DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF THE WORLD CUP

First it was Endrick, now it’s Kobbie Mainoo! The Manchester United midfielder has become the latest subject of viral World Cup memes after being left out by England coach Thomas Tuchel.

Following Real Madrid’s young star Endrick, who became an online sensation for spending most of his time on Brazil’s bench, Mainoo has now taken centre stage in the meme world. Tuchel’s decision to exclude the 21-year-old from the starting eleven at the 2026 World Cup has sparked a flood of online jokes, turning the midfielder into an unexpected internet celebrity.

Memes poke fun at Tuchel’s selection policy

Mainoo was a key figure for Manchester United in the previous season but is yet to make an appearance in the 2026 World Cup. Tuchel has opted to field Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice at the base of England’s midfield in all three group stage matches.

This has triggered a wave of online humour. Fans have filled social media with exaggerated depictions of what Tuchel would prefer doing rather than allowing Mainoo to play. In one viral meme, Tuchel was humorously shown wearing the England kit himself, implying he would rather take the field personally than give Mainoo a chance — a clear reflection of how frustrated fans feel about his selection decisions.

Supporters keep the jokes coming

The online mockery continued as supporters stayed fixated on the manager’s choices. Another trending post showed a man desperately trying to keep his balance to avoid falling into a river, with captions suggesting Tuchel would rather endure that ordeal than send Mainoo onto the pitch. In a separate viral clip, a man crawled across the ground to avoid wetting his shoes, with fans joking that Tuchel is going to extreme lengths not to play the youngster — a metaphor for how England fans believe the coach is treating the 21-year-old during the global tournament.

Endrick started the bench meme phenomenon

Mainoo’s situation echoes that of Real Madrid forward Endrick, who kicked off the trend earlier in the competition. The dynamic between Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti and the teenage prodigy became meme material after Endrick remained unused in Brazil’s match against Morocco. Social media users speculated about their relationship, but Endrick later defended his coach, saying: “He’s not going to do what’s best for Endrick, he’s not going to do what’s best for the fans, he’s going to do what’s best for the team.” Ancelotti eventually gave him minutes against Haiti and Scotland, stressing that the young forward will play a vital role and urging supporters to be patient with his progress.

Looking ahead for both players

England are gearing up to face DR Congo in the round of 32, while Brazil prepare to take on Japan in their first knockout fixture. Both Mainoo and Endrick will hope to feature as their national sides aim to progress deep into the tournament and challenge for the World Cup title.