The 22nd World Cup is being held in Qatar from November 20 to December 18. For a month, 32 nations will fight to engrave their name on the most coveted trophy in the world of football. Focus on 11 highly anticipated men during this competition, between superstars at the twilight of their career, young prodigies and maestro in search of recognition.
Lionel Messi (Argentina), the last opportunity
He is, for sure, one of the greatest players of all time. Perhaps the greatest, according to some. The debate will never really be settled. But despite his genius, the World Cup has always been denied to Lionel Messi. In 2006 and 2010, Argentina stopped in the quarters. In 2014, they lost in the final against Germany. And in 2018, she was out in the round of 16 against France, future world champion.
Last year, Leo Messi finally lifted a national trophy* with the Copa America, after three lost finals. At 35, for what may well be his last World Cup, can the captain and top scorer in the history of Argentina (91 goals in 165 matches) lead his country to a coronation after which he short since 1986? At the time, the number 10 was worn by a certain Diego Maradona… For Lionel Messi, this is undoubtedly the ultimate opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the “Pibe de Oro”.
* He was also crowned Olympic champion in 2008 with a selection mainly composed of Hopes.
Kylian Mbappé (France), the expected boss of the Blues
At only 19 and a half, Kylian Mbappé was already world champion. Four and a half years ago, the striker was already a small phenomenon with his four goals scored, including one in the final. But in Russia, the Parisian was a young adult surrounded by confirmed players like Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann, Blaise Matuidi or Raphaël Varane. Since, the French jewel has taken on a crazy dimensionand as he wished, it is he who now embodies the France team.
In the absence of the innkeepers Pogba and N’Golo Kanté, with a Griezmann in difficulty in recent seasons and a Karim Benzema in an uncertain state of form before the start of this World Cup, the hopes of the reigning world champions rest above all on the shoulders of Kylian Mbappé, who will celebrate his 24th birthday at the end of the competition. In addition, the striker is revengeful after his missed shot on goal against Switzerland during the last Euro.
Neymar (Brazil), genius on a mission
20 years after Brazil’s last victory in the World Cup, Neymar wants to join in history the Ronaldos, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and other Kaka crowned world champions in Japan and South Korea, as well as the Brazilian glories of the past. Eight years ago, during the World Cup on home soil, a serious back injury forced him to retire from competition, and the striker watched helplessly as the disastrous semi-final against Germany. In 2018, in Russia, he did not shine.
Now 30 years old, the most expensive player in history (222 million euros when he transferred from FC Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017) potentially faces his ultimate big challenge. He himself hinted that this World Cup was perhaps his last major competition with the Seleçao. Coached by Tite, the selection comes to Qatar in the shoes of a favorite. With Neymar in great shape since the start of the season, his chances are real.
Mario Götze (Germany), the return of the hero
Who would’ve believed that ? While we thought he was lost for the high level after years of hardship, here is Mario Götze back in the German team. Hansi Flick chose to put his name on his list, when it had been five years since the attacking midfielder had not been called up. Mined by injuries, the German prodigy could not find a place at Bayern Munich (2013-2016). Back in his first home, Borussia Dortmund, he had not regained all his brilliance either, between 2016 and 2020.
And then, coming out of Covid, Mario Götze went to the Netherlands, to PSV Eindhoven. A wise choice because in the space of two years there, the player got back on track. Now in Frankfurt, the right-hander continues at the same pace, to the point of having convinced Flick to take him to Qatar. The Nationalmannschaft hopes from Götze the same genius as eight years ago: in 2014, he came off the bench to go and register the winning goal in the final in extra time against Germany.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), an emperor in search of a rebound
In his immense career, Cristiano Ronaldo has never experienced such a difficult sporting passage. Returning to Manchester United in the summer of 2021, the Portuguese is going through a nightmarish 2022-2023 season. In conflict with his coach Erik ten Hag and his leaders, little used on the ground, “CR7” let go of all his discomfort, his disappointment and his resentment towards the Red Devils. The point of no return seems to have been reached.
Therefore, this World Cup appears as an opportunity to find the light and to start again for Cristiano Ronaldo. But will he find the right formula? Because the World Cup has never been the favorite competition of the top scorer in history. Since the semi-final in 2006, the Portuguese have only reached the round of 16 in 2010 and 2018, and even stopped in the first round in 2014. For a man of challenges like Cristiano Ronaldo, the Qatar World Cup is a big piece.
