Who would be the star of the 2026 World Cup?
Typically, that star flip comes from a participant who has already established himself as top-of-the-line on the planet. Typically, it comes from somebody you have by no means heard of earlier than.
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Whereas it is unimaginable to foretell which participant will explode from relative anonymity to world stardom over the subsequent month, listed here are 26 gamers to observe at this yr’s event together with many who’re searching for one final shot at glory as they probably make their remaining World Cup appearances.
Bellingham is making his fourth main event look on the age of twenty-two after scoring two objectives and including an help whereas beginning all seven of England’s matches in Euro 2024. The attacking midfielder could be an odd match at occasions with striker as they prefer to occupy the identical elements of the pitch, however England will want Bellingham to be at his greatest if it desires to lastly finish its World Cup drought.
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Moisés Caicedo,
The 24-year-old midfielder is an integral a part of an Ecuador group that allowed simply 5 objectives throughout its World Cup qualifying run. Ecuador simply made the 2026 World Cup and even completed forward of within the CONMEBOL standings. Caicedo, who moved to Chelsea three seasons in the past, has began 137 Premier League video games over the previous 4 seasons.
When and the way a lot will we see Davies on the 2026 World Cup? The left-sided fullback and midfielder suffered a hamstring damage in Could whereas enjoying for . Canada coach Jesse Marsch stated that he’ll miss at the very least Canada’s first sport towards Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Canadians have an important probability to get to the knockout rounds for the primary time ever because of a good group draw, however they’ll want Davies’ game-changing talents.
(Boston Globe by way of Getty Photographs)Ousmane Dembélé, France
You’ve got most likely heard quite a bit about Dembélé’s teammate Kylian Mbappé. However Dembélé has a greater argument as France’s greatest participant heading into the 2026 World Cup. Sure, the assault will nonetheless revolve round Mbappé, although Dembélé is a extra well-rounded participant. He scored eight objectives on 34 photographs in simply 11 Champions League appearances in 2025-26 as gained its second straight UCL title.
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The Belgians are nonetheless led by 30-somethings , and . However Doku has emerged because the group’s greatest participant and the bridge to the nation’s subsequent era. Doku, 23, turned an integral piece at for now-former supervisor Pep Guardiola and would be the focus of Belgium’s assault on the World Cup.
Edin Džeko, Bosnia-Herzegovina
The 40-year-old performed this season within the Bundesliga 2 however remains to be a significant a part of a Bosnia-Herzegovina group that shocked within the UEFA playoffs to make the World Cup. Džeko scored six objectives in 9 World Cup qualifying video games and shall be requested to be the group’s high scoring choice within the U.S. Do not be shocked if Bosnia-Herzegovina make it to the knockout rounds. Group B is large open with Czechia and alongside Canada because the Bosnians’ first three opponents.
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Sure, all the eye shall be at at this World Cup. However make no mistake, Fernandes is Portugal’s Most worthy participant and the group will go so far as he can take them up entrance. The Premier League participant of the yr set the single-season EPL assists report with 21-in-35 video games for . He performs exceptionally properly with Manchester Metropolis midfielder , and their interaction with will assist create area for Ronaldo … when he is on the sector.
Arda Güler, Türkiye
Don’t overlook what Türkiye can do in the US’ Group D. There is a case to be made that the Turks are the most effective group within the group regardless of needing the UEFA playoffs to make the World Cup and Güler could also be the most effective attacking participant in Group D too. The younger Actual Madrid star had 4 objectives and 9 assists in La Liga this season and likewise notched 2 objectives within the second leg of Actual’s quarterfinal Champions League loss to Bayern Munich.
Haaland could also be the most effective pure striker on the planet and is making his World Cup debut. Norway did not get a simple draw, both. The Norwegians are within the hardest group of the event alongside France and . With eight third-place groups advancing, it is probably we’ll see the Manchester Metropolis striker and his midfielder teammate Martin Ødegaard within the knockout rounds. And relying on the place the Norwegians slot into the Spherical of 32, they’re able to a quarterfinal run.
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The Moroccans can not be thought of World Cup darkish horses after making it to the semifinals in 2022. The PSG proper again is among the greatest large defenders on the planet though his 2025-26 season was disrupted by damage. A wholesome Hakimi will assist Morocco proceed to be one of the vital organized groups on the World Cup — and likewise a gaggle that may make one other knockout-round run.
