Rating every Celtic player’s World Cup campaign, as Hoops stars exit before the quarter-finals

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Many people enjoyed the United States of America getting knocked out of the 2026 World Cup by Belgium because of the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun’s red card.

But it also meant that Celtic’s last-man standing at the World Cup – Auston Trusty – would bow out before the quarter-finals.

Alistair Johnston and Trusty went the furthest, reaching the last-16, while there were painful group stage exits for Sebastian Tounekti, Hyunjun Yang, Kieran Tierney and Anthony Ralston.

Now that every Celtic player is out of the World Cup, 67 Hail Hail has rated each one of their campaigns on world football’s biggest stage, based on performances and minutes on the field.

• READ MORE: Celtic have dodged a bullet in Roberto Martinez’s dreadful football

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Sebastian Tounekti of Tunisia, 0/10

A World Cup to forget for the Celtic winger. Not only were Tunisia booted out of the group stages, but it could be argued that they were the worst team at the tournament.

Sabri Lamouchi was sacked after one game; they conceded 12 goals, scored two, and picked up zero points.

All while Tounekti managed just one start and played 83 minutes across three games. A nightmare of nightmares.

Hyunjun Yang of South Korea, 0/10

Another player who had a tournament to forget, and another player who struggled for minutes.

South Korea’s exit was so brutal that their coach, Hong Myung-bo, is now seemingly being tasked to attend a parliamentary hearing into their group stage exit.

Despite Hyunjun Yang’s strong end to the season with Celtic, he only played 19 minutes for a team that picked up three points.

Kieran Tierney and Anthony Ralston of Scotland, 5/10 and 0/10

It was heartbreak for Scotland on their return to the world stage. Steve Clarke resigned after their group stage exit, with Tierney starting against Morocco and producing a strong display off the bench against Brazil.

As for Ralston, he just managed nine minutes on the pitch, as you wonder why he was picked in the first place.

Benjamin Nygren of Sweden, 5/10

A mixed World Cup for Celtic’s top scorer Benjamin Nygren.

It all started like a house on fire because Sweden won their opening match 5-1 against Tunisia, but were beaten by the same scoreline at the hands of the Netherlands.

Nygren started both matches and was then shunted to the bench by Graham Potter for the rest of the tournament.

Alistair Johnston of Canada, 7/10

Celtic’s best-performing player at this summer’s World Cup, so much so that you worry that interest in his services has increased.

Johnston got plaudits for his displays, as Canada reached the knockout rounds for the first time in their history.

Yes, it was a bitter end as a vibrant Morocco team outclassed them. But Johnston has helped inspire a generation.

Auston Trusty, 4/10

Another player who was playing at the World Cup on home soil. Trusty didn’t just live the dream of competing on such a stage; he also managed to score a goal.

Unfortunately for him, he only managed one start under Mauricio Pochettino, the defeat to Turkey, as he watched USMNT get defensively dismantled by a vibrant Belgium.

Daizen Maeda, 6/10

Daizen Maeda bagged himself another World Cup goal. Just like many of his Celtic teammates at the World Cup, he was probably disappointed that he didn’t earn more minutes.

But Maeda was lauded by Ange Postecoglou for his first-half display against Brazil, but it wasn’t enough for him to help Japan past the first phase of the knockouts.