As they approached the 1954 World Cup, Hungary’s national team was the indisputable favorite to take home the title. Their reputation was built on an impressive record, having netted 119 goals over an unbeaten stretch of 28 matches prior to the tournament. This run included a remarkable 6-3 victory over England at Wembley, which left 105,000 fans in shock. Dubbed the ‘Mighty Magyars,’ Hungary effortlessly advanced to the final, having dispatched formidable opponents like Brazil and the reigning champions, Uruguay, along the way.

Leading the charge was the legendary Ferenc Puskas, who helped propel Hungary to a quick 2-0 lead within the first eight minutes of the final game against West Germany—a team Hungary had previously defeated 8-3 during the group stage. It seemed inevitable that the Jules Rimet trophy would soon be en route to Budapest.

However, in what would be remembered as ‘The Miracle of Bern,’ West Germany mounted a stunning comeback to claim a 3-2 victory, leaving Hungary stunned and their footballing legacy forever altered. From that moment, Hungarian football began a slow descent from its once-lofty heights.

In contemporary football, Dominik Szoboszlai has emerged as a standout player, showcasing versatility and skill in various roles—be it as a right-back, a goal-scoring midfielder, a deep-lying No. 6, or a winger. Meanwhile, Milos Kerkez has also started to make his mark following a sluggish start, signaling a promising future.

While Szoboszlai and Kerkez are not the first Hungarians to grace English football—predecessors like Zoltan Gera and goalkeepers Adam Bogdan and Gabor Kiraly have paved the way—their performance at Liverpool is bringing Hungary unprecedented recognition on the global stage.

Liverpool’s Hungarian midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai (centre) has been in sensational form all season while his compatriot Milos Kerkez has improved after a sticky start  

‘Agent Szoboszlai’ apparently played a key role in persuading Kerkez to join Liverpool from Bournemouth last summer

“In Hungary, we are in dreamland,” shares Adam Bogdan, a former Liverpool goalkeeper who now provides insights as a pundit. He notes that a bar in Budapest often fills with fans clad in Liverpool jerseys, a testament to the growing excitement and national pride surrounding these Hungarian stars, as reported by Daily Mail Sport.

Ferencvaros are the best-supported team in Hungary but many fans of the domestic champions also follow Liverpool because of their Anfield ties. Midfielder Naby Keita, a former cult hero at the Reds, plays for Ferencvaros, who are managed by former Liverpool striker Robbie Keane. 

The Hungarian connection at Anfield is not limited to Szoboszlai and Kerkez, mind. Goalkeeper Armin Pecsi, who shares an agent with Szoboszlai, was recruited this summer from Puskas Academia, while 16-year-old Erik Farkas is a name to remember. The midfielder, who is also eligible for England, is a talented prospect. 

Szoboszlai and Kerkez look set to form a key part of the Liverpool team for years to come. Although fans may not want to hear it, the days of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Alisson, Andy Robertson and Co will not go on for ever. A new core is needed. 

Szoboszlai, though he has never publicly admitted it, has his eye on the captain’s armband in the future. Now 25, the midfielder has made a conscious effort this season to become more of a leader. He has been skipper of Hungary since the tender age of 22. 

‘(He is) a player who I think can still make the next step in terms of being a leader for this team,’ Virgil van Dijk, the current captain, said this week. ‘It starts by leading by example and that’s something he has done so far this season. But also everything around it, there is still progress to be made and that’s a good thing in my opinion so hopefully he will be very important for years to come at Liverpool.’ 

Szoboszlai is the standard-bearer this term and it is fair to say that his stellar performances have been let down by sub-par displays from his team-mates. Take the Manchester City defeat recently, for example: his free-kick was stunning enough to win any game – but it ended in a loss. 

When Florian Wirtz was signed, there were no guarantees that Szoboszlai would be in the best XI. Most observers would have had the new German in front of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, both imperious last season. But Szoboszlai has been better than all three of them. 

Daily Mail Sport sat down with Szoboszlai in Singapore not long after his arrival in the summer of 2023 and the former RB Leipzig man, clean-shaven and maybe a little nervous, told us all how he idolised Steven Gerrard growing up and has a tattoo in honour of him.

