Lautaro, Pulisic, CDK & more: The biggest World Cup winners & losers in Serie A
Quick summary
An editorial analysis of which Serie A players have benefited or suffered from their post-World Cup form, highlighting stars like Lautaro Martinez, Christian Pulisic, and Charles De Ketelaere.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceWith the 2026 World Cup now in the books, it’s time to take stock of the Serie A players who shone on football’s biggest stage and those who returned home with their reputations dented.
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Serie A tops and flops at the 2026 World Cup Spain were crowned world champions after defeating Argentina in the final, completing a remarkable campaign which led to their second-ever triumph in the competition.
Click here to watch the first Football Italia LIVE YouTube show and join us for the next one! La Roja also etched its name into the history books by breaking Italy’s long-standing record for the longest unbeaten run in international football.
Lorenzo Bettoni and Giancarlo Rinaldi look back at the tournament through a Serie A lens, picking out the competition’s biggest winners and losers.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JULY 06: Charles De Ketelaere #17 of Belgium applauds fans after the 4-1 victory during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between USA and Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 06, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) From Lautaro Martínez, Christian Pulisic and Charles De Ketelaere to several other familiar faces from Italy’s top flight, they assess who enhanced their standing and who will be left reflecting on a disappointing World Cup.
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What happened
This feature piece examines the divergent fortunes of Serie A players in the aftermath of the FIFA World Cup. It identifies 'winners' whose club performances have surged after strong international tournaments, including Inter's Lautaro Martinez, and 'losers' whose form has dipped. Milan winger Christian Pulisic and Atalanta's Charles De Ketelaere are specifically profiled. The article assesses how World Cup fatigue, confidence boosts, and tactical adjustments have shaped performances in the second half of the Serie A season.
Chance analysis
World Cup aftermath effects are a real factor in second-half-of-season form curves, and this article is essentially a stock-take of “post-tournament bump or hangover” for Serie A-relevant names. For prediction systems, World. players flagged as “winners” are likely to carry elevated short-term output, while “losers” may be in a form trough. This is more of a season-state diagnostic than a discrete news event, useful for context rather than immediate match-lineup changes.
A 'winners and losers' diagnostic piece — no immediate match impact, but reframes form expectations for several Serie A players into the spring schedule.
Treat named post-World Cup 'winners' as having an offensive form boost in upcoming projections and 'losers' as carrying downside risk until form recovers.