The World Cup tournament is finally over this summer and the Red Devils have already embarked on their pre-season tour under Manchester United boss Michael Carrick.
Euro 2024 champions Spain overcame Argentina in a 1-0 win in the final and secured the World Cup trophy at the MetLife Stadium on Sunday evening.
The dust is still settling around the World Cup, so much so that Manchester United fans could take away a lot of highs and lows from the latest FIFA tournament.
I have now put the spotlight on six standout talking points from this summer’s competition as part of this piece for United In Focus after Sunday’s final.
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6. Lisandro Martinez’s injury (disappointment)
It had to be Lisandro Martinez who ended up getting injured out of all the Manchester United first-team players at the tournament, didn’t it?
Lisandro Martinez had impressed at times during the World Cup amid Argentina’s failed title defence, but his time at the competition was soured at the weekend.
The 28-year-old Argentina international was unable to see out the first half after he suffered a thigh injury and Nicolas Otamendi was brought on to replace him.
5. Kobbie Mainoo not getting a single minute at the World Cup — and then getting injured (disappointment)
If Lisandro Martinez’s injury wasn’t already frustrating, I had already been irked about the situation around Kobbie Mainoo for England during the World Cup.
I was not the only Man Utd fan to be disappointed that Kobbie Mainoo didn’t receive a single minute at the tournament under England boss Thomas Tuchel.
But there could be no bigger kick in the teeth for United than the 21-year-old Stockport-born talent suffering a back injury ahead of the third-place play-off match.
4. Marcus Rashford failing to increase his transfer value/desirability in the summer transfer market (disappointment)
Marcus Rashford had a steady tournament for England this summer, but he did not light up the world or stand out above Barcelona signing Anthony Gordon either.
The 28-year-old United talent’s future is shrouded in mystery after Barcelona didn’t sign him and it remains to be seen what his next move will be this summer.
I think it was deeply disappointing — I imagine Ineos would agree as well — that Marcus Rashford’s value or desirability did not increase as a result of the World Cup.
After watching Marcus Rashford at the World Cup, do you want to see him back at Man Utd?
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3. Bruno Fernandes underwhelmed for Portugal at the tournament (disappointment)
Following a blistering second half of the 2025-26 campaign under Michael Carrick, the expectations were high on Bruno Fernandes at the World Cup this summer.
I think the set expectations equally played into Bruno Fernandes’ ‘forgettable’ World Cup tournament, not to mention the noise around Cristiano Ronaldo’s role.
Man Utd fans can only hope that the World Cup does not have a negative knock-on effect for Red Devils skipper Fernandes when he returns for the summer tour.
2. Senne Lammens’ World Cup mistake for Belgium (disappointment)
Senne Lammens’ World Cup debut came under unusual circumstances after the Man Utd No 1 came on for Thibaut Courtois in the 2-1 quarter-final defeat to Spain.
I had flashbacks to David de Gea against Portugal at the 2018 World Cup after Senne Lammens’ mistake handed Spain the crucial winner over Belgium.
However, I can only hope that Lammens’ confidence is not shaken in the same way as United legend David de Gea had to his confidence after the World Cup in Russia.
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1. Matheus Cunha stepping up for Brazil at the World Cup (positive)
Matheus Cunha was at his first World Cup with Brazil and the 27-year-old Brazilian forward impressed at the FIFA tournament after his first season with Man Utd.
The ex-Wolves ace netted three times in five matches for the five-time World Cup champions and Matheus Cunha was the standout Man Utd player at the competition.
Cunha’s versatility as a forward was clear as day and I can only hope that confidence now carries over for a major second season at Man Utd from the Brazil star.
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