1 World Cup Player To Watch From All 48 Teams

(Photo by Daniel Bartel/Getty Images)

Raúl Jiménez | Forward | Mexico

Age: 34
National team appearances: 123
Club: Fulham (England) 

Jiménez is part of Mexico’s veteran core. He scored nine of El Tri’s 22 goals in 2025, including a brace in both the Nations League semifinal and final. Jimenez also netted the winning goal in the Gold Cup semifinal and added another in the win over the U.S. in the tournament final. Jimenez, who has already played in three World Cups, has also scored nine goals for Fulham across all competitions this season and is in ideal form entering an important summer with a World Cup on home soil.

Notable stat: Jiménez has scored 44 goals for Mexico, which is three shy of moving into second all time and nine shy of breaking the record held by Javier “Chicharito” Hernández. Jimenez’s European club career includes stops at Atlético Madrid, Benfica, Wolverhampton and Fulham. 

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Lyle Foster | Forward | South Africa

Age: 25
National team appearances: 30
Club: Burnley (England)

Foster brings a strong attacking presence to the Bafana Bafana. He’s fast and can be dangerous in the buildup, but his teammates need to find ways to get him the ball. The 25-year-old striker plays for Burnley in the Premier League, where he has scored three goals this season. Foster netted two goals and had two assists in the Africa Cup of Nations as South Africa made it to the round of 16. 

Notable stat: Foster has made nearly 100 appearances for Burnley since joining the club in 2022 and has scored 10 goals for South Africa in 30 appearances.

(Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

Son Heung-min | Forward | South Korea

Age: 33
National team appearances: 142
Club: LAFC (United States)

Known as “Sonny,” South Korea’s undisputed star and captain will be a fan favorite. Son is South Korea’s most-capped player and is close to becoming the program’s all-time leading goal-scorer — perhaps he’ll break that record over the summer. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he led the Taegeuk Warriors to a dramatic group-stage win over Portugal, but they fell in the Round of 16 when they lost to Brazil. The winger is in good form for LAFC and leads MLS this season in assists.

Notable stat: Before his move to LAFC in 2024, Son spent 10 seasons at Tottenham, where he scored 173 goals in 454 appearances.

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Tomáš Souček | Midfielder | Czechia

Age: 32
National team appearances: 89
Club: West Ham United (England)

Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick will likely score goals this summer, but Souček will provide reliability in the midfield for Czechia. Souček has been the team’s longtime captain, and he led the squad to qualify for the World Cup by beating both Ireland and Denmark on penalties during the UEFA playoffs in March. Souček was also nominated as the Czech Footballer of the Year in 2025.

Notable stat: Souček has made more than 270 appearances for West Ham United since 2019. 

(Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Alphonso Davies | Forward | Canada

Age: 25
National team appearances: 58
Club: Bayern Munich (Germany)

Davies will wear the armband for the co-hosts this summer and is looking to bounce back after what’s been an injury-marred season for his club. The Bayern Munich standout, UEFA Champions League winner and former FIFA Best XI selection scored the first World Cup goal in Canada’s history in 2022 at Qatar. His main attribute is his versatility. He often plays left back for Bayern but takes a more attacking position for Canada. In Bayern’s Bundesliga-clinching win on April 19, he scored his first goal of the season.

Notable stat: Davies has made more than 240 appearances for Bayern Munich since joining the team in 2018.

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Esmir Bajraktarević | Forward | Bosnia and Herzegovina

Age: 21
National team appearances: 14
Club: PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)

It’s easy to pick 40-year-old talisman striker Edin Džeko, but let’s go with surprise star Bajraktarević. The 21-year-old MLS academy product — he was born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin, after his parents fled the war-torn Baltic state in the 1990s — converted the decisive penalty attempt against Italy in March’s World Cup playoffs. Cut from the U.S. Olympic team in 2024 before switching international allegiances, the player who has been affectionately nicknamed the “Milwaukee Messi” now returns to his native country for this summer’s World Cup.   

Notable stat: Bajraktarević has made nearly 40 appearances for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven since joining that team in 2025 from MLS club New England Revolution.  

(Photo by Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Almoez Ali | Forward | Qatar

Age: 29
National team appearances: 125
Club: Al-Duhail (Qatar)

Though he’s not yet even 30, Ali has already made well more than 100 appearances for Qatar and is the Maroons’ all-time top scorer with 60 international goals. The Sudan-born striker was also part of the 2022 World Cup squad for Qatar, which hosted the tournament.

