Moises Caicedo is undoubtedly a world class holding midfielder but how good is he when asked to play further forward?
Well, judging by his most recent performance for Ecuador at the 2026 World Cup, very good.
Despite naming a strong 26-man squad, Ecuador haven't had a good World Cup campaign so far.
Even though they have been placed in a favourable group, the South Americans lost their opener 1-0 against Ivory Coast before struggling to a 0-0 draw against underdogs Curacao.
Chelsea's Caicedo can hold his head up high, though because despite his team failing to breach Curacao's defence, the Blues' number 25 was sensational.
Moises Caicedo superb in more advanced midfield position for Ecuador
The most interesting thing about Caicedo's latest showing was the fact Sebastian Beccacece named him in a much more attacking midfield role; something Chelsea fans have very rarely seen since he joined the club from Brighton in 2023.
The 24-year-old is best known for his ability to protect the back line and dictate play from deep, but that wasn't what he was asked to do for his country.
As per performance data from stats giants Sofascore, Caicedo, despite being played in a relatively unfamilar position, was the best player on the pitch on Sunday.
Moises Caicedo vs. Curacao | Stat |
|---|---|
Key Passes | 4 |
Big Chances Created | 1 |
Crosses (Accurate) | 5 (3) |
Passing Accuracy | 89% |
Shots on Target | 1 |
The Chelsea midfielder recorded multiple key passes — one of which should have been converted — put in a trio of successful crosses, recorded an 89 per cent pass completion and even had a shot on target himself.
Food for thought for Xabi Alonso
Although Caicedo has established himself as a traditional defensive midfield, Xabi Alonso, who will take charge from July 1, might consider pushing him further forward after what he's recently witnessed.
Clearly able to impact a game closer to his opponent's goal, Caicedo's new found attacking prowess is perhaps one of the most exciting things Chelsea supporters have seen at this summer's tournament so far.
Of course, whatever Alonso decides to do with Caicedo will almost-entirely depends on whether or not Enzo Fernandez remains a Chelsea player next season.
The Argentine's partnership with Caicedo has become the bedrock to Chelsea's first team in recent years, but he is heavily linked with a summer transfer to Real Madrid.
Should the former Benfica playmaker move on, Alonso will be expected to identify a direct replacement, and that could come at the expense of experimenting with Caicedo, despite his latest showing he's obviously capable of a lot more.
During his time at Stamford Bridge, Caicedo, who has seven years left on his contract, has directly contributed to 19 goals in 148 games in all competitions.
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