With the 2026 FIFA World Cup now firmly in view, fans are already discussing which players will be competing in the tournament. As the biggest event in the sport, it means that the game’s superstars will all be heading to North America in several weeks, and we’ve picked out the ones who could have a big impact for their respective nations.
Lamine Yamal may still be a teenager, but he’s already one of the best players in the world. The Spaniard, who has just won his third La Liga title with Barcelona, was crucial in helping Spain to win Euro 2024. The fast and skillful winger is a constant threat, scoring goals and making assists, with opponents fearing coming up against him. Sports betting odds currently have Spain as favorites to win the World Cup and if they’re to do so, they’ll need Yamal to perform.
Kylian Mbappe, 27, is a global superstar. The Real Madrid forward has been in red-hot form for his club this term, and will be looking to carry that over into the World Cup. Mbappe, who has been capped over ninety times for his country, captains Les Bleus and leads the team through his performances. The attacker managed to score a hat-trick in the 2022 Qatar World Cup final, only to end up on the losing side following a penalty shootout. He will be fired up as a result.
It remains to be seen how Thomas Tuchel sets his England side up at the World Cup and which players he selects. However, one name already on the team sheet is captain Harry Kane, arguably the best striker on the planet, even if he’s in his early thirties. What Kane guarantees England is goals and goals against anyone. He’s been in fine form this season for Bayern Munich, firing them to the Bundesliga title, and will be keen to deliver for the Three Lions in what will be his final World Cup appearance.
While Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has plenty of talent available to him in the Brazil squad, the player who stands out, the superstar, is undoubtedly Vinicius Junior. Ancelotti and Vinicius Jr previously worked together at Real Madrid, who the latter continues to play for, so the former will be confident of getting the best out of the left winger. What you often need in tournament football is a player who can change the game with a bit of skill or a piece of magic, and Vinicius Jr is certainly a superstar capable of that.
Arguably, Lionel Messi remains Argentina’s true superstar, even at thirty-eight years old, as the magic has never left him. However, the next superstar in line is striker Julian Alvarez. The twenty-six-year-old has been performing well for Atletico Madrid this season, helping them perform on all fronts. He also starred for Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, which they won, scoring four goals in seven games. He’ll be out to score the goals that enable Argentina to defend their crown.
It’s teams that win World Cups, but superstars help them along the way. Sometimes, teams need players to come good in the big moments, and the stars mentioned above have proven themselves capable time and time again. They can often be the difference between winning and going home.
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