Notable stat: Ali led Qatar to two AFC Cup titles and was the top scorer in the 2019 edition.

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Manuel Akanji | Defender | Switzerland

Age: 30
National team appearances: 79
Club: Inter Milan (Italy)

Although defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka is the captain, look for Akanji to also take on a big responsibility. The Manchester City man, who’s on loan at Inter Milan this season, has helped get the Italian club on the verge of two domestic trophies. For Switzerland, he’s been an anchor for a defense that conceded just two goals in six games in the final round of UEFA’s 2026 World Cup qualifying tournament. 

Notable stat: Since 2017, Akanji has made more than 330 appearances for Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and Inter Milan. 

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Raphinha | Forward | Brazil

Age: 29
National team appearances: 37
Club: Barcelona (Spain)

On a star-studded roster, who do you pick? Let’s lean on Raphinha. While Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior gets most of the plaudits, the Barcelona attacking midfielder has arguably been the better player over the last year, despite some hamstring injuries. Raphinha was the lone Brazilian to earn a Ballon d’Or nomination in 2025, and his ability to also play on the wings will keep opponents on their toes this summer.  

Notable stat: Raphinha has made more than 170 appearances for Barcelona since joining the club in 2022 from Leeds United, totaling more than 130 goal contributions. 

(Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)

Brahim Díaz | Forward | Morocco

Age: 26
National team appearances: 24
Club: Real Madrid (Spain)

Paris Saint-Germain defender Archaf Hakimi is seen as a top-10 player in the world, but Brahim Díaz could be a breakout star for Morocco at this World Cup. The Real Madrid midfielder scored five goals for the Atlas Lions in the Africa Cup of Nations, and fans are hoping that was just the jumping off point. Díaz played for the Spanish youth national team before committing to Morocco and is a rising star who former manager Walid Regragui said could be “the best player in the world.” The 26-year-old was not part of Morocco’s 2022 World Cup team, which made it to the semifinal, but he could be a reason why the squad makes another deep run in 2026.

Notable stat: The 26-year-old has made nearly 300 appearances in his time with Manchester City, AC Milan and Real Madrid; he appeared in 12 Champions League games this season as well.

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Johny Placide | Goalkeeper | Haiti

Age: 38
National team appearances: 79
Club: Bastia (France)

Placide could be very busy this summer. The 38-year-old French-born goalkeeper has been Haiti’s captain for the last 15 years and will backstop the team’s effort this summer in a group that includes five-time champion Brazil and 2022 semifinalist Morocco. 

Notable stat: Placide has been a part of Haiti’s two bronze-medal finishes at the Caribbean Cup, coming in 2012 and 2014.

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Scott McTominay | Midfielder | Scotland

Age: 29
National team appearances: 69
Club: Napoli (Italy)

McTominay has had a renaissance over the past year. The 6-foot-3 attacking midfielder led Napoli to the Italian title last season, earning a Ballon d’Or nomination along the way. It was his spectacular bicycle kick that opened the scoring in Scotland’s World Cup qualifying clincher over Denmark. A former Manchester United player, McTominay will be the focal point for the Tartan Army.

Notable stat: McTominay was named the 2024-25 Serie A Footballer of the Year, becoming the first Scottish player to win the Italian award.

(Photo by Omar Vega/USSF/Getty Images)

Weston McKennie | Midfielder | United States

Age: 27
National team appearances: 64
Club: Juventus (Italy)

Has McKennie now surpassed AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic — who struggled mightily in early 2026 — as the Americans’ most influential player? The all-action Juventus midfielder is having a career season (four goals during Champions League competition) in which he’s been the best player for Italy’s most successful club. It was promising that he scored for the USA in the March friendly against Belgium, despite the 5-2 loss in Atlanta. Now a veteran presence for the Stars and Stripes, McKennie can further solidify his stardom on home soil this summer. 

Notable stat: McKennie has made more than 220 appearances for Juventus since joining the club in 2020, with more than 50 goal contributions in that span. His 64 caps are third-most among active players behind Pulisic’s 84 and Tim Ream’s 80.

(Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)

Miguel Almirón | Midfielder | Paraguay

Age: 32
National team appearances: 75
Club: Atlanta United (United States)

Almirón is familiar to fans on three continents, having moved from Cerro Porteño in his native country to Argentine club Lanús to MLS side Atlanta United to Premier League mainstay Newcastle United before returning to Atlanta last year. With Paraguay being the USA’s opening match opponent, Almirón could also help spoil the Americans’ party during group stage action.  

Notable stat: Almirón made 223 appearances for Newcastle United from 2018 to 2025, scoring 30 goals and 12 assists. 

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Jordan Bos | Defender | Australia 

Age: 23
National team appearances: 25
Club: Feyenoord (Netherlands)

The 23-year-old Feyenoord left back is a quicking turning heads in European club soccer. Bos has experience scoring against the USA, and he could do so again when the Socceroos take on the co-hosting team in Seattle in group-stage play. Last October, he had the Aussies’ lone goal in a 2-1 loss to the U.S. in an exhibition match in Denver. He scored in his next two appearances, too, including a game-winner over Cameroon in March. 

Notable stat: Bos made 46 appearances in two seasons for Westerlo (Belgian Pro League) before making his move to the Dutch Eredivisie. 

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Kenan Yıldız | Forward | Türkiye

Age: 20
National team appearances: 28
Club: Juventus (Italy)

(Photo by Stefan Matzke – sampics/Getty Images)

Florian Wirtz | Midfielder | Germany

Age: 22
National team appearances: 39
Club: Liverpool (England)

Wirtz may be struggling this season with Liverpool, but he’ll give Germany a shot at making a deep run at the World Cup. The 22-year-old midfielder helped Bayer Leverkusen go undefeated en route to winning the German title two seasons ago before being named Bundesliga Player of the Year in 2025. He then moved to Liverpool later that year on a blockbuster $156 million transfer deal but continues to adjust to life in the Premier League. In March, Wirtz scored his 10th goal in just 39 games for his country. 

Notable stat: Before moving to Liverpool this season, Wirtz scored 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen from 2019 to 2025.   

(Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

Eloy Room | Goalkeeper | Curaçao

Age: 37
National team appearances: 70
Club: Miami FC (United States)

With debut team Curaçao facing some stiff competition in this group, Room figures to be plenty busy for the Blue Wave this summer. Tied for the most caps (with former Aston Villa striker Leandro Bacuna) in Curaçao’s history, Room’s journeyman career has taken him across several clubs in the Netherlands and Belgium. He did have a notable stint in MLS as he helped the Columbus Crew win the 2020 MLS Cup. Room now plays for Miami FC in the USA’s second-tier USL Championship. 

Notable stat: Room recorded a clean sheet for the Columbus Crew in the 3-0 victory in the 2020 MLS Cup final over the Seattle Sounders.

(Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

Franck Kessié | Midfielder | Ivory Coast

Age: 29
National team appearances: 102
Club: Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia)

Kessié is not just Ivory Coast’s heart-and-soul central midfielder, but he is also the Elephants’ captain. Now playing his club ball in Saudi Arabia, the 29-year-old’s resume includes stints with European juggernauts Barcelona and AC Milan. A good showing this summer at the World Cup could land him a return to a European club. 

Notable stat: During his time at AC Milan and Barcelona, Kessie totaled 266 appearances, scoring 40 goals and 19 assists.

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Moisés Caicedo | Midfielder | Ecuador

Age: 24
National team appearances: 60
Club: Chelsea (England)

Regarded as perhaps the finest defensive midfielder in the game, Caicedo will lead a stacked Ecuador side that also features 36-year-old all-time scoring leader Enner Valencia and young Paris Saint-Germain defender Willian Pacho. La Tri is seen as a dark-horse side, but Caicedo helped Chelsea win the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and is the linchpin in Ecuador’s lineup. 

Notable stat: Caicedo’s transfer from Brighton Hove & Albion to Chelsea in 2023 was the fourth-most expensive for a central midfielder in the world at $129.5 million, according to Transfermarkt.

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Virgil van Dijk | Defender | Netherlands

Age: 34
National team appearances: 90
Club: Liverpool (England)

Van Dijk is the best center back in the world. The main thing about the 6-foot-5 stalwart defender is his leadership. He captains both his Liverpool club and his country, and his energy and tone trickle down to his teammates. He’s literally and figuratively the quarterback of his back line. He’s composed on the ball, rarely makes mistakes, wins one-on-one battles and is a bully in the air. He’ll turn 35 during the World Cup, but his age doesn’t matter — van Dijk is a reason why the Oranje are automatically contenders against any opponent. 

