Denzel Dumfries fired up at the World Cup, linked with Chelsea and Manchester United, named after the Hollywood actor and even played for Aruba before moving to the Netherlands

Denzel Dumfries seems to come to life during the football tournament for the Netherlands.

The marauding right-back has been one of the stars of the World Cup so far, scoring a goal and assisting two in their last 16 win over the United States.

The performance was so good that manager Louis van Gaal even planted a kiss on his cheek during the post-match press conference.

This kind of performance is what we expect from the Inter Milan star.

Fans may recall he was one of the runaway Euro 2020 stars before the Netherlands’ early exit in the Round of 16.

Dumfries would have been a strong contender for Player of the Tournament honor had his team made it past the knockout stages.

The 25-year-old is back, this time at the World Cup, and the Dutch are getting serious about why they could be the next world champions.

Next up is a tough test in Argentina and Dumfries will need to be in top form and talkSPORT.com have taken a look at everything you need to know about the right-back.

Travel so far?

Dumfries was born in the Netherlands with his father from Aruba and his mother from Suriname.

He dreamed of becoming a professional footballer at an early age but was ridiculed for his lack of technical skills.

He told Voetbal International: “I knew that I would become a professional footballer and I told everyone: I am sure that I will be part of the Dutch national team. I knew they all thought it didn’t make sense. But I always proclaimed it. People who didn’t see it in me were limited in their vision.

“They only looked at me then, but they should have looked further. How can he evolve? I think everyone should see themselves that way, not just someone small. Look up, not down.”

Dumfries played for amateur teams until he was 18 when Sparta Rotterdam attacked him.

He had even played twice for Aruba in international friendlies, but decided to switch allegiance to the Netherlands.

At that time, he didn’t have a professional club, but such was his determination to make him a top footballer.

He helped Sparta get promoted to the Eredivisie in 2016 before moving to Heerenveen in 2017.

One season there, PSV signed him for £4.75m and he established himself as a regular starter, making 124 appearances over the next three seasons.

Dumfries’ debut for the Netherlands didn’t come until 2018 and his first goal for his country didn’t come until Euro 2020.

There was a lot of speculation about his next destination after this tournament, with Inter Milan eventually winning the race.

He won the Coppa Italia in his first season and has already played 65 times for the Italian giants.

Why is his name Denzel?

Dumfries was actually named after Hollywood actor Denzel Washington…a fact he spoke about after Holland won over the United States.

He said: “I have no connection with the United States but, yes, I was named after Denzel Washington and my parents gave me that name and I’m incredibly proud of it because Denzel Washington is a strong personality who gives his point of view on problems.”

What have they said of him?

Dutch legend Nigel de Jong has been full of praise for the defender at this World Cup.

He said: “By far, in the last two years he has been the best player in the Netherlands. I think of the path he has taken.

“Also another one of those players, like Virgil van Dijk, he wasn’t really aware when it came to his potential talent in the Dutch system. He did everything his way, and it shows.

“I like his determination. His dedication and his hunger. He’s always looking to improve and that’s one of the reasons why he’s a star player in this team.

“Defensively he is solid. But going forward he is also a great asset. The time he spends in the penalty area as a half-winger is incredible. The number of chances he creates for others. That says a lot about his game and his potential.

Who was he related to?

At this stage, it is probably quicker to list the teams that have not been linked to him…

Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea have all been linked in recent weeks when his fee is believed to be around £43million.

He recently admitted he was flattered by the Stamford Bridge links.

“Of course it’s a big compliment to be linked with Chelsea, but playing for Inter is also a big compliment,” Dumfries told The Athletic.

“Moving to Chelsea in January? I’m not focused on anything other than the national team and Inter.