VM 2026 - Sextondelsfinal: Sydafrika - Kanada 28/6 21:00

At the last World Cup Bombito was 22, watching Canada on TV from his college campus. Now he is Canada’s rock at the back, the key who allows Jesse Marsch to play his high-pressing system. A late bloomer, Bombito was a winger until a coach suggested his pace, technique and physicality would make him a top central defender. Thanks to that positional shift he had a rapid rise to MLS, earning a first Canada call-up in 2023. His displays at the 2024 Copa América earned him a big move to Ligue 1 with Nice. “I chose Nice because of the human factor,” Bombito said last year. “You know, many top clubs look for a player who performs well. But they don't care about their mentality, their background, or what their family does. But I felt like the organisation here focused on who I am … This has all happened very quickly for me, I started playing at professional level when I was 23 … this club knows it will take time for me to adapt. I am very proud of my choice.” Bombito, who wears the No 64 in tribute to the Montreal-area bus he used to take to school, is currently recovering from a tibia fracture sustained in October. Marsch, who says the centre-back “can be our best player and is a future captain of this team”, is hoping he can win his fitness race to play at the World Cup.