Kobbie Mainoo has gone through the entire 2026 FIFA World Cup without playing a single minute. To many people, that may look disappointing. But maybe this is exactly what his career needs.
Not every setback is a sign that your career is going backwards. Sometimes, it is simply a lesson in patience.
One thing that has changed in modern football is the mentality of many young players. The moment they are not getting as many minutes as they think they deserve, they start looking for a move. They become frustrated, their relationship with the club begins to break down, and before long they are pushing for an exit.
More often than not, those moves do not work out the way they expected.
Maybe if Alejandro Garnacho had experienced what he is currently experiencing at Chelsea before leaving Manchester United, he would have handled things differently. Maybe he wouldn’t have been so eager to force his way out. Maybe he would have understood that every young player, no matter how talented, has to earn his place and wait for the right moment.
Football has always rewarded patience.
Take Paul Scholes, for example.
Today, we remember Scholes as one of the greatest midfielders in football history and one of Manchester United’s greatest-ever players. But his career did not begin that way.
When Scholes broke into the first team, Manchester United were packed with world-class players. He started out as a striker, but breaking into the team was almost impossible.
Sir Alex Ferguson had Eric Cantona leading the attack, with Mark Hughes alongside him. Later came Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole, arguably one of the best strike partnerships in Premier League history. In midfield, Roy Keane and Nicky Butt occupied the central positions, while Ryan Giggs and David Beckham dominated the wings. Jesper Blomqvist also competed for places.
Where exactly was Scholes supposed to fit in?
He spent long periods on the bench. He watched teammates of a similar age, like Ryan Giggs and David Beckham, establish themselves while he continued waiting for opportunities.
He could have demanded a transfer. He could have complained about not playing enough.
He did neither.
He stayed. He worked. He waited.
His breakthrough eventually came because of circumstances nobody could have predicted. Roy Keane suffered a long-term injury, forcing Ferguson to reshuffle his team. Scholes was moved into central midfield alongside Nicky Butt.
That positional change transformed his career.
What initially looked like bad luck turned into the opportunity that made him one of the finest midfielders English football has ever produced. Had Scholes left earlier because he wasn’t getting enough minutes as a striker, football might never have known the legendary midfielder we celebrate today.
That is why patience matters.
Not every season is meant to be your breakthrough season. Sometimes, your biggest progress happens while you are waiting.
Now look at Kobbie Mainoo.
Before Ruben Amorim left Manchester United, there were reports linking Mainoo with a move away from the club amid uncertainty over his role and contract situation. Today, he has spent the entire World Cup without stepping onto the pitch.
Some people will see that as a disaster.
I don’t.
Maybe this experience will remind him that careers are not built in six months or one season. Every great player goes through periods when they have to fight for opportunities. The players who enjoy long, successful careers are usually those who understand that patience is part of the journey.
Being left on the bench at one tournament does not define your career.
It does not mean England have given up on him.
It does not mean he will never become an important player for his country.
Who knows? Four years from now, Kobbie Mainoo could be the player England build their midfield around at the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Football changes quickly.
Today’s substitute can become tomorrow’s star.
The important thing is to stay ready when that opportunity finally comes.
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