World Cup stars who clinched big transfers after tournament heroics

The World Cup is football's grandest stage, filled with goals and drama, and it has often proved to be a springboard for players to transform their careers. The latest example is Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, who joined Chilean side Colo-Colo after a standout tournament. The 40-year-old, who previously plied his trade in the Portuguese second division with Chaves, moved to Chile's most successful club, proving that the tournament still has the power to change a player's life.

Historical examples abound. Marc-Vivien Foe was a relatively unknown player before the 1994 World Cup. Although Cameroon failed to replicate their 1990 heroics, Foe impressed as one of the team's best performers, notably in a game against Brazil. That led to a free transfer from Canon Yaounde to French club Lens. He later played for West Ham United, Manchester City, and Lyon, where he won league titles before his tragic death in 2003.

Gilberto Silva made his World Cup debut in 2002 in South Korea and Japan. He was not initially in the starting lineup but came in after captain Emerson was injured. Silva played every minute of every game as Brazil won the title. He then joined Premier League champions Arsenal for around £4.5 million. During six years in north London, he won two FA Cups and was part of the famous unbeaten Invincibles side of 2003-04.

Javier Mascherano shone at the 2006 World Cup at age 22, helping Argentina reach the quarter-finals. After impressing for Corinthians, he moved to West Ham United that summer alongside Carlos Tevez. He later played for Liverpool and Barcelona, winning the Champions League twice.

Mesut Ozil emerged as one of the world's best young players at the 2010 World Cup, scoring four goals and assisting four more as Germany finished third. By August 2010, he switched Werder Bremen for Real Madrid in a deal worth around €15 million. He won trophies in Madrid before becoming Arsenal's record signing in 2013 for £42.4 million.

James Rodriguez was a breakout star of the 2014 World Cup, scoring six goals to win the Golden Boot and earning a spot in FIFA's team of the tournament. His stunning volley against Uruguay was voted goal of the tournament. Real Madrid signed him from Monaco for about €75 million, and he went on to win two Champions League titles.

Vozinha became a cult hero when Cape Verde earned their first World Cup point against Spain. His social media following exploded from 50,000 to nearly 30 million on Instagram. He helped his team reach the knockout stages, even taking Argentina to extra time. He was named in FIFA's team of the tournament, and a newly discovered species of sea slug was named after him. Now joining Colo-Colo, the most decorated club in Chile, is the highlight of his career.

Other notable movers include Gheorghe Hagi, Dejan Stankovic, Edinson Cavani, Sami Khedira, Keylor Navas, and Enzo Fernandez, who moved to Chelsea following the 2022 World Cup.