Sports
The 24 World-Class Players at 2026 World Cup
This summer, the 2026 World Cup will take place across Canada, Mexico and the United States. At this stage, it’s very hard to say who will be victorious, which should make for a brilliant tournament.
Argentina are the defending champion, having won in 2022. With key man Lionel Messi now 38, it remains to be seen if he can be quite as influential as he was four years ago. His nation beat France in that final, but Les Bleus will be among the favourites again, having lifted the trophy at at Russia 2018.
At the end of the day, success may hinge on a single moment of brilliance from an individual. With that in mind, it’s worth considering who the potential game-changers could be this summer. As such, every single world-class player going to the 2026 World Cup has now been listed.
Ranking factors
- Form heading into the tournament
- Major honours won in recent seasons
- Current standing in 2026 Ballon d’Or race
- Global reputation
Argentina: Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez
Both Messi and Julian Alvarez were absolutely pivotal to Argentina’s success at the 2022 World Cup, and the pair will look to repeat the trick in 2026. Messi might not be the player he once was, but anybody who watches Inter Miami games will recognise that his world-class ability has not deserted him just yet.
Alvarez continues to deliver for Atletico Madrid at the highest level, with nine goals and four assists in the Champions League this season, helping his side make it to the semi-finals. He could easily seal a £100m+ transfer if he opts to change clubs after the tournament.
Brazil: Vinicius Junior, Raphinha
Brazil are not quite the powerhouse of football that they once were, and it would almost come as a surprise if they were to win a sixth World Cup this summer, with their last triumph coming way back in 2002. That said, they’ve never struggled to produce world-class attackers.
Both Vinicius Junior and Raphinha have won big honours at Real Madrid and Barcelona in recent years. The pair are regularly in the Ballon d’Or conversation, proving just how elite they are. Casemiro is just past his prime to make the cut here, while Arsenal’s Gabriel misses out as he hasn’t won enough honours yet.
Belgium: Thibaut Courtois
The only goalkeeper on this list – with Alisson Becker of Brazil is just past his prime, and Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma failing to qualify) – Thibaut Courtois has been the best in his position for a number of years now. The Real Madrid star has essentially won everything there is on offer at club level, and will be desperate for some glory with Belgium.
In the past, Kevin De Bruyne would have joined him in the world-class bracket, but now 34 and playing for Napoli, his best years are just behind him. The same can be said of Romelu Lukaku, who also plays for the same club in Italy.
England: Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane
England are always among the favourites but never quite seem to have enough to get across the line, having come up short on every occasion since 1966. They have a number of players just on the cusp of being world-class, such as Bukayo Saka and Reece James, but only three make it for now.
Harry Kane is quite possibly the best player in the world right now, and may even win the Ballon d’Or if the Three Lions perform this summer. Jude Bellingham is one of the game’s biggest stars, having won the Champions League and La Liga since joining Madrid for £100m, while Declan Rice has been one of the Premier League’s most consistent players for some time now.
France: Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, William Saliba, Michael Olise
France may have the best squad going into the competition, and are certainly among the favourites. As such, it’s no surprise that they have the highest number of world-class players of any nation, with an impressive total of four.
Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in the 2022 final and bagged a goal in the 2018 victory, makes this list without a second thought. As does Ousmane Dembele, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2025. The likes of William Saliba (Arsenal) and Michael Olise (Bayern Munich) aren’t quite as established, but it could be argued that they are currently the best in the world for their respective positions.
Germany: Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala
Jamal Musiala has spent most of the 2025/26 season recovering from a broken left leg and dislocated ankle, but his global reputation as one of the game’s most exciting players allows him to make the cut here. The Bayern Munich star will aim to refind his best form just in time for the summer tournament.
Joshua Kimmich also joins him on the list. The 31-year-old remains absolutely pivotal for his club, and could have a spectacular year, having already sealed the Bundesliga title in Germany. Manuel Neuer is too far past his prime to make the list, while Florian Wirtz has struggled in his debut season at Liverpool, costing him his prior world-class reputation.
Morocco: Achraf Hakimi
With Egypt’s Mohamed Salah no longer the player he once was, and the same for Sadio Mane of Senegal, there is only one world-class player from Africa going to the World Cup. That man is Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi.
The Paris Saint-Germain star has been electric for some time now, having won six trophies in the calendar year of 2025, including Ligue 1 and the Champions League. He’s been just as important to PSG as they chase more honours in 2026. In 2028, Morocco made history by becoming the first African and first Arab nation to reach a FIFA World Cup semi-final. It will be interesting to see how they get on this summer.