Notable stat: One of the most decorated Dutch players of all time, van Dijk is a former English Premier League Player of the Season and five-time Team of the Season selection.  

(Photo by Hiroki Watanabe/Getty Images)

Takefusa Kubo | Forward | Japan

Age: 24
National team appearances: 48
Club: Real Sociedad (Spain)

Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo is a key player for Japan, but will he be able to come back in time for the World Cup after ankle surgery in February? Regardless, the Samurai Blue will need players like Kubo to step up. The Real Sociedad winger, who was once dubbed the “Japanese Messi,” has looked good following his return from a hamstring injury in January. He’s been a key contributor for Real Sociedad, which won the Spanish Copa del Rey in April. 

Notable stat: Kubo played for Barcelona’s youth academy and was acquired by Real Madrid in 2019, never making an appearance for the team but totaling more than 200 appearances in La Liga play for Mallorca, Villarreal, Getafe and Real Sociedad. 

(Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)

Viktor Gyökeres | Forward | Sweden

Age: 27
National team appearances: 32
Club: Arsenal (England)

Sweden will have two elite strikers in Liverpool’s Alexander Isak and Arsenal’s Gyökeres, but the latter has been a bit more prolific this season. The Arsenal star scored four goals in Sweden’s two playoff games against Ukraine and Poland. Isak is working his way back from surgery on a fibula fracture last December, which means Gyökeres is the most in form at the moment to lead the Swedish attack this summer. 

Notable stat: Before moving to Arsenal this season, Gyökeres scored 97 goals and 28 assists in 102 appearances for Sporting Lisbon.

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Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane | Midfielder | Tunisia

Age: 26
National team appearances: 54
Club: Al-Ahly (Egypt)

Tunisia’s bread and butter may be its defense, but Romdhane is known for his proficiency on the ball and has a nose for goal. The 26-year-old plays for Al Ahly in Egypt, and he scored a goal against Portuguese powerhouse Porto at the 2025 Club World Cup. He also scored the goal that booked Tunisia’s spot at the World Cup in a 1-0 qualifier win over Equatorial Guinea in September. The Eagles of Carthage will likely be over-matched by their group opponents, but any foe certainly has to account for Romdhane and his propensity to impact the game.

Notable stat: Romdhane spent eight seasons playing at clubs in Tunisia and Hungary before moving to Al Ahly in the Egyptian Premier League in 2024. 

(Photo by Daniel Bartel/Getty Images)

Jérémy Doku | Forward | Belgium

Age: 23
National team appearances: 41
Club: Manchester City (England)

Napoli midfielder Kevin De Bruyne? Real Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois? We’re going with standout winger Jérémy Doku. Belgium boasts elite players up and down its lineup, including veteran defender Thomas Meunier and captain Youri Tielemans, but the 23-year-old Manchester City dangerman — a key threat — is its undisputed game-breaker. He scored against the USA in the March friendly, and the Red Devils will go as far as he takes them. 

Notable stat: Since signing with Manchester City in 2023, Doku has made more than 120 appearances for the team, with 20 coming in the Champions League. 

(Photo by ANP via Getty Images)

Mohamed Salah | Forward | Egypt

Age: 33
National team appearances: 115
Club: Liverpool (England)

Mohamed Salah is easily the greatest player in the country’s history with 67 goals. The Pharaohs captain and Liverpool icon, who’ll leave the club this summer, could overtake current national team coach Hossam Hassan’s Egyptian record of 69 goals in what could be his final World Cup. 

Notable stat: Salah is a two-time African Footballer of the Year winner and a two-time English Premier League Player of the Season. He’s won nine major trophies with Liverpool — including two league titles and the Champions League.

(Photo by Orhan Cicek/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Mehdi Taremi | Forward | Iran

Age: 33
National team appearances: 103
Club: Olimpiacos (Greece)

Taremi stands out for Team Melli. The talented striker is Iran’s captain and best player, having played across several prominent European teams. A key factor for Greek power Olimpiacos, Taremi was a UEFA Champions League runner-up with Inter Milan last season.

Notable stat: In 225 combined appearances with Porto and Inter Milan, Taremi scored 94 goals and added 65 assists.

