Fifa World Cup: Five incredible breakout stars of the group stage

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe grabbed plenty of headlines as their countries sailed through the group stage of the World Cup, but many others have also risen to the occasion in Qatar.

AFP Sport looks at five breakout stars from the first round of the tournament.

Tyler Adams

The Leeds midfielder exuded calm both on and off the pitch as the United States booked a spot in the last 16 with a tense 1-0 win over Iran in their final match.

Named captain just before the World Cup, the 23-year-old led by example at the heart of a youthful midfield — playing alongside Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah -- which more than held its own against England and dominated Wales. Adams also demonstrated remarkable maturity and composure as he deftly handled being peppered with questions unrelated to football ahead of the politically-charged Iran game. His performances in Qatar have reportedly caught the eye of some of Europe's biggest clubs.

Cody Gakpo

The Dutch forward was the only player to score in all three group games — carrying over his red-hot form for PSV Eindhoven onto the biggest stage.

Gakpo's header in the Netherlands' opening match against Senegal broke the deadlock later on, leading to a 2-0 victory. He drilled the Dutch ahead with a fierce left-footed drive against Ecuador in a 1-1 draw and again set the Oranje on their way with another tidy finish on his right, as they cantered to a 2-0 win over Qatar.

"He has everything it takes to become a star," said Netherlands coach Louis Van Gaal. It is surely only a matter of time before he is prised away from his boyhood club, with Manchester United a possible destination.

Enzo Fernández

Fernández had never started a game for Argentina before the World Cup, but his performances in Qatar have made him a vital part of Lionel Scaloni's side.

The 21-year-old midfielder came off the bench to score a wonder strike against Mexico, then created his team's second goal after making his first start in their 2-0 win over Poland.

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Fernández joined Benfica from River Plate in the summer, and quickly turned heads, helping his new club top their group in the Champions League. His goal against Mexico made him Argentina's second-youngest goalscorer at the World Cup — after Lionel Messi.