Some observers thought the signing of Florian Wirtz (right) would put Szoboszlai’s place in the team under threat

Szoboszlai’s idol growing up was Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard. ‘To wear his No8 is a pleasure,’ says the Hungarian

‘When I was a young boy I watched a lot of games from a lot of teams, and to wear his No 8 is a pleasure,’ he said at the time. ‘I was just a teenager and I liked the message the tattoo gave me (“God gives you talent, but if you don’t work hard and sacrifice a lot, it is nothing”). So I had a bet with my dad.’ 

A 17-year-old Szoboszlai was told by his father, Zsolt, that he would let him get the tattoo – you needed parental consent at that age – if he broke a running test record at Red Bull Salzburg. Given what we know about running machine Szoboszlai, it is no surprise he did just that. 

Zsolt, a former player himself in Hungary, was crucial to his son’s development: one regular drill was a slalom course around water bottles – if one fell over, he had to start again. He played football with golf balls in his hands so he would not be tempted to foul opponents. 

Szoboszlai left his Playstation in Leipzig when moving over to England and instead spends lots of time practising his ‘knuckle-ball’ free-kicks. Liverpool scouts knew he could do it but only recently has he started to score the sort of strikes that made his highlight reel a Gerrard-esque watch. Based on this season there is no reason why Szoboszlai cannot come close to emulating his idol. 

He lives a stone’s throw from Erling Haaland and the two are good pals, despite their tussle at Anfield a fortnight ago. But Kerkez is probably his best mate and ‘Agent Szoboszlai’, as he was jokingly nicknamed, was crucial in tempting the Serbian-born Hungarian international over to Liverpool this summer. Both Manchester clubs had also posted an interest in the then-Bournemouth left back. 

Kerkez also has a strong father behind him and Sebastijan is often on taxi duty for training. A keen swimmer and fisherman, 22-year-old Kerkez sacrificed a lot in his youth career, leaving Serbia for the youth teams of Rapid Vienna and AC Milan, scouted by Paolo Maldini.    

‘He is so eager and self-assured that he belongs at the top,’ says Bogdan. ‘When he first came into the national team, I heard stories about him… he brought the place alive, lots of jokes, and made it fun to be there. My friend at AZ Alkmaar absolutely adored him, the work-rate, the effort. 

‘At his local team in Hungary, Gyor, they tell me he was like a “young horse”, kicking everybody but with sheer commitment and liveliness. It was always very clear to see that he would be at the top one day.’    

He is also mates with a City star, Tijjani Reijnders, and has settled at Liverpool after a rocky start. Kerkez has leant on Robertson for help and sees him not as a rival for the left back position but someone who he can learn from, a privilege many players are not afforded. 

Kerkez and Szoboszlai team up to deny Marcus Edwards of Burnley the ball 

Szoboszlai has been skipper of Hungary since the tender age of 22

Kerkez’s development has gone somewhat under the radar but Slot is delighted with him and how his fitness has improved in the more intense environment of playing most midweeks as well as weekends, something he was not used to at Bournemouth.

Szoboszlai’s rise, though, has been clear for all to see – not least Real Madrid. The Spanish giants have an interest in him, and why wouldn’t they be keen? Vinicius Junior is friends with the Hungarian. 

Worry not, though, Liverpool fans: Szoboszlai loves life at Anfield and said just a fortnight ago when asked about a new contract (talks are ongoing): ‘I like the city, I like the club, I like playing with these guys, I love Anfield, I love the fans, let’s see what the future holds.’ 

The long-term future at Liverpool is looking bright, with several other talented stars bought at around the same age as Szoboszlai and Kerkez. Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremy Jacquet, Giovanni Leoni, Jeremie Frimpong, Gravenberch… they are only getting better. 

As for the short-term future… well, after a bitterly disappointing league title defence, the Reds are still in the FA Cup and Champions League. The location for the final of the latter? Budapest’s Puskas Arena. No prizes for guessing who the locals would want to win.