Player Ratings of Wales vs North Macedonia in Cardiff Thriller

Wales produced one of the most exciting nights in their recent history, beating North Macedonia 7-1 to reach a crucial home semi-final in the World Cup play-offs.

In the absence of Ethan Ampadu, Harry Wilson wore the captain’s armband and delivered an impeccable individual performance, scoring a hat-trick with two penalties and a sublime free-kick from 25 yards.

Manager Craig Bellamy, returning to the sidelines after his suspension, took a bold tactical gamble by deploying Josh Sheehan as the lone midfielder to accommodate a fluid ‘three number 10’ system. It produced spectacular results. David Brooks, Brennan Johnson, Daniel James and substitute Nathan Broadhead all joined Wilson on the scoresheet in a brutal performance that Bellamy described as ‘close to the perfect performance’.

What an achievement 🤩 pic.twitter.com/uH8olmOyyI
– Wales 🏴 (@cymru) November 18, 2025

Here’s how the players rated on a famous night in Cardiff:

Wales vs North Macedonia player ratings

Goalkeeper and defense

Karl Darlow – 6/10 Largely a spectator on a night when his teammates rioted, although he will be frustrated by the visitors’ only goal. An unfortunate slip on the slippery surface left him helpless before Bojan Miovski’s finish, but he regained his composure and made a smart stop before half-time.

Neco Williams – 8/10 A ruthless engine down the right flank. In reality, he was incredibly unlucky not to score when the goalkeeper tipped his powerful drive onto the post. Furthermore, his constant overlapping runs kept North Macedonia in their own half all evening.

Dylan Lawlor – 7/10 Another assured outing for the young defender. With Wales dominating possession, his defensive workload was light. However, he showed great maturity by stepping out with confidence and passing the ball.

Joe Rodon – 7/10 As a senior voice in defence, he organized the backline efficiently and ensured that no further mistakes occurred after the visitors’ consolation goal. Recently replaced by a well-deserved ovation.

Every day when I wake up I thank the Lord that I am from Wales pic.twitter.com/shRqNHM5V8
– Wales 🏴 (@cymru) November 18, 2025

Jay Dasilva – 8/10 A quietly brilliant performance. He provided excellent width on the left, stretching the play and linking up seamlessly with Brennan Johnson to tear apart the opposition’s right flank.

Midfield and attack

Josh Sheehan – 8/10 He was handed the tricky role of sole midfielder in a bold tactical shift and was fantastic. He managed to remove the danger efficiently and quickly moved the ball to the forward line. This provided the perfect platform for the attackers to flourish.

Liam Cullen – 8/10 In a deeper, hard-working role, he acted as the engine of the team. This allowed the star players to shine. His pressure was relentless. In fact, he repeatedly won the ball high up the pitch to support Wales’ attacks.

David Brooks – 9/10 Swung in from the right to cause chaos. He won the first penalty and scored the second goal with a sharp finish. He was at the heart of Wales’ best one-touch football, including a stunning pass in the build-up to Daniel James’ goal.

Harry Wilson – 10/10 (Player of the Match) A simply flawless performance from the replacement captain. He led by example with a clinical hat-trick. This included two quiet penalties and a sublime free-kick from 25 yards. Beyond the goals, his creativity and leadership were world-class.

THIS IS HARRY’S HOUSE 👑 pic.twitter.com/7RVTYqsRPo
– Wales 🏴 (@cymru) November 18, 2025

Brennan Johnson – 9/10 Electric. He terrified the defense with his direct running moves and scored the goal of the night, a stunning curling effort into the top corner from outside the penalty area that restored Wales’ two-goal cushion.

Daniel James – 9/10 Used his blistering pace to stretch the play, creating space for Wilson and Brooks. He got the goal his performance deserved in the second half, scoring home after a clever team move involving a Wilson back heel.

Substitutes

Sorba Thomas (for D. James, 64′) – 7/10 Maintained the intensity on the wing and ensured the tired Macedonian defense never let up.

Nathan Broadhead (for Brooks, 64′) – 7/10 Came hungry for a goal and got it, but tapped in late to seal the 7-1 scoreline.

Chris Mepham (for Rodon, 82′) – 6/10 A steady late cameo to see the match.

Ronan Kpakio (for N. Williams, 82′) – 6/10 Valuable minutes spent in a festive atmosphere.

Isaak Davies (for Cullen, 85′) – 7/10 A memorable debut. He immediately made an impression with a clever move to achieve Broadhead’s goal.

Player Ratings of Wales vs North Macedonia in Cardiff Thriller