Arda Güler just did what every Turkish football fan has been waiting a generation to see. The 21-year-old Real Madrid midfielder scored his first World Cup goal for Turkey at the 2026 tournament, punctuating a moment that carries weight far beyond the pitch.
Turkey hadn’t even been at a World Cup since 2002. That’s 24 years of waiting. The last time Turkish supporters watched their team compete on this stage, the squad finished third, and Güler was negative three years old.
From Fenerbahçe to the world’s biggest stage
Güler signed a six-year contract with Real Madrid from Fenerbahçe in July 2023, making the leap from Istanbul to the Bernabéu while still a teenager.
Turkey named him to its 26-man 2026 World Cup squad on June 2, 2026.
