By the time the World Cup finishes six weeks from now, we will be assessing the breakout stars of the tournament, the players that have used the biggest stage in the game to elevate their status.
There are a couple of players who go up a gear at every World Cup, either relatively unknowns shooting onto the world stage or promising talents rising to the occasion.
Nobody would describe Jude Bellingham as an unknown right now, but the 19-year-old has been one of the best midfielders in the world so far this season. If it wasn't for the fact England look so out of form, there's an argument that he could emerge as the player of the tournament.
READ MORE: What Ten Hag told United fans at Carrington
His international career went up a level with an excellent performance in the 3-3 Nations League draw with Germany in September, but he will go to Qatar playing as well as he's ever done, having stored nine goals from midfield for Borussia Dortmund this season.
If he gets the freedom in England's midfield like he has done in Dortmund's this season then he could take the tournament by storm, but whether he shines or not in Qatar, he will still be Europe's most in-demand footballer in the summer of 2023.
It is inevitable he will leave Borussia Dortmund then and the reality is he would improve every midfield in the Premier League's 'big six' and the clubs that are likely to be able to afford him - Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United - would almost certainly want him, as would Real Madrid.
That's going to drive the price up to over £100million, but he will be an incredible signing for whoever lands him, as close to a surefire midfield success story for a decade as you're going to get.
United will be watching developments closely. Bellingham has already had the tour of Carrington as a 17-year-old when he ended up choosing Dortmund despite United wheeling out Sir Alex Ferguson as part of the sales pitch. The price will have rocketed considerably now but Bellingham would remain an incredible signing.
But the reality for United is that he cannot be a priority in 2023. They spent £70million on Casemiro last summer, as well as signing Christian Eriksen, and the budget has to go elsewhere next year.
There is going to be a clear need to sign a striker then. Cristiano Ronaldo will be leaving the club in the summer, at the latest, and that will leave Anthony Martial as the only regular No. 9 in the squad. He's looked promising under Erik ten Hag, but has not stayed fit enough for long enough to prove he has the consistency.
United have to commit funds on a forward then next summer and it's going to take a considerable sum to sign one. Strikers are in short supply in the market these days, which makes the competition for them more intense, and United recruitment officials are already aware they are unlikely to get a clear run at whichever forward they decide to pursue.
So the majority of the budget is likely to be swallowed up on a forward, such as Napoli's Victor Osimhen, who has caught the eye in recent seasons and looks tailor-made to thrive in the Premier League and is on United's radar.
The club spent £225million last summer, but have already made it clear those were exceptional circumstances and it's a spending spree that is unlikely to be repeated.
"During the summer, we made a significant investment in the first-team squad with the permanent addition of five regular starters, including a balance of experienced international players and younger, emerging talent," said football director John Murtough in September.
"We also saw a higher-than-usual number of departures, and this was an equally important part of refreshing the squad after the disappointing 2021/22 season. We will continue to support Erik in ensuring he has players with the right quality and character to achieve success while ensuring that investment remains consistent with our commitment to financial sustainability.
"Overall, we are ahead of schedule in our recruitment plans as envisaged at the start of the summer, and we do not anticipate the same level of activity in future windows. As always, our planning focuses on the summer window."
The focus on the summer window has to be a striker, as tempting it will be to get involved in the Bellingham auction.
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