Karim Benzema – France
The Ballon d’Or winner has had an injury-filled autumn and did not play very much in Real Madrid, but still went with the French squad to Qatar. Once there, it was a quick sortie. Benzema made an attempt in training on Saturday, but went off prematurely – a couple of hours later it was confirmed that the striker will miss the entire tournament. However, he is not the only French star to miss the World Cup:
Paul Pogba – France
The midfielder has had a couple of tumultuous seasons at club level, but was a key cog in the French national team that won the World Cup four years ago. Lingering knee problems, however, stop the Juventus player from participating in Qatar. Just like the compatriot:
N’Golo Kante – France
The defensive midfield anchor also misses the WC. A hamstring injury has kept the Chelsea player out of action for most of the autumn and the World Cup comes too early to try to help France repeat the gold medal success from Russia four years ago.
Christopher Nkunku – France
Nkunku was also forced to make a late withdrawal to Qatar. A week before the nation’s World Cup opener against Australia (Tuesday), the forward suffered a knee injury.
Mike Maignan – France
The Milan goalkeeper is also on France’s injury list. Maignan, named the best cage keeper last season in Serie A, has been injured during the autumn and did not have time to recover enough to be included in Didier Deschamps’ squad.
Presnel Kimpembe – France
Even the PSG defender Kimpembe has been injured during the autumn and has not had time to catch up physically enough to be part of Deschamps’ national team.
Sadio Mané – Senegal
Named Africa’s best player and runner-up in the Ballon d’Or voting, great expectations were placed on Mané to lead Senegal to success in Qatar. However, the Bayern Munich striker was injured in the penultimate match before the World Cup tournament and will miss the entire championship.
Diogo Jota – Portugal
The Liverpool striker limped off in the closing minutes of the meeting with Manchester City in mid-October. The calf injury keeps him out of Qatar.
Timo Werner – Germany
The striker had returned to the Bundesliga and Leipzig after a less than successful spell at Chelsea and looked to have hit form in time for the World Cup, but a foot ligament injury in early November is keeping him out of Qatar.
Marco Reus – Germany
Dortmund striker Reus, who did not participate in the European Championship last year, also misses the World Cup due to a foot injury.
Georginio Wijnaldum – Netherlands
The midfield veteran broke his leg in August and is thus not in the Netherlands’ squad in Qatar.
Ben Chilwell – England
The left-back suffered a hamstring injury at the beginning of November in the Champions League meeting with Dinamo Zagreb. However, he is not the only Chelsea full-back to miss the World Cup for England:
Reece James – England
Right-back Reece James has also been withdrawn from the England squad after a knee injury he suffered in October.
Jesus Corona – Mexico
The Sevilla winger has scored ten goals in 71 internationals for his Mexico. However, there won’t be any WC matches after a broken leg in August.
Giovani Lo Celso – Argentina
A muscle tear is keeping the Villareal midfielder, on loan from Tottenham, away from Qatar.
Nicolas Gonzalez – Argentina
Fiorentina’s speedy winger has scored three goals in 21 internationals, but an injury-riddled autumn means he is not playing in Qatar.
Joaquin Correa – Argentina
Neither does Joaquin Correa, the striker who netted four times in 19 internationals. The international striker is bothered by a problem with a hamstring.
Amine Harit – Morocco
The midfielder, who plays everyday for French side Marseille, recently suffered a knee injury which means he will miss the championship.
Jose Gaya – Spain
The left back badly sprained his right foot during the Spanish pre-camp in Jordan on Wednesday and will miss the World Cup.