Netherlands: Virgil van Dijk
The Netherlands have produced many elite players over the years, but it’s perhaps a sign of the times that they only have one world-class star among their current crop. Now 34, this might be the last year in which Virgil van Dijk can be considered a true leading figure within the sport, but he just about hangs on to his elite reputation for now.
The Dutch hold the record for most World Cup final appearances without actually winning the competition. Should they make the final in 2026, Van Dijk’s experience could be what finally gets them across the line. He’s certainly won it all before with Liverpool.
Norway: Erling Haaland
For many, Norway will be dark horses at the 2026 World Cup. After all, they totally dominated their qualifying group, finishing on 24 points, having won all their games. They certainly have no shortage of talent.
Captain Martin Odegaard has had a mixed few seasons, so he can’t quite be considered world-class at the moment in time. Erling Haaland, however, absolutely can be. The Norwegian superstar has netted 55 goals in 49 games for his country and will aim to add more this summer.
Portugal: Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Nuno Mendes
It will perhaps spark controversy but Cristiano Ronaldo does not make the cut for world-class players here. Unlike Messi, who continues to shine at the big tournaments for Argentina, he failed to score at Euro 2024, and managed just one goal at the 2022 World Cup.
That said, Portugal still do have three world-class players. Bruno Fernandes is having an outstanding season at Manchester United, and has long been one of the best players in England. Elsewhere, both Vitinha and Nuno Mendes have been vital for PSG, starring as the French club continues to prove itself as perhaps the best club on the planet.
A verdict has now been given after Lionel Messi controversially avoided punishment for a bad challenge during Argentina’s opening 2026 World Cup match against Algeria.
Messi, 39 next week, became the World Cup’s joint all-time leading goalscorer alongside Germany legend Miroslav Klose after scoring his 14th, 15th and 16th goals in a 3-0 win for the reigning champions.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, whose chances of winning the prestigious individual accolade for a record-breaking ninth time have increased following his latest hat-trick, scored his first goal in the 17th minute with a strike from outside the box which flew past Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane – son of France great, Zinedine.
Messi went on to complete his hat-trick in the second half with two more goals in 16 minutes, securing another World Cup Player of the Match award in the process.
Messi Avoids Punishment For Poor Challenge
However, many football fans on social media are convinced Messi should have been sent off following an incident involving Algeria defender Aissa Mandi.
Argentina were only 1-0 up at the time when Mandi was left in pain on the ground following Messi’s poor challenge. Watch the incident below:
To the surprise of many, the incident wasn’t penalised by Polish referee Szymon Marciniak – who took charge of the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France – or VAR.
According to the Daily Mail, fans have reacted by claiming the 2026 World Cup is already ‘rigged’, with one person commenting: “Messi escaping red. No VAR check. Jesus. Just give Argentina the trophy”.
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Pundits Cast Clear Verdict Over Messi Incident
Amid the social media furore, ESPN’s pundits have cast a clear verdict over the incident, explaining why Messi should have been sent off.
Former Manchester City and England Under-21 defender Nedum Onuoha said: “I’m going to approach this the same way Messi did and I think it should have been a red card, in my opinion. It feels like the moment was missed.
“When the player was on the floor, you could see Messi had a level of concern towards him because he knew that he’d potentially just done something that could get him in trouble.
“The referee’s probably missed it – and I understand why he’s missed it – but for the video assistant referee [VAR] to look at that and say ‘no, that’s all fine, there’s nothing more to it’… I personally think that’s worthy of a red.
“In the commentary, they didn’t even say anything happened. We watched the video of it and were like ‘that’s quite bad’ and they were like ‘yeah, well you know, it’s good to see Messi pressing’.”
Onuoha’s co-pundit, the former Venezuela international Ale Moreno, went even further by claiming it was “100% a red card for Lionel Messi. It should have been.”
Moreno continued: “I tell you what else is concerning, and it plays along this narrative that great players get preferential treatment… when he was about the score a hat-trick, and the goalkeeper Zidane actually made a save, they showed [FIFA president] Gianni Infantino smiling and was like ‘oh man, that was close!’
“It does play into that narrative that these guys get different sort of treatment.”
He added: “Why is Szymon Marciniak not being called over to see this? It should have been a red card for Lionel Messi.
“As much as I love Lionel Messi, that was a clumsy challenge, a bad challenge, you’re raking the back of someone’s calf all the way from the knee down to the ankle. Should have been a red card.” Watch the clip below:
Argentina face Austria in their second Group J match on June 22 before taking on Jordan five days later. Austria secured a 2-1 win over Jordan in the group’s other opening fixture.
