Carrick Blocks Dalot Sale as Right-Back Shines in World Cup Stalemate | OneFootball

Manchester United right-back Diogo Dalot (27) made his first appearance of the 2026 World Cup as a second-half substitute in Portugal’s 0-0 draw with Colombia, delivering a composed 45-minute cameo that included 100% tackle success, 92% pass completion from 24 attempts, and a clean sheet contribution – numbers that will not go unnoticed at Carrington as United assess their options at right-back heading into the summer.

Portugal failed to secure the win they needed to top their group, but Dalot’s personal display was one of the few genuine positives to take from the stalemate. He replaced FC Barcelona’s João Cancelo in the 45th minute, stepping in with the match still goalless and Portugal requiring a result to exert pressure on the group standings.

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What the numbers show – a controlled, efficient performance in a tight match

Dalot’s defensive work was clean throughout. He won 100% of his tackles, recovered the ball once, made 1 clearance, and won 3 of 4 ground duels – the kind of disciplined, low-error display that suits a match where Portugal were primarily trying to manage the game without conceding. His crossing was also perfect on the limited attempts he made.

Dalot’s statistics from Portugal’s 0-0 draw with Colombia, 2026 World Cup group stage.

His xA of 0.09 from a half of football is modest but reflects the match’s limited attacking tempo. The 13 ball carries forward, with only 1 classified as progressive, tells a similar story – this was a display of reliability rather than adventure, which was precisely what the situation demanded.

The United angle – Carrick has made his position clear, and the numbers back him up

Dalot’s World Cup form lands at an interesting moment for his club career. He played 36 matches in all competitions for United last season, initially under Rúben Amorim and subsequently under Michael Carrick – a volume that underlines his status as first-choice right-back regardless of who is in the dugout.

Carrick has already told INEOS to block any sale of Dalot despite reported interest from European clubs

That stance makes sense when you consider the underlying numbers. His 55% tackles-won rate across 127 attempts in the league last season, combined with 85% passing accuracy from the middle third, show that the World Cup cameo figures are not a statistical outlier – they reflect a player operating at a consistently high level. His 93.5% passing accuracy at Euro 2024 pointed in the same direction.

Alas, the one area where questions persist is attacking output. A single goal in 36 appearances for United, and xA figures that rarely threaten to change games, mean that Dalot’s value remains primarily defensive and structural rather than as a creative force from the right flank. That is not necessarily a problem – it is a profile – but it will shape how United approach the position in any future recruitment cycle.

Carrick has publicly identified Dalot as a key player and a leader within the United group

What happens next

Portugal now face Croatia on Friday in Toronto, with a place in the last sixteen at stake. If Dalot has done enough to displace Cancelo in the starting XI, his World Cup minutes will increase significantly – and so will the scrutiny on whether he can add more to Portugal’s attacking play than he managed against Colombia.

Back at United, his summer will be shaped by how the club approach the right-back position in their ongoing rebuild. It remains to be seen whether Dalot’s consistent form for club and country is enough to keep any transfer speculation firmly dormant, or whether INEOS will still consider the position one that requires investment regardless of what he produces in Canada.