Jhon Arias key to Colombia's win over Ghana at World Cup

Midfielder Jhon Arias scored the only goal in Colombia's 1‑0 victory over Ghana on 3 July, securing the South American side's place in the round of 16. Playing for Palmeiras, Arias shifted between defensive‑midfield and a false‑wing role, illustrating the team's tactical flexibility.

Spanish daily *AS* ranked Arias ninth in its top‑10 list of the tournament's most influential players, assigning him an 86.6 performance rating. He was noted for the third‑highest number of ball recoveries inside the opponent’s final third, matching England’s Declan Rice and trailing only Germany’s Florian Wirtz. The analysis highlighted his creation of chances, successful passes in the attacking third and runs of at least eight metres toward the goal.

Colombia will next face Switzerland in the knockout stage, with the match set for 7 July.