Borna Sosa

World Cup 2026 Analysis

Borna Sosa: World Cup 2026 Exclusion and Club Performance Overview

Croatian left-back Borna Sosa, aged 28 (born January 20, 1998), has faced a significant setback in his international career, being excluded from Croatia's final 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026. This comes on the back of a season with Crystal Palace where his playing time has been limited, despite the club securing two major trophies.

Current Form & Season Performance

Borna Sosa joined Crystal Palace in July 2025 on a three-year contract after previous stints with Ajax and a loan spell at Torino. In the current 2025/2026 Premier League season, Sosa has made 7 appearances, totaling 99 minutes on the pitch, recording 0 goals and 0 assists. His average FotMob rating stands at 6.32, and he has received one yellow card in the league.

Across all competitions for Crystal Palace this season, Sosa has accumulated 18 appearances, but without any goals or assists. His involvement in recent matches has been sporadic; for instance, he played 45 minutes against Liverpool on April 25, 2026, receiving a yellow card, and was an unused substitute in a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano on May 27, 2026. He has also been sidelined with a muscle complaint and other unspecified injuries in May 2026.

Despite his limited individual statistical output, Sosa has been part of a successful Crystal Palace side this season, winning both the Conference League and the Community Shield in 2025/2026. He notably made his debut for the club in the Community Shield, scoring in a penalty shootout that saw Crystal Palace lift the trophy.

World Cup 2026 Prospects

In a significant development, Borna Sosa has not been included in Zlatko Dalić's final 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026. This exclusion is a notable blow for the 28-year-old, who was a regular fixture in Croatia's squad for the 2022 World Cup.

His absence from the national team roster suggests that his limited playing time and lack of attacking contributions at Crystal Palace this season, potentially coupled with lingering injury concerns, have impacted his standing with the national team coach. Croatia will instead rely on other defensive options, with Josko Gvardiol expected to feature at full-back.

Playing Style & Tactical Analysis

Borna Sosa is primarily known as a left-back or left wing-back, comfortable operating in both a back four and a more advanced wing-back role. His attacking prowess is his most significant strength, particularly his exceptional ability to deliver precise and dangerous crosses. He possesses good speed and a strong left foot, which he utilizes effectively for passing, shooting, free kicks, and corners. Analysts have even compared his crossing ability to that of David Beckham. Additional strengths noted include his ability to hold onto the ball, ball interception, and tackling.

However, Sosa has openly acknowledged that defending has historically been a weakness in his game. This defensive aspect was also highlighted during the 2022 World Cup, where his defensive ability was described as "terrible" with "serious flaws in the aggressive part," which reportedly hampered Croatia's left-sided attack. This potential imbalance between his offensive and defensive contributions might be a factor in his recent national team omission.

Key Stats & Milestones

• Age: 28 (born January 20, 1998)
• Current Club: Crystal Palace
• 2025/2026 Club Performance (Premier League):
• Appearances: 7
• Minutes: 99
• Goals: 0
• Assists: 0
• Yellow Cards: 1
• Average FotMob Rating: 6.32
• 2025/2026 Club Trophies with Crystal Palace: Conference League, Community Shield
• International Caps for Croatia: 26 (as of November 18, 2024; some sources state 27)
• International Goals for Croatia: 2
• FIFA World Cup 2022: Participated in 5 out of 7 matches as Croatia secured a third-place finish.
• Career Club Highlights:
• Won 1. HNL (Croatian League) multiple times and Croatian Cup multiple times with Dinamo Zagreb.
• Recorded 9 assists in 26 league games during the 2020-21 Bundesliga season with VfB Stuttgart.

Expert Predictions

The most impactful "expert prediction" for Borna Sosa regarding the 2026 World Cup has unfortunately materialized as his exclusion from the Croatian squad. While previous analyses highlighted his potential and crossing ability, his limited minutes and lack of attacking output at Crystal Palace this season, coupled with recent injury struggles, appear to have sealed his fate for this tournament. Croatian manager Zlatko Dalić has opted for other defensive options, with figures like Josko Gvardiol expected to fill full-back roles. This indicates a strategic decision, possibly favoring players with more consistent recent form or a stronger defensive profile.