(Photo by Steve Christo – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Chris Wood | Forward | New Zealand

Age: 34
National team appearances: 88
Club: Nottingham Forest (England)

If New Zealand score any goals this summer, it’ll likely be by Chris Wood. The 34-year-old Premier Leaguer has more goals and caps than any player in the country’s history. The 6-foot-3 Nottingham Forest striker also wears the armband for the Kiwis under English coach Darren Bazeley. 

Notable stat: Wood’s career includes stops all around the English Premier League, having played at Leicester City, Leeds United, Burnley and Newcastle United before making the move to Nottingham Forest in 2023. 

(Photo by David Ramirez/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Lamine Yamal | Forward | Spain

Age: 18
National team appearances: 25
Club: Barcelona (Spain)

World Cup fans will be relieved that Yamal is expected to be in action this summer for Spain, despite a hamstring injury that will keep him out of Barcelona’s final stretch. This will be the 18-year-old’s first World Cup, and he will be an absolute delight for fans. He’s creative and unafraid on the ball and is a force in the attack, when healthy, be it for Spain or his club Barcelona. While this will be his debut on the global stage, Yamal has already won a Euros medal, and his unique talent already has soccer fans wondering if he’s the best player in the world already or if it’s only a matter of time.

Notable stat: He is the most expensive player in the world at $235.5 million, according to Transfermarkt. At age 17, he became the first player ever to score or assist in the quarterfinals, semifinals and final of a single European Championship during the 2024 edition. 

(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Dailon Livramento | Forward | Cape Verde

Age: 24
National team appearances: 20
Club: Casa Pia (Portugal)

Livramento carries the hopes and dreams of this island nation off the coast of Africa. The 24-year-old plays in Portugal and has scored the two most important goals in his nation’s history: the opener in a 3-0 win over Eswatini during World Cup qualifying and then the game-winner against Cameroon, clinching a spot for this summer’s tournament. 

Notable stat: Livramento spent the early part of his career playing in the Netherlands before making the move to Italy for Hellas Verona in 2024 and made 31 appearances.

(Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Salem Al-Dawsari | Forward | Saudi Arabia

Age: 34
National team appearances: 107
Club: Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia)

Al-Dawsari is one of the best players in Saudi football history and has made more than 100 appearances for his country. The 34-year-old midfielder plays for Al-Hilal and captains his national team. He scored a stunning goal in the win over Argentina at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. With a team like Spain looming in the group stage, perhaps he’ll have more heroics up his sleeve this summer.

Notable stat: Al-Dawsari is a two-time Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Player of the Year winner (2022, 2025) who has scored more than 140 goals for Al-Hilal while leading the team to six Saudi Pro League titles.  

(Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Federico Valverde | Midfielder | Uruguay

Age: 27
National team appearances: 73
Club: Real Madrid (Spain)

Valverde is one of Uruguay’s more familiar and established players. He has experience and has Champions League, La Liga and FIFA Club World Cup titles to his name. Valverde has more than 70 caps for La Celeste and was on Uruguay’s rosters for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Notable stat: Considered one of the best midfielders in the world, Valverde has made more than 360 appearances for Real Madrid since joining the team in 2018.  

Kylian Mbappé | Forward | France

Age: 27
National team appearances: 96
Club: Real Madrid (Spain)

Mbappé was the leading scorer at the last World Cup with eight goals — including a hat trick in the final — and he’s arguably still the world’s best player when at the height of his powers. Since 2022, he has made the move from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid, where he continues to shine. Already a World Cup winner from the 2018 tournament, a second one would further solidify his case of being among the best of all time. 

Notable stat: Mbappé is just one of two players ever to record a hat trick in a World Cup final, joining England’s Geoff Hurst. He is also five goals away from breaking the all-time record of 16 set by Germany’s Miroslav Klose.

(Photo by Torbjorn Tande/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)

Idrissa Gueye | Midfielder | Senegal

Age: 36
National team appearances: 131
Club: Everton (England)

Sadio Mané was a mainstay for clubs like Liverpool and Bayern Munich, but don’t overlook Gueye, who is Senegal’s captain and most capped player. The current Everton and former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder remains a key player for his country even at age 36. 

Notable stat: Gueye has made more than 380 combined appearances for Aston Villa, Paris Saint-Germain and Everton. 

