The World Cup begins Thursday afternoon and features top soccer stars. Lionel Messi from Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo, both legends, head the list of players expected to shine.
Lionel Messi, Argentina
Messi is often seen as the greatest ever to play soccer. He has won the Ballon d’Or eight times and scored 672 goals for Barcelona, the highest for a single club. He led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup, scoring crucial goals in the final against France. Although he’s 38, he remains a pivotal player for Argentina, ranked third globally by FIFA. Argentina aims to win consecutive World Cups, a feat last achieved by Brazil in 1962.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal
Ronaldo, 41, still seeks a World Cup title, the only missing achievement in his career. Portugal won the 2016 Euros but has not progressed beyond the quarterfinals since 2006. Ronaldo plays in Saudi Arabia, which challenges his adaptation to world-class competition. The team feels the absence of Diogo Jota, adding pressure on Ronaldo to lead them.
Kylian Mbappé, France
Kylian Mbappé helped France secure its second World Cup in 2018. The 27-year-old Paris-born forward plays for Real Madrid, displaying impressive skill on the field. In 2022, he scored crucial goals in the final against Argentina, but France lost in penalty kicks. He hopes to lead France to another victory this year, overcoming recent injury woes.
Sadio Mané, Senegal
Sadio Mané plans to retire from international play after the 2026 World Cup. At 34, he’s one of Africa’s great players. Mané helped Senegal win the Africa Cup of Nations and aims to lead them to World Cup success. After recovering from an injury that kept him out of the 2022 tournament, his experience is vital for Senegal’s ambitions.
Son Heung-min, South Korea
Son Heung-min made news by joining LAFC from Tottenham. Known as an Asian soccer icon, he brings creativity and leadership to the South Korean team. Though in a scoring slump, his assists could aid South Korea in their World Cup quest, facing a tough group stage against co-host Mexico.
Virgil van Dijk, Netherlands
Virgil van Dijk captains the Netherlands, a team familiar with reaching World Cup knockouts since 1974. At 34, van Dijk contemplates his future after previously considering retirement. The Netherlands, ranked seventh globally, aims for a successful run with a mix of experienced and younger talent.
Luka Modrić, Croatia
Luka Modrić shone on the global stage in 2018, leading Croatia to a World Cup final. At 40, he plans to play another World Cup, possibly his last. Croatia seeks to replicate its past success despite not ranking among the top favorites. Modrić’s playmaking ability remains crucial to their chances.
Mohamed Salah, Egypt
Mohamed Salah departs Liverpool after a notable career, aiming to lead Egypt past the World Cup group stage for the first time in decades. Although Egypt missed the 2022 tournament, Salah returns with the ambition to put his global skills on display once more.