Meet Canada’s Biggest Football Star

The Canadian soccer landscape has been buzzing with talent as the sport makes waves in the international arena. The recent FIFA World Cup in Qatar marked the Maple Leafs’ participation in the tournament for just the second time in history and the first time in 36 years. They managed to top North America by qualifying ahead of their rivals, the United States and Mexico, and much was expected for their foray onto the global stage.

Unfortunately, things didn’t work out as planned. Canada were dumped out in the group stage with the second-worst record in the entire tournament. They fell to a 1-0 defeat in their opening game against Belgium, thanks to a strike from former Chelsea man Michy Batshuayi, and were then soundly defeated 4-1 by eventual semifinalists Croatia.

Canada stumbled again in their match against semifinalists Morocco who, thanks to goals from Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri, became the first African final-four participant in history.

Looking ahead, Canada is set to co-host the next World Cup alongside the US and Mexico. With its current crop of talented players and the growing popularity of soccer in the country, the future of Canadian soccer looks brighter than ever.

With 2026 looming large on the horizon, here are the three biggest stars in Canadian football.

Alphonso Davies: The Bayern Munich Dynamo

Alphonso Davies plays as a left-back or winger for Germany’s rekordmeister, Bayern Munich. Despite the club sitting in second place behind Bayer Leverkusen in the current Bundesliga standings, online sports betting sites still make them the odds-on favorites to claim a 12th straight title this season.

Offers such as Fanatics Sportbook bonus bets are well worth utilizing, especially considering the fact that the Bavarians were recently defeated by Xabi Alonso’s side. Fanatics offer a loyalty reward program that allows you to spend earned points on merchandise or bets, so you can risk less should Thomas Tuchel’s side fail in their quest to lift the meisterschale for the 13th straight season.

Hailed as one of Canada’s best exports to European football, Davies’ market value stands at €70 million, at least according to the highly reputable Transfermarkt. Davies burst onto the scene back in 2020 when he tore Lionel Messi’s Barcelona apart in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. Davies marauded down the left-hand side time and again as the Bavarians ran out as 8-2 victors. They then went on to lift the trophy, with Kingsley Coman netting the winner against Paris Saint-Germain in Lisbon.

Davies is, without a doubt, the jewel in the current Canadian crown. He plays in a much more advanced side with the national team compared to at the club level. If the Canadians are to experience any success in 2026, expect him to be front and center.

Jonathan David: The Goal Machine

Jonathan David is another Canadian soccer sensation making headlines internationally. The Lille hitman scored 13 goals throughout the course of the 2020/21 season, as his side pipped Paris Saint-Germain to the Ligue 1 crown, becoming champions of France for the first time in a decade.

David has been on form once again this term, netting 13 goals in all competitions as his side looks to secure Champions League qualification. Lille are also in the knockout stages of the Europa Conference League and are expected to be in contention for the trophy.

David played a crucial role in Canada’s qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, top-scoring in the CONCACAF region qualifiers. He has netted 26 goals in 45 appearances for his country and, at just 24 years of age, many more goals are expected over the next few years.

Tajon Buchanan: The Rising Star

Tajon Buchanan rose to fame during his time with the New England Revolution in the MLS, where his performances earned him a move to Europe in 2021. He initially chose Club Brugge in Belgium to further his career and secured a Pro League title during his three years with the club.

Last month, Buchanan signed for Italian giants Inter Milan and is expected to play an important role in the Nerazzurri’s hunt for the Scudetto.