Liverpool have a major task on their hands this summer as they look to replace club legend Mohamed Salah after the Egyptian’s nine-year spell at Anfield came to an end last month.
Across nine seasons, Salah made 442 appearances, registered 380 goal contributions and won a handful of trophies and personal accolades, including a Champions League and two Premier Leagues.
Given the scale of the job at hand, Liverpool are expected to sign at least two wingers this summer with RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande the Reds’ top target.
Leipzig are expected to demand a significant transfer fee in excess of £100million and Liverpool aren’t the only ones showing interest in the Ivorian with PSG also pushing to sign the attacker. However, it looks as though the Reds have now made clear progress in their pursuit of Diomande.
Diomande wants to play for Andoni Iraola
According to Liverpool reporter James William, Diomande is ‘eager to join Iraola’s plans’ as the Reds make progress in their attempt to sign the 19-year-old.
Additionally, according to TEAMtalk, Liverpool have been in ‘constructive dialogue’ with Leipzig and Iraola is ‘actively pushing’ for his new employers to get a deal done.
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Liverpool need to find a Mohamed Salah replacement.
With a move to Merseyside seemingly Diomande’s preference, it looks as though Liverpool are in a strong position to beat PSG or any other interested clubs to the teenager’s signature.
However, the report from TEAMtalk adds that Leipzig are expected to demand a fee in the region of €130million, having only signed the winger from Leganes a year ago for around €20million.
Have Liverpool found their Salah replacement?
Whether they can get a deal over the line is yet to be seen, but it certainly feels as though Liverpool have found a suitable replacement for Salah in Diomande.
Still just 19, the teenager has significant potential and is already performing at a high level. Last season saw the winger score 13 goals and register 10 assists in 36 appearances for Leipzig, while he starred in the Ivory Coast’s 1-0 win over Ecuador in their World Cup opener on Monday.
At his best, Salah was dynamic, versatile and potent in front of goal. Those are all characteristics Diomande is demonstrating with room for improvement that a move to a more competitive league like the Premier League will provide.
Salah’s legacy at Anfield cannot be replicated but it does appear as though Liverpool have identified a winger who could significantly fill the void that the Egyptian is leaving behind.
Roberto De Zerbi is currently in the process of shaping his Tottenham Hotspur squad after arriving in north London late into last season to keep Spurs in the Premier League.
Tottenham narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship and have finished 17th in the Premier League in back-to-back seasons, something De Zerbi wants to leave in the past.
The Italian has already overseen a fast start to the club’s recruitment, bringing in defenders Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free transfers from Liverpool and Bournemouth respectively. Additionally, star player Pedro Porro has signed a new five-year contract while the club are getting closer to sealing a deal to sign Brighton and Hove Albion centre-back Jan-Paul van Hecke.
Although the club are in need of new faces, Tottenham will also be looking to keep hold of any players De Zerbi sees as part of the future. The Spurs boss has reportedly already been on the phone to at least one.
De Zerbi blocks potential Mathys Tel exit
Mathys Tel is one of the players who appeared to have an uncertain future in north London, particularly amid Spurs’ pursuit of Manchester City winger Savinho.
However, according to football.london, De Zerbi had a conversation with Tel before his off-season break to assure the 21-year-old that he is part of the Italian’s plans at Tottenham and won’t be leaving the club under his watch.
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The player has been heavily linked with a move in the summer transfer window
Tel has already been linked with Bournemouth and clubs across Europe but now looks to be staying put.
The French forward was an important player for De Zerbi in the final weeks of last season, registering an assist in the 2-1 win at Aston Villa before scoring in the 1-1 draw against Leeds United the following week.
His fortunes at Spurs have been mixed since his arrival from Bayern Munich, initially on loan before a permanent switch last summer, but has clearly shown De Zerbi enough to think he is worth having around.
Spurs need Mathys Tel
One of the biggest talking points regarding Tottenham’s woeful season last term was the number of serious injuries that kept big-name players unavailable for extended periods.
Both Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert aren’t expected to be back fit until 2027 with respective anterior cruciate ligament injuries, meaning that there is still a gap in the forward line that needs to be filled.
Spurs may still complete a deal for Savinho, but that shouldn’t dictate whether or not Tel has a future at the club. At 21, the Frenchman is still in the early stages of his career and has shown plenty of potential.
With a deal running until 2031, Tottenham could set a significant price tag for the forward but cashing in after just one year would be bad business.
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