Football has been on a slow but steady rise in Canada in recent years, having produced an increasing amount of top talent making it to the shores of European clubs.

After first appearing at a World Cup in 1986, Canada ended a painful 36 years by returning to the grandest stage in football at Qatar 2022. The 2026 World Cup gives Canada the chance to bring the game within their own country to a whole new level; as hosts alongside Mexico and USA, the tournament will trigger a new generation of soccer fanatics desperate to emulate Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies.

GIVEMESPORT takes a look at the 15 greatest players to ever pull on the Canada jersey.

16

Alex Bunbury

Career Span: 1992-2000

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One of Canada’s most prominent footballers before the turn of the century. The two-time Canadian player of the year earned 65 caps and scored 16 international goals, while also enjoying a lengthy spell in Portugal’s top flight with Maritimo after starting out at West Ham. Although his numbers don’t match those of a truly elite striker, Bunbury was an important figure for the national team throughout the 1990s and helped lay the foundations for future generations. He had a relatively short career and retired in 2000 after winning the MLS Cup with the Kansas City Wizards.

15

Jonathan Osorio

Career Span: 2013-Current

Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

Jonathan Osorio is Canada through and through. He’s been at Toronto FC for his whole club career, and now serves as their captain, accumulating over 400 club appearances. His finest hour at club level came in 2017, when he was central to Toronto’s historic treble. The MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield and Canadian Championship all in one season. Internationally, he made his debut for Les Rouges in his first professional season and was a key figure in the midfield engine that drove Canada to the 2022 World Cup.

14

Tomasz Radzinski

Career Span: 1994-2012

Born in Poland but raised in Canada, the quick, sharp striker fired Anderlecht to back-to-back Belgian titles before earning a £4.5 million move to Everton in 2001, a Canadian transfer record at the time. He spent three years at Goodison Park, scoring 25 Premier League goals, before moving on to Fulham. With 45 caps and 10 international goals across 14 years of service, he was Canada’s benchmark long before it became fashionable to follow football.

13

12

Cyle Larin

Career Span: 2015 – Current

Cyle Larin is Canada’s second all-time leading scorer. He’s been at the sharp end of Les Rouges’ rise for the best part of a decade. A powerful centre-forward with a poacher’s instinct, he was the key player in their 2022 World Cup qualification, finishing as top scorer in the CONCACAF qualifying campaign with 13 goals in 16 matches. He made his name in the MLS before taking his talents to Europe, winning the Turkish league with Besiktas and the Belgian title with Club Brugge, before moving to Spain, and most recently England, with Southampton.

11

Paul Stalteri

Career Span: 1997-2011

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Before Canada’s current generation emerged, Paul Stalteri was proving that Canadian players could compete at the highest level in Europe. The defender enjoyed a successful career in Germany with Werder Bremen, helping the club win the Bundesliga title in 2004 before earning a move to the Premier League with Tottenham. Equally comfortable at full-back or in midfield, Stalteri became a mainstay for Canada and finished his international career with 85 caps. At a time when Canadian footballers were rarely seen in Europe’s top leagues, he helped pave the way for those who followed.

10

Carlo Corazzin

Career Span: 1992-2006

Beginning this list with Carlo Corazzin, the striker spent the majority of his career as an integral player for lower league clubs in the English divisions such as Cambridge United, Plymouth Argyle, Oldham Athletic, and Northampton Town during the 1990s and early 2000s. However, on English shores is not where the Canadian thrived the most, winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2000 for his nation while firing home four goals for his side during the process and earning himself the golden boot for the competition that year as well.

9

Junior Hoilett

Career Span: 2007-Current

Junior Hoilett spent a good chunk of his career at Premier League level with just shy of 200 games across a host of clubs. The attacker is one of the most exciting players to watch that has come from Canadian soil, combining pace with his flair and dribbling. Hoilett was creative and dangerous in his time at Cardiff City, Blackburn Rovers, and Queens Park Rangers. Making his debut for Canada in 2015, the versatile winger has amassed 69 appearances, setting the record for the most assists in the country’s history in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

8

Atiba Hutchinson

Career Span: 2002-2023

Playing for some big European clubs, Atiba Hutchinson would spend the majority of his career servicing for PSV, Copenhagen, and Besiktas. He was one of the most versatile and durable players in the game, playing matches in every outfield position, and retiring at 40. Making his international debut in 2003, Hutchinson managed a staggering 104 appearances for his nation, the most caps that any Canadian has made for the country, competing in five CONCACAF Gold Cups, and was awarded as Canada’s Men’s Player of the Year on six occasions, winning it three years in a row between 2014 and 2016.