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Ali Al-Hamadi | Forward | Iraq

Age: 24
National team appearances: 17
Club: Luton Town (England)

Al-Hamadi has carved out a respectable club career in England, where he moved with his family as a child. His opening goal against Bolivia in March’s intercontinental playoff led to Iraq clinching its first World Cup appearance since 1986. 

Notable stat: Al-Hamadi made 11 appearances in the English Premier League for Ipswich Town in the 2024-25 season. 

(Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Erling Haaland | Forward | Norway

Age: 25
National team appearances: 49
Club: Manchester City (England)

Haaland is the sport’s most prolific scorer with an astonishing 55 goals in just 48 games for Norway. Still only 25, no player in international soccer history hit the half-century mark in fewer matches than it took the 6-foot-5 striker. He’s already won every major club trophy with Manchester City, including the 2025 Champions League, and now he’ll want to make his mark on the international level. 

Notable stat: Haaland holds the records for the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals, in addition to being the fastest player to reach 50 Champions League goals.

(Photo by Pablo Elias/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Lionel Messi | Forward | Argentina

Age: 38
National team appearances: 198
Club: Inter Miami (United States)

The 2026 World Cup is also known as Messi’s Last Dance. He led Argentina to a thrilling victory over France to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and has helped La Abiceleste win the last two Copa América crowns. Messi will turn 39 during the World Cup, but his place and status on the team is as strong as ever. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has said Messi can and will be part of the national team for as long as he wants. Now playing at Inter Miami in MLS, winning a World Cup on American soil could be a fitting end to a legendary career.     

Notable stat: No player has won the Ballon d’Or more times than Messi with eight, and he also holds the record for most matches played in World Cup history, along with being tied for the fourth-most goals ever with 13.

(Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Riyad Mahrez | Forward | Algeria

Age: 35
National team appearances: 113
Club: Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia)

Mahrez is considered Algeria’s best player, winning multiple club trophies with Manchester City and being part of Leicester City’s improbable 2015-16 Premier League title team. Now playing club ball in Saudi Arabia, Mahrez will take part in his first World Cup after having led Les Verts to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title. Another notable name on Algeria’s roster is Granada goalkeeper Luca Zidane, the son of France legend Zinedine Zidane, who switched international allegiances in 2025.

Notable stat: Mahrez spent 10 seasons in the English Premier League, where he scored 82 goals and 63 assists in 284 appearances for Leicester City and Manchester City.

(Photo by GEORG HOCHMUTH / APA / AFP via Getty Images)

Marcel Sabitzer | Midfielder | Austria

Age: 32
National team appearances: 97
Club: Borussia Dortmund (Germany)

Sabitzer scored the winning goal to beat the Netherlands in the group stage of the 2024 Euros. The 32-year-old midfielder has made 95 appearances for his national team and has scored 23 goals, and he’s an integral piece of this squad.

Notable stat: Sabitzer has been playing top flight European football since 2014, making more than 330 appearances for clubs like RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund.

(Photo by Ameen Ahmed/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Musa Al-Taamari | Forward | Jordan

Age: 28
National team appearances: 90
Club: Stade Rennais (France)

There are a few players on this World Cup debut team who are based in Europe, and Al-Taamari is one of them. He predominantly plays right wing for French side Stade Rennais FC, where he’s scored three goals and had five assists in Ligue 1 this season. He will be one of the most important parts of Jordan’s attack. 

Notable stat: Al-Taamari has made more than 80 appearances in France’s Ligue 1 since 2023, playing for Rennes and Montpellier. With 23 international goals, he is 11 shy of breaking the all-time record for Jordan.

(Photo by Tim Clayton/Getty Images)

Cristiano Ronaldo | Forward | Portugal

Age: 41
National team appearances: 226
Club: Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia)

Just like Messi, this is expected to be Ronaldo’s last World Cup. But unlike Messi, Ronaldo has yet to lift the sport’s most prestigious trophy. It’s truly the only accolade that’s eluded him in his career, and there’s nothing the 41-year-old forward wants more. Now, Ronaldo isn’t the most important player for Portugal anymore, but he’s still captain and the face of the team. He would give anything to ride off into the retirement sunset on top of the football world.

Notable stat: On pace to be the first player to officially eclipse 1,000 career goals scored, Ronaldo is the only player in World Cup history to have scored in five different editions of the tournament. 

