LOS ANGELES – While it has become challenging for weeks now to get a read on what Alphonso Davies’ World Cup will look like, Saturday presented the clearest signs to date.The Canada and Bayern Munich star took part in an official pre-match press conference alongside Canada head coach Jesse Marsch, a role generally reserved for starters or key players.“Now that we have Alphonso back and ready to perform,” Marsch said, “it’s a big boost for the team.”The succinctness and seriousness in Marsch’s tone felt like an effort to move past his use of Davies’ status as a “decoy” against Switzerland — his potential participation was talked up pre-game — a move that was within his right but one that hasn’t aged all that well.Before Canada’s first ever knockout round match in the World Cup, on Sunday against South Africa in Los Angeles, Marsch kept a tight lid on the details of Davies’ availability.“I’m not confirming any minutes, starts, subs,” Marsch said. “He’s available to play.”Jesse Marsch confirmed that Davies is ready to play against South Africa (Harry How/Getty Images)It’s promising that Marsch and Davies are not only treating the hours before the match with the concentrated tone it deserves, but also that Marsch seems intent on playing Davies.“Alphonso is more than ready for tomorrow,” Marsch said.Canada’s Round of 32 match is, once again, the most important match in Canadian men’s soccer history. No story heading into the game will be bigger than how Davies is used and how he plays. Not using Davies in the second half of Canada’s loss against Switzerland is a decision that could be questioned for long after the World Cup: had the team’s “best player” — those are Marsch’s words — entered the match, Davies could have helped Canada’s push to get a draw and stay in Canada for the knockout round.Instead, Canada have had just three days off between games and a three-hour flight. Not optimal for a team nursing their fair share of injuries.Marsch appears to want to hit the gas pedal with Davies against South Africa. The time is right. Waiting any longer on playing Davies, especially after Marsch stated Davies wanted to play against Switzerland but he held him out of the lineup, would be the kind of decision that could have cataclysmic reverberations through the program.If Davies truly is Canada’s best player, then he also bears the burden of responsibility in Canada’s biggest games. Canada have a better chance to win their first ever knockout round game if their best player plays like it.And Davies can change the narrative growing around him — as far as international soccer is concerned — in the process.Davies’ connection to the national team has felt tenuous for too long. Part of that tenuous connection is driven by injuries: Davies will return to the scene of where he suffered an ACL tear in March 2025 with Canada. He has since suffered multiple other injuries, including a recent hamstring injury and has not played for Canada since March 2025.Davies has not played for Canada since March 2025 (Michael Owens/Getty Images)Part of that tenuous connection is driven by results: Davies has not had a defining performance that has led to a Canada win in too long.Davies truly arrived with the national team in October 2019, when his Nations League qualifying goal helped Canada beat the United States in a competitive game for the first time in 34 years. Davies’ electric run and goal against Panama in 2021 in World Cup qualifying made it to the highlight reels for Canada, as did his performance again against Panama in 2023 when Davies propelled Canada to the Nations League Finals.What’s missing? A defining, game-changing performance in a win against a team outside of Concacaf.Yes, Davies might be remembered for scoring Canada’s first-ever goal in a men’s World Cup in 2022. And what a goal it was: for a moment, a result against an incredible Croatia side seemed possible, until questionable tactical set-up by former head coach John Herdman became Canada’s undoing.That World Cup goal now feels far away. As of late, the tenor around Davies and Canada has changed.Now, Canada is not solely dependent on Davies for results. The remarkable performances through the World Cup from Luc de Fougerolles, Alistair Johnston, Nathan Saliba, Cyle Larin among others are a reminder of that.Davies was not a defining player in Canada’s Copa America quarter-final win over Venezuela in 2024. Davies was not present for Canada’s strong run through their 2025 friendlies, including an impressive draw against Colombia. It was through those games in 2025 that Canada’s World Cup roster and approach took shape. Davies wasn’t there. That’s no fault of his, given that he was out with a devastating ACL injury.Lately, Davies has been seen more often with Matthias Blakenburg, an independent specialist from Germany who has trained with Davies, often away from the Canadian team, more than he has been seen training with his Canadian teammates.“At the beginning of the injury, Canada and Bayern sat down together and made a plan, how it was going to look over the next few weeks and in the tournament,” Davies said. “And we’ve executed it perfectly. There’s only been good communication with both sides.”It has remained consistently unclear whether he is available to play for Canada and who exactly is making the call over whether he can play. He is seen more in advertisements on television than on the pitch. Before Saturday, he sometimes shirked responsibilities with the media. That’s his right, of course.It’s unfortunate, given his star qualities and how many players in Canada undoubtedly look up to him.Luckily for Davies, he’s still one of the best players in his position in the world. And that tenor can change, once again.Davies can change both the narrative around him and Canada’s future with the kind of performance he’s shown dozens of times before with Bayern Munich.“We talk about from a physical perspective, getting stronger as the tournament goes on,” Marsch said. “Now that we have Alphonso back and ready to perform, it’s a big moment for the team. A big boost for the team.”But any team should be better with their most talented player in a must-win game. Whether Davies can be that player by stepping into a squad he has not captained for over a year and making the most of his role within Marsch’s system? Canada’s result in their first ever World Cup knockout round game could depend on it.Yes, Davies has not played in nearly two months. Nor has he played for Canada in almost a year-and-a-half.But he is a special player. Special players can do special things. Canada has been waiting to see Davies do those kinds of things for awhile now.Davies remains one of the best left backs in the world. Even the most hardened doubters should not write him off whatever. He can elevate the entire Canadian side with a dynamic, game-changing performance. Davies could blow away South African defenders with his pace and power. He can trip them up with his dribbling and crossing abilities. Davies can overwhelm the entire South African team with his shooting ability which, it needs to be said, has looked outstanding in training recently.While there might be questions about Davies in Canada, he can still be a brilliant player for Canada in a brilliant, historic result for the country.And Davies knows it, too.“I remember being a 17, 18-year-old kid going to Russia to speak to the FIFA Congress about bringing the World Cup (to Canada) and seeing it come through, it’s something special,” Davies said. “The first time I stepped on the pitch at BMO Field in Toronto, it was so surreal because I’ve never seen so many Canadians at a football match before. It was honestly truly amazing. It brought tears to my eyes because this is something that’s going to elevate the sport in the country.”Additional reporting: Tom Bogert