Deadly Man City duo among biggest post-World Cup rating drops
Having taken a look at the top 10 players to have flourished since the World Cup, with the likes of Ollie Watkins, Eddie Nketiah and Marcus Rashford all lighting up the Premier League in 2023. Here, we will be looking at those players who have not shone since the World Cup, as we identify the top 10 players who have suffered the biggest rating decrease since Qatar 2022 of those to have made at least 10 appearances before the tournament and eight appearances following football's showpiece for their respective clubs.
10. Odsonne Edouard - Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace’s demise this season has been staggering, with former manager Patrick Vieira paying the price for their 12-game winless after he was replaced with Roy Hodgson. Their attacking form has been a key reason to their struggles, with just five league goals in 2023. Odsonne Edouard hasn’t scored a league goal since October, where he scored all his three league goals this season. As a result, Edouard makes his way into the rundown as the 10th biggest rating decrease in the Premier League since the World Cup, with a WhoScored rating decrease from 6.64 to 6.16.
9. Eberechi Eze - Crystal Palace
Eberechi Eze also makes the list having seen his WhoScored rating decrease from 7.02 to 6.51. Again, attack has been a problem area for Palace, and Eze has only contributed once for Palace in 2023, with a single goal in their 1-1 draw with Brentford. He did score in their last league win away at Bournemouth, but has evidently done little since to change their fortunes, hence why he makes the list in ninth place.
8. Phil Foden - Manchester City
Surprisingly, Phil Foden makes the list for the biggest decrease in WhoScored ratings from the World Cup, having seen his rating drop from a respectable 7.38 to 6.85. Foden was electric before the World Cup, where he racked up seven goals and three assists before making the England squad, while in Qatar, he notched up a goal and two assists. Since he’s returned from the England setup, he has just two league goals to his name, but has certainly not been a bystander by any means, as noted by his back-to-back WhoScored man of the match showings against Bournemouth and Newcastle.
Jordan Pickford is above his England teammate Foden in seventh place of the WhoScored biggest rating decrease rankings, seeing his rating drop from 6.97 to 6.42. He played every game at the World Cup and put in some WhoScored man of the match performances against Liverpool and Fulham prior to the World Cup. With the more solid defence that Sean Dyche has instilled at Everton, Pickford isn't required to routinely bail the Toffees out, which may have contributed to his drop in rating.
Brendan Aaronson endured a so-so start to life at Leeds, which saw him notch up a goal and two assists, but has been the subject of poor form and this has contributed to the American losing his place, with his minutes reduced since the start of the season. As such, his WhoScored rating has decreased from 6.73 to 6.14, which is the lowest rating of any of the 10 with the largest decreases.
5. Neco Williams - Nottingham Forest
The former Liverpool full-back makes the top five for the biggest decrease in player ratings, as Neco Williams fell from a respectable 6.82 to 6.22. He’s been forced out the Nottingham Forest XI by Serge Aurier, and his numerous substitute cameos more recently tell the story. Indeed, eight of his 11 sub appearances have come following the 2022 World Cup.
4. Kevin De Bruyne - Manchester City
Next up in the biggest rating decrease is Manchester City midfield creator Kevin De Bruyne, who saw his WhoScored rating drop from 7.79 to 7.17 since returning from the World Cup. The Belgian's three goals and nine assists prior to Qatar 2022 was impressive, but he has struggled to build on that form since returning from a mediocre campaign with the Red Devils having played every game as Belgium scored just a single goal and went out in the group stage. His 15 goals and eight assists last season were pivotal in helping Manchester City lift the Premier League trophy, and could yet match his 23 goal contributions in 2021/22, but his form has dropped since domestic duties resumed.
3. Aleksandar Mitrovic - Fulham
Fulham hitman Aleksandar Mitrovic has dropped off the radar this year, and this earns him a spot in the top three for the biggest WhoScored rating decrease post-World Cup. His 11 goals this season puts him on par with the likes of Miguel Almiron and Mohamed Salah, but only two of those have been scored since returning from Qatar. He netted twice for Serbia at the World Cup, but they crashed out in the group stages, with Brazil and Switzerland progressing. His decrease from 7.42 to 6.78 highlights how he might have not shaken off any World Cup hangover.
2. Wilfried Zaha - Crystal Palace
Considering Palace’s attacking drop off, it is unsurprising to see another Eagles attacker in the form of Wilfred Zaha feature, with the Ivorian enduring a huge drop in WhoScored rating following the World Cup. Zaha had a respectable 7.11 WhoScored rating before the Premier League paused for Qatar 2022, but has since registered a 6.39 rating. Zaha has picked up as many yellow cards as he has returned goal contributions (1) since the World Cup, and looks well out of form. The departure of Patrick Vieira and arrival of Roy Hodgson might spur Zaha back into life for the remainder of the campaign, but he is well short of his 15 goal contributions from last season, finding the net 14 times.
1. Erling Haaland - Manchester City
What might come as a shock is Erling Haaland’s placement in first for the biggest rating decrease post-World Cup. His rating of 7.90 pre-World Cup ranked first in the division, which wasn't a shock given his 18 goals and three assists before the Premier League paused. Considering Norway failed to qualify for the World Cup, many felt Haaland would use this time to recuperate and take advantage of the tired defenders who went to Qatar. However, this hasn't been the case, and while he has still been effective in the final, he has not hit the same heights that he did before the World Cup. 10 league goals is still an impressive tally, which leaves him on 28 league goals from his 26 league games played, but he has blanked in six league gamces post-Qatar 2022, which explains a significant dip.
