Red-hot United ace opens up on his biggest regret following World Cup heartbreak

Manchester United forward Amad bowed out of the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday, 30 June, but not before reminding football aficionados of his immense talent. The Ivorian was in the starting XI for Tuesday’s Round of 32 tie against Norway at the Dallas Stadium. It was the Vikings who took the lead through Antonio Nusa in the 39th minute. However, Amad brought his team back into the game with a stunning solo effort, which will surely be a contender for goal of the tournament. Following a one-two with Nicolas Pepe, the 23 year old danced through the Norway backline and unleashed a superb strike to make it 1-1 in the 74th minute. Unfortunately, Erling Haaland converted a simple tap-in in the 86th minute to secure a hard-fought victory and break Ivorian hearts. Amad had an opportunity to equalise late in the game, but his free-kick was saved well by Orjan Nyland. Amad’s one regret Speaking after the defeat, Amad revealed his one regret from the game. He said: “Norway are a very good team, with a lot of quality, and if you leave a player like Haaland alone in a game like this, in a moment like this, it’s very difficult.” “That’s our biggest regret. If you give him a little bit of space, he’ll punish you, and that’s exactly what happened today. Erling doesn’t need any introduction, everyone knows the kind of player he is, he’s a world-class player. He’s a top-quality footballer and a great player.” “He found the space, he scored, and they won. He’s having a fantastic World Cup so far, and I wish him and Norway all the very best.” However, Amad also had a quick message for club team-mate Matheus Cunha, who is likely to be in the starting XI when Brazil face Norway in the Round of 16. The Ivorian concluded: “But I just want to wish Brazil the best of luck, especially my friend Matheus Cunha. I hope he scores and helps Brazil go even further in the tournament.” United will be delighted with Amad’s World Cup Amad is coming off a mixed campaign with United, although it was enough to earn him a place at the World Cup. The Ivorian showed more promise as a wing-back under former head coach Ruben Amorim than as a forward under the Portuguese’s replacement, Michael Carrick. Amad finished the campaign with two goals and four assists in 33 appearances across all competitions. Amad Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League3227242-2,346′ EFL Cup11—-82′ FA Cup——- Total3328242-2,428′ Source: Transfermarkt. However, the United star has been outstanding at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Amad came off the bench in the first game against Ecuador and marked his debut in the tournament by scoring in the 1-0 win. That helped him retain his place in the starting XI, and his goal on Tuesday further signified the immense talent United have in their hands. Final Thoughts A previous report relayed by The Peoples Person suggests that the Red Devils are unwilling to consider Amad’s departure this summer, and that already looks like a wise decision. The World Cup experience is likely to be a huge boost to the Ivorian’s development, so fans can expect fireworks from him next season. Featured image Michael Reaves/Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.