Roundup: Who is Christ Inao Oulai, the new star shining in the World Cup

World Cup 2026 has another new face shining bright: Christ Inao Oulai, a 20-year-old midfielder from Ivory Coast. It has created a special identity in the world of sports with its excellent performance. Oulai was born in Yopogon, Abidjan, where he developed his knowledge by playing with many in his youth days. At the age of 12, he enrolled at the JMG Academy, which was founded by John-Marc Gillo, with the aim of giving African youth a different opportunity. Oulai recalls the difficulties of his early days, "One has to earn money to buy sports shoes. First we play barefoot, then we get sports shoes and then football shoes."

In the first phase of his entry into European clubs, Oulai succeeded in Bastia in 2024, then joined Trabzonspor. In Turkey, he proved his effort and personality, attracting the attention of several scouts. His World Cup performances, especially against Germany, made his name known to many.

Trabzonspor bought him for 5.5 million euros, while his price has now reached close to 50 million euros. There is also interest from several clubs in the Premier League, Bundesliga and Barcelona. It appears that European football has found a new star.