7

Julian de Guzman

Career Span: 2002-2016

Making the third-most appearances for the Canadian national team (89), Julian de Guzman is known as a legend of the nation. During his career, the defensive midfielder would play in the Bundesliga, La Liga, and the MLS, most notably spending the largest portion of time in Spain at Deportivo La Coruna.

De Guzman possessed an engine that allowed him to cover ground in the midfield, using his ability in and out of possession to give his opponents issues, with great quality on the ball and a relentless nature without. Also winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup Most Valuable Player in 2007, he would go on to win the Men’s Canadian Player of the Year award only a year later in 2008.

ITV commentator Jon Champion has been heavily criticised for comments he made about Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum during the nation’s World Cup win vs South Africa.

Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez scored the goals as the Mexicans got off to a flying start at the Aztec Stadium. President Sheinbaum was not in attendance for the nation’s opening match.

Instead, the Mexican leader opted to give her ticket to Yolett Cervantes, a 21-year-old Indigenous footballer. She claimed it was a ‘symbolic gesture’ and a way to generate and promote football in the women’s community.

Jon Champion Criticised After Mexico vs South Africa

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Champion, accompanied by Ally McCoist, was on commentary for the opening ceremony and the match that followed. Inside the first 90 minutes of the tournament, the experienced broadcaster managed to land himself in hot water with many fans.

Speaking about President Sheinbaum, he claimed: “The Mexican president actually gave up her ticket to be here, which has been the subject of fierce criticism from the population, she thought it would be a populist move to give it to a 21-year-old local lady who otherwise wouldn’t have had a chance to get into the game.”

McCoist responded by asking his colleague: “And it’s actually worked against her? In terms of the nation’s reaction?” The 61-year-old replied by saying it hasn’t gone a long way towards improving her popularity:

“You and me are not going there, that’s for sure,” McCoist agreed.

Hannah Mckay via Reuters

Social media was full of complaints immediately after Champion’s suggesting that the president is largely unpopular. Some fans watching the game even demanded an apology.

One X user fumed: “Will your ill-informed commentator now apologise to President Sheinbaum — who, far from being unpopular (as he insultingly suggested) is among the most popular leaders in the world?”

Another accused the English commentator of making an ‘outrageous and untrue slur’ against Sheinbaum. “She’s one of the most popular leaders in the world.”

One even suggested they were ‘taken aback’ by the claims made on ITV’s coverage. They came equipped with statistics, saying:

Champion has been urged to avoid politics in future, as one supporter said: “You know what, maybe I do support keeping politics out of football (if you are Jon Champion and/or have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about).”

Tottenham Hotspur could finally complete a deal for a player they were heavily linked with signing during the last summer transfer window.

So far this summer, even though the transfer window is not yet officially open yet, Spurs have been mostly focused on defensive reinforcements, with Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi already arriving on free transfers from Liverpool and Bournemouth respectively.

Spurs have also seen two bids rejected by Brighton & Hove Albion for centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke and GIVEMESPORT understands Tottenham will go back to the south coast club with a third offer, likely to be in the region of £60million.

Spurs are in advanced talks to sign Savinho

But the north Londoners will also be keen to improve their attacking lineup for new head coach Roberto De Zerbi. Manchester City winger Savinho has been linked with a move to N17, with the two clubs in talks over a deal for the Brazilian.

Savinho was another who was linked with a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but Spurs could not get a deal over the line after the Citizens backed out of an agreement.

And now Maghnes Akliouche, linked with Spurs last year, has given the green light for the Lilywhites to reignite their interest. Tottenham found a deal too difficult to get done last summer, but now, with Akliouche looking to move, they might find things easier.

According to a report in Get Football News France, the 24-year-old was asked about his club future, while on duty with France at the 2026 World Cup in America, Canada and Mexico.

Asked by Nice-Matin whether the next step for him would be a transfer, Akliouche responded in the affirmative, although he caveated that by saying: “But I am focused on the World Cup. [The World Cup] is a huge window of opportunity but I am focused on the national team’s objectives. I don’t want to disrespect my club by talking about the transfer window now.”

Akliouche will have plenty of suitors this summer

If Spurs do intend to reignite their interest in the highly-rated forward, they will likely face competition from the likes of Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City for his signature.

Akliouche has just two years left on his current contract at AS Monaco, with this summer being the perfect time for the French club to sell to get optimum value for his services.

The 24-year-old scored seven goals and provided nine assists across 41 matches in Ligue Un and the UEFA Champions League this season and has been described as a “ridiculous” talent