Born on November 26, 1997, in Croydon, South London, to Congolese parents, Aaron Wan-Bissaka joined Manchester United in 2019 in a deal worth up to £50 million, making him one of the world’s most expensive defenders at the time. During that time,  Wan-Bissaka represented England at the U20 and U21 levels and was once considered a potential England senior international. In 2025, he formally switched his international allegiance to DR Congo, the country of his parents’ birth.

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Known for his slide tackles, recovery speed and ability to shut down elite wingers.

Former Liverpool defender and pundit Jamie Carragher once described him as the “best one-on-one full-back in the world.”  He became part of the DR Congo squad that qualified for the country’s first World Cup since 1974, ending a 52-year absence from the tournament.

The team’s game against Portugal ended in a draw that has very much earned DR Congo worldwide praise.

For DR Congo, the result felt bigger than a draw. Speaking after the match, Aaron Wan-Bissaka described it as a proud moment for a nation that had waited 52 years to celebrate a World Cup goal.“It’s been a long wait,” he said. “We gave it everything today. It’s a proud moment for the team and the country.”

The defender also had a message for young Africans dreaming of reaching football’s biggest stage: “Stay dreaming. Keep working hard, and you’ll get to where you want to be.”

Despite holding off one of the tournament favourites, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wan-Bissaka insisted the team’s focus remains internal.

After a nervous start against a Portugal side accustomed to football’s grandest stages, Wissa said DR Congo grew into the game and demonstrated the resilience that has defined their journey.

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Drawing on his Premier League experience, Wissa urged calm among his teammates, reminding them that one chance could change everything. “We showed that we can compete,” he said. “I’m really pleased with the players, the staff and the fans. We needed this.”

Here is the full interview with Aaron Wan-Bissaka right after his win.

This interview has been edited for clarity.

Amplify Africa: What do you have to say to the people of Congo for the First World Cup goal after 52 years?

Wan Bissaka: You know, it’s been a long wait. It’s a proud moment for the team and the country, of course. We ave it all today.

A.A: So, for an African boy who wishes to be on this stage, what do you say to him to encourage him?

Wan Bissaka: Stay dreaming, you know? If you just focus on it, keep working hard, you know. Just keep working hard and you’ll get to where you want to be. As I said, we’re here now, It’s been a long way and we’re all proud.

A.A: What’s the message that you guys sent today? What’s the message that you guys are sending to the rest of the teams?

Wan Bissaka: I think for us it’s just to focus on us. We know every game is not going to be easy. It’s going to be challenging but mainly I think we should work on ourselves and obviously today it showed, and I think we gained a lot of confidence from today’s result onto the next.

A.A: Are you happy with the result or do you think you guys were able to do it?

Wan Bissaka: Of course, we wanted to win. I think everyone wants to go into the game to win, but I think as a team, we gave it our all, and obviously, it came out as thae draw, so we’ve got to build on that.

A.A: How did you manage to nullify Cristiano today, which is never an easy task, is it? Are you surprised how well you can keep him quiet?

Wan Bissaka: As a defence, the back five itself, you know, we always aim to be solid and work together. So I think we went into this game with a plan.The aim was to obviously keep a team sheet, but we didn’t manage to, but we didn’t let so much goals in.

A.A: You managed to speak to him?

Wan Bissaka: Pardon?

A.A: Cristiano, did you manage to speak to him?

Wan Bissaka: No, I didn’t manage to speak to him, no

A.A: How was your experience with the hype of Cristiano and the stand?

Wan Bissaka: Pardon?

A.A: How do you experience all the hype around Cristiano on the stands and on TV?

Wan Bissaka: I don’t hear anything in the stands

A.A: Laser Focus

Wan Bissaka: Exactly