Yoane Wissa will approach the round of 32 clash against England on Wednesday in Atlanta as the standout player for a DR Congo side that has qualified for the knockout stage for the first time in its history.
The Newcastle striker has scored three goals in three group matches, as many as he managed in 28 Premier League games last season, and is a key part of DR Congo's attacking set-up.
It's a surprising striker profile for a player who, at 29, is enjoying the best spell of a career spent at less high-profile Ligue 1 clubs: Châteauroux, Angers, Laval, Ajaccio and Lorient before moving to the Premier League.
Efficiency born from few chances
Wissa's individual stats show improvement with every match, in a reactive Congolese system.
Against Portugal, he opened his account with 2 shots for 1 goal, a limited involvement (35 touches) but instant efficiency in the box, with 3 touches in the danger area and 89% pass completion in the final third.
He was rated 6.9 by Flashscore, in line with his role as a focal point up front.
Against Colombia, his influence was more discreet in terms of direct output (one shot, 6.1 rating), but he maintained consistency in driving the ball forward, with five progressive carries and 100 per cent pass completion in the final third, a sign of technical accuracy even in a match where DR Congo were largely on the back foot.
It was against Uzbekistan that his role took on a whole new dimension.
Scoring a decisive brace, including winning and converting the equalising penalty himself, Wissa delivered the best individual performance of the tournament for his team with an 8.1 Flashscore rating and, unsurprisingly, the man of the match award.
Six shots, two goals, seven touches in the box: these numbers show a constant presence in the danger area, combined with an unusual defensive contribution for a striker, with three recoveries and a clearance, highlighting the collective commitment demanded by Sebastien Desabre in DR Congo's deep defensive block.
A focal point rather than a pure finisher
While his three goals have caught the eye and put him among the top scorers at this World Cup, the stats suggest his role is broader than that of a simple goalscorer.
His pass completion rate in the final third, above 85 per cent in two of the three matches, shows that Wissa is also a technical link for a team that has averaged just 39 per cent possession in the group stage.
In a system where DR Congo look to strike quickly on the break, his ability to hold the ball under pressure in the final third is a key factor in getting out from deep.
After his performance against Uzbekistan, Wissa was quick to remind everyone that he is "just one piece of the Congolese puzzle".
"Today was very tough; the weight on our shoulders was heavy. There are things to fix. But the most important thing is this historic round of 32. We're going to enjoy it because it was hard," he preferred to emphasise.
"All the lads, the substitutes, those who wore the shirt before, those who will wear it tomorrow, we all have to be proud. Thank you to all the Congolese people; it's for moments like this that we live for. We did it!"
An expert on English football
Wissa heads into this clash with real experience of the English top flight. He joined Brentford in August 2021, after a complicated transfer delayed by an acid attack at his home shortly beforehand, and spent four seasons there, becoming the club's all-time top scorer in the Premier League with 45 goals in 137 matches.
In April 2025, his goal against Arsenal saw him reach the symbolic milestone of 50 goal contributions in the Premier League, with his detailed stats showing versatility in finishing: 22 goals with his right foot, 11 with his left, and eight headers.
His move to Newcastle in September 2025 was a difficult one: Wissa had publicly demanded to leave Brentford on social media, accusing the club of not honouring a transfer promise, before joining the Magpies at the last minute of the transfer window for around £55 million.
A knee injury picked up on international duty against Senegal in early September then delayed his debut for his new club until December.
This five-year experience in the English top flight, at Brentford and then Newcastle - two clubs with different footballing philosophies but regularly facing the same defenders he will come up against on Wednesday - gives him a familiarity that could be crucial in managing individual duels against the Three Lions.
World Cup 2026
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Against England, a counter-attacking threat
Against an England side expected to dominate possession - perhaps around 65-70 per cent as in the group stage - Wissa's role will logically shift towards being a focal point tasked with exploiting the spaces left by a high defensive line.
His ability to be dangerous with few chances - two shots were enough to score against Portugal - makes him a real threat on the break for an England team that will need to be careful when losing the ball.
After some difficult months in the north east of England, Wissa is showing that he is once again "in good physical shape" and "mentally strong".
"I'm proud today to show that I'm a good player," he said.
As fate would have it, the striker could face two Newcastle teammates on Wednesday, including Anthony Gordon, the future FC Barcelona winger. It's a chance for Wissa to finally show them what he's capable of.
Watch the World Cup 2026 live on ITVX via Prime Video here - live coverage, highlights, and analysis.
