Vinay Kumar
Johan Manzambi, Switzerland’s electric young midfielder, produced one of the most extraordinary substitute performances the FIFA World Cup has ever seen, scoring twice in a matter of minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute to power Switzerland past Bosnia and Herzegovina. In doing so, the 20-year-old became the youngest substitute ever to score multiple goals in a single World Cup match, a record that speaks to just how special this kid is.Manzambi had barely been on the pitch a few minutes, replacing Dan Ndoye, when he put Switzerland ahead with the game’s opening goal. The fresh legs, the fearlessness, the finish, all of it announced his arrival on the grandest stage of them all. He was not done. A second goal followed shortly after, completing a brace that left jaws on the floor inside the stadium.Substitutions brought fresh life to Switzerland’s attack in the second half, with three goals scored in a matter of minutes- two from Manzambi and one from Rubén Vargas before Granit Xhaka sealed the win with a penalty in stoppage time.But the night belonged entirely to Manzambi.Born on 14 October 2005 in Geneva to parents of Angolan and Congolese origin, Manzambi is a Bundesliga midfielder with SC Freiburg, a club where he has grown rapidly since making his senior debut in 2024. He was named the Europa League Young Player of the Season after netting the crucial second goal for Freiburg in their Europa League semi-final win over Braga in May 2026.At the international level, the rise has been just as breathtaking. The World Cup in 2026 was always a target for him- one he set himself the moment he signed with Freiburg. On Thursday, that dream did not just come true. It exploded into something far bigger.
