Cédric Bakambu #17

Profile

Few players looked more emotional than Bakambu after the final whistle against Jamaica. When he chose to represent DR Congo in 2015 – during his peak years at Villarreal – he instantly became one of the country’s biggest stars. “Through football, I was able to reconnect with my roots,” he said. “When I arrived for my first call-up, I already knew there was excitement around the national team on social media. But the emotions I experienced in Kinshasa were on another level.” Since then, Bakambu has become far more than just the leader of the attack. He evolved into one of the main faces and ambassadors of the Leopards project. Behind the scenes, he also played a key role in convincing dual-national players to join DR Congo. After a decade marked by goals, heartbreak and near misses, Bakambu will finally play in his first World Cup at the age of 35 – and likely as a starter.

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