Julio Enciso — Paraguay World Cup 2026 Squad

Career Highlights

Julio Enciso scored a 30-yard strike against Manchester City in May 2023 that was voted the Premier League Goal of the Season — the ball travelled at 107 km/h and curled away from a diving Stefan Ortega into the top corner. He was just 19. He scored 7 goals in 27 Premier League appearances in 2022-23, including goals against Chelsea and Arsenal in consecutive matches in April 2023. He has 6 goals in 28 caps for Paraguay, remarkable productivity for a 20-year-old forward still developing his game. He was named Brighton Young Player of the Year in 2023.

Club Career

Enciso came through Libertad in Paraguay and signed for Brighton for a reported €11.5 million in June 2022, just after turning 18. Roberto De Zerbi integrated him slowly — 11 substitute appearances before his first start in March 2023 — but once he started, his impact was immediate. He scored against Bournemouth, then Chelsea, then Arsenal in a burst that confirmed his ability. In pre-season 2023-24 he suffered a meniscus injury that required surgery and kept him out until December. He returned to make 12 appearances but struggled to regain the sharpness of his debut season. Brighton medical staff managed his minutes carefully, keeping him to 20-minute cameos for most of the campaign.

International Career & World Cup History

Enciso debuted for Paraguay at 17 against Colombia in October 2022 and scored within 20 minutes of his first start, a long-range strike against Chile in a friendly. He started 5 of Paraguay 6 World Cup qualifying matches in the 2026 cycle, scoring 3 goals including a decisive header against Venezuela that moved Paraguay closer to qualification. At 20 he has already accumulated 28 caps — no Paraguayan teenager has earned more. He was part of the squad that reached the 2023 South American Youth Championship semi-finals, scoring 4 goals.

World Cup 2026 Outlook

Enciso will be 20 at the tournament and has no fear — a quality that cannot be coached. His long-range shooting forces defenders to close him down at 25 metres, opening channels for Miguel Almiron and the Paraguay midfield to exploit. The concern is experience: he has played just 41 senior club matches, and World Cup opponents will target him physically. Manager Gustavo Alfaro must decide whether to start him or use him as an impact substitute who can stretch tiring defences. If he starts, his partnership with Almicon in Paraguay front press could disrupt even the most composed back lines. A goal from 30 metres at a World Cup would not surprise anyone who has watched him.