(Photo by Luis Cano/Jam Media/Getty Images)

Aaron Wan-Bissaka | Defender | Congo DR

Age: 28
National team appearances: 9
Club: West Ham United (England)

Wan-Bissaka is a household name among Premier League fans. With more than 200 appearances for Crystal Palace, Manchester United and West Ham United, the 28-year-old fullback has carved a solid club career in England. Had he not gotten injured before two of England’s Euro 2020 qualifiers seven years ago, he’d likely be permanently cap-tied to the Three Lions under FIFA rules. Instead, he switched to the country of his roots last year. Now he’ll represent the Leopards on the biggest stage of all. 

Notable stat: Wan-Bissaka was named the West Ham United Player of the Season in 2024-25 and the Crystal Palace Player of the Season in 2018-19.

(Photo by Anvar Ilyasov/Getty Images)

Abdukodir Khusanov | Defender | Uzbekistan

Age: 22
National team appearances: 25
Club: Manchester City (England)

Football fans should be somewhat familiar with this City center back. The 22-year-old defender has had a quick rise from playing youth soccer in Uzbekistan to now thriving as the first player from his country to feature regularly in the Premier League. He was a standout defender in the Carabao Cup final win against Arsenal.

Notable stat: Khusanov has made more than 40 appearances for Manchester City this season, including six in the Champions League.

(Photo by Chris Arjoon/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

James Rodriguez | Midfielder | Colombia

Age: 34
National team appearances: 124
Club: Minnesota United (United States)

The main scoring threat for Los Cafeteros will be winger Luis Diaz, but James Rodriguez will serve as captain for Colombia. The 2014 Golden Boot winner will turn 35 during the World Cup, and while the former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich striker’s club fortunes have changed — his short-term deal with MLS side Minnesota United hasn’t gone as planned due to a brief hospitalization in March with dehydration — he remains an important player for Colombia.

Notable stat: Rodriguez is six appearances and six goals shy of breaking the Colombia national team record in both categories. 

(Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Harry Kane | Forward | England

Age: 32
National team appearances: 112
Club: Bayern Munich (Germany)

England is going to need Kane to score some goals this summer. The 32-year-old star striker is the Three Lions’ all-time record holder with 78 goals in 112 appearances, and he has 52 this season for his club Bayern Munich. However, this was an area where Kane struggled four years ago in Qatar, only scoring two goals at the 2022 World Cup. Kane will be motivated to do everything to finally bring an international title home. 

Notable stat: Kane is the English Premier League’s second all-time leading scorer with 213 goals to his name.

(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Luka Modrić | Midfielder | Croatia

Age: 40
National team appearances: 196
Club: AC Milan (Italy)

Of course, it’s the 40-year-old midfielder, who will be playing in his fifth World Cup. Like peers Messi and Ronaldo, we are expecting this to be his last one. He’s become a footballing icon with flair on the pitch with his technical ability and overall presence, as well as off of it — as his long hair and headband make him impossible to miss. He figures to reach the 200-game mark during this summer’s tournament.

Notable stat: The greatest Croatian player of all time, he is the overall leader in appearances with 196 and, most notably, won the Ballon d’Or in 2018. 

(Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)

Antoine Semenyo | Forward | Ghana

Age: 26
National team appearances: 34
Club: Manchester City (England)

Semenyo has been a revelation for Manchester City this season (11 goal contributions in 19 appearances), and that bodes well for the Black Stars. And with Tottenham forward Mohammed Kudos still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in January, there’s further responsibility on Semenyo’s shoulders this summer.

Notable stat: The 26-year-old scored 32 goals and 13 assists in 110 appearances for Bournemouth before being acquired by Manchester City in January of this year.

(Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)

Adalberto Carrasquilla | Midfielder | Panama

Age: 27
National team appearances: 73
Club: Pumas UNAM (Mexico)

Carrasquilla is a dynamic and impactful midfielder for Panama. He received a red card in a 2024 Copa América group stage match against the U.S. that forced his team to play down a man — though the Panamanians still managed to pull off the victory and eliminate the Americans. He’s a veteran for his national team with 70 appearances and will play an important role for his side as it prepares to face a challenging group.

Notable stat: Carrasquilla won the Golden Ball at the 2023 Gold Cup, where Panama finished as runners-up to Mexico. 

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