Arda Guler #8

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“The last time we were able to go to the World Cup, I didn’t even exist,” Guler said after Turkey had qualified for the tournament for the first time since 2002 – and the Real Madrid man is the undisputed face of this side. After proving himself at one of the biggest clubs in the world and shining for the national team he is now preparing to take centre stage in his biggest test yet. “We are talking about an undisputed, elite world-class talent,” is how Thierry Henry recently described the Turkish attacking midfielder. The 21-year-old may have a babyface but he is no pushover and not a luxury player. The midfielder was involved in a staggering 44 percent of the Red-Whites goals in games he played in for the 2025-26 qualifying campaign and he showed his passion and precociousness in the Champions League quarter-final away leg against Bayern. First he scored an outrageous long-range goal in the first minute, then a second within half an hour before getting sent off in added-on time for dissent.

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