Ademola Lookman shows no signs of slowing down. The 2023 AFCON hero scored two of Nigeria’s three goals against Benin Republic, further solidifying his candidacy for the African Footballer of the Year award.
Declan Rice
Although Declan Rice is set to miss the North London Derby this weekend due to suspension, he was exceptional for England as the Three Lions secured a win over rivals Ireland. With deep Irish heritage and having represented Ireland as a youth, Rice refrained from celebrating when he both scored and provided an assist in the match.
Kevin De Bruyne
Manchester City and Belgium star Kevin De Bruyne linked up with City teammate Jeremy Doku, who assisted him in Belgium’s victory over Israel. De Bruyne went on to convert a penalty, sealing the Red Devils’ win. Although Belgium’s subsequent defeat to France dampened the team’s spirits, De Bruyne’s international form remains intact as he returns for City this weekend against Brentford.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Even at 39, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to break and set records. The legendary forward chose Portugal’s win against Croatia to reach his milestone of 900 career goals. With his sights set on reaching 1,000 goals, Ronaldo managed to capture and maintain the spotlight throughout the international break.