Pedri (Spain), the future of La Roja
He will celebrate his 20th birthday at the end of November, in the middle of the World Cup, and does not seem to look like much with his 1.74m and 60 kilos. But appearances are deceiving: Pedri is a virtuoso in midfield. He has something to hold on to. Coming from La Masia, the famous school of Barça, this versatile young player grew up watching Spain conquer the world in 2010 with Xavi and Andrès Iniesta in charge. Today coached by the former, Pedri embodies both the future and the revival of the national team and the Catalan club.
The individual awards speak for themselves. Golden Boy 2021 (like Leo Messi, Kylian Mbappé or even Erling Haaland before him), Best youngster of Euro 2021 where La Roja reached the semi-finals, winner of the Kopa Trophy in 2021, Pedri is already unanimous. Now it’s time to win as a team. And all of Spanish football is counting a lot on him to get back to the top.
Luka Modric (Croatia), the last dance
The years go by, the players pass, but Luka Modric always remains this elegant midfielder with the feet of a goldsmith. Of course, Karim Benzema burst onto the screen last season and was the main architect of Real Madrid’s new victory in the Champions League. It is still not possible to hide the importance of the Croatian environment, 37 years old and still as skilful and inspired. The vice-world champion remains the boss of the Madrid midfield as Croatian.
The Ballon d’Or 2018 had led his family to the final in Russia. In Qatar, the task promises to be difficult, because the checkered team seems, on paper in any case, less brilliant than four years ago. Of course, be careful not to underestimate her. Luka Modric would see himself achieving a final feat before ending his international career, as he has already announced.
Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium), the guide of the Red Devils
As often in recent years, Belgium is going to enter the competition with ambitions. How could it be otherwise when you have some of the best talent in Europe in your squad? Even if the repeated disappointments have hurt and given the Red Devils a reputation as eternal losers, it is impossible not to be wary of such a team, which is moreover led by Kevin De Bruyne.
Incredible under the colors of Manchester City and under the orders of Pep Guardiola, the attacking midfielder has also become part of the team coached by Roberto Martinez. With Eden Hazard’s physical ordeal since 2019, Kevin De Bruyne has taken on even greater importance in the Belgian organization. It is now necessary to concretize this omnipotence by taking Belgium towards a long-awaited recognition.
Luis Suarez (Uruguay), the swan song
The swan is probably not the animal that suits Luis Suarez the most. With his predatory surface instincts and his bad penchant for biting (literally), the Uruguayan would rather be compared to a shark. This World Cup in Qatar, however, looks like the last major competition for the soon-to-be 36-year-old striker, whose end of career is approaching.
Luis Suarez already made an important decision last August by leaving Europe, where he panicked defenses for 18 years (Groningen and Ajax in the Netherlands, Liverpool in England, FC Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid in Spain), to return to his training club, the Nacional, in Montevideo. He and his friend Edinson Cavani, who will also celebrate his 36th birthday in a few weeks, will play one last World Cup and supervise the new generation of the Uruguayan attack, embodied by Darwin Nunez and Facundo Pellistri.
Christian Eriksen (Denmark), brilliant comeback
Nobody has forgotten this terrible image of Christian Eriksen lifeless on the ground in Copenhagen, June 12, 2021, during a match of Denmark against Finland. Victim of a cardiac arrest, the midfielder was able to be brought back to life. Many, then, thought that his football career was over. However, nothing came of it: now equipped with an automatic defibrillator, the Dane resumed competition modestly with Brentford and the national team. And his performances quickly paved his way to Manchester United.
Almost forgotten, the misadventure of 18 months ago. Christian Eriksen is alive and as elegant as ever on the green meadow. ” The selection is better with Christian than without him. His calm is contagious and the whole team is able to make the right decisions. “said coach Kasper Hjulmand, who did not hesitate for a moment to include him in his team for Qatar, a country where Denmark arrives with assumed ambitions. Semi-finalists of the last Euro, the Danes have just beaten world champion France twice in the space of a few months.
Son Heung-min (South Korea), the hope of an entire country
30 years old, the age of maturity. A must at Tottenham, his club since 2015, Son Heung-min has reached an impressive level. Hyper fast, dribbler and scorer, the South Korean knows how to do everything. At Spurs, he finished top scorer in the Premier League with 23 goals last season (tied with Liverpool’s Egyptian Mohamed Salah). And 20 years after the exploits of Guus Hiddink, Ahn Jung-hwan, Seol Ki-hyeon and company, who had reached the semi-finals of the World Cup, South Korea begins to dream of a new golden destiny, in the wake of Son Heung-min.
A fear ran through a whole people when the striker was injured against Marseille in the Champions League in early November. Victim of an orbital fracture, Son had to undergo surgery, leaving doubts hanging over him. But the South Korean has already warned that he will not miss this meeting ” for nothing in the world “, because it is a ” dream “.