Raúl Jiménez,
It is most likely the 35-year-old striker’s final World Cup hurrah. Jiménez got here off the bench on the 2022 World Cup and failed to attain, however he was nonetheless lower than two years faraway from a traumatic mind damage that necessitated emergency surgical procedure for a mind bleed. Jiménez has scored 28 league objectives during the last three membership seasons for and began each match for Mexico on the 2025 Gold Cup, the place he scored three objectives.
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Harry Kane, England
The Three Lions star has been prolific since transferring to Bayern Munich. Kane scored 36 objectives throughout 31 Bundesliga matches in 2025-26 to steer Bayern to a second straight league title. Kane carried England in 2022 with 2 objectives and three assists over England’s 5 matches. This yr, supervisor Thomas Tuchel has chosen extra direct wingers to the England squad with the hopes that his group’s play will replicate how Bayern Munich has performed with Kane. There, Bayern’s large gamers run deep to present Kane area to play and passing lanes for throughballs.
The German captain shall be at proper again for his nation once more. Kimmich, 31, is making his third World Cup look and primarily performs in central midfield for Bayern Munich. Kimmich is thrust into that spot because of being an extremely well-rounded participant. However he’d most likely match higher within the midfield if Germany had different choices at proper again. The Germans need to get out of the group stage for the primary time because the 2014 World Cup and don’t have any excuse for a 3rd straight three-and-out efficiency on condition that half the third-place groups will advance to the knockout rounds.
What does the world’s most well-known soccer participant have in retailer for an encore after main Argentina to its first World Cup since 1986? The 38-year-old Messi remains to be the point of interest of Argentina’s assault, however he enters this World Cup after coping with what Argentina stated is hamstring fatigue, and he is additionally been plying his commerce in Main League Soccer. Can Messi be the primary star enjoying membership soccer in MLS to steer his nation to a World Cup title and exit on high?
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Kylian Mbappé France
A robust World Cup shall be a pleasant rebound for one of many world’s most well-known gamers. Mbappé went by means of a turbulent begin to 2026. Tensions had been excessive at Actual Madrid and the group unintentionally did an MRI on his proper knee after Mbappé injured his left knee. There’ll all the time be questions on Mbappé’s willingness to trace again and defend, and people aren’t going to go away at this World Cup. However France’s techniques are constructed with Mbappé’s tendencies in thoughts and few gamers are extra harmful on the break.
The seemingly ageless Modric is now 40 and positively enjoying in his final World Cup. He transitioned from focus to bench participant for Actual Madrid this previous season, although he is nonetheless the person who pulls the strings for Croatia. The Croatians made the World Cup Closing in 2018 earlier than making the semifinals once more in 2022. A 3rd straight semis look is not out of the equation — however it is going to be the group’s most troublesome achievement up to now.
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The newest star of Spain’s constant capacity to churn out midfield maestros, Pedri has been a key participant for because the group has gained three of the final 4 La Liga titles. Pedri emerged as a starter for Spain as a 19-year-old on the 2022 World Cup and was a stalwart for the group that gained Euro 2024 till he suffered a left knee sprain within the quarterfinals that knocked him out of the event.
Can Pulisic get away of the slumping membership type he confirmed for this season? After notching 20 mixed objectives and assists in every of the final two Serie A campaigns, Pulisic, 27, had simply eight objectives and 4 assists throughout 30 appearances in 2025-26. He additionally made simply 18 begins. It is exhausting to see the US attending to the quarterfinals with no star flip from Pulisic.
France’s Kylian Mbappé watches on Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes take heart stage — a dynamic that might outline Portugal’s title hopes on the 2026 World Cup.
(NurPhoto by way of Getty Photographs)Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal
Ronaldo, 41, is making his sixth World Cup look and have become the primary man to attain at 5 World Cups when he transformed a penalty kick in 2022 for his eighth profession purpose within the event. Nevertheless, all eight of these objectives have come within the group stage. Ronaldo has, someway, by no means scored within the knockout rounds. Will that change in what’s positive to be his final World Cup? Which will hinge on how a lot he sees the sector.
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The longtime star is leaving the membership this summer time after his worst season. Salah had simply seven objectives and 7 assists; he hadn’t had fewer than 28 mixed objectives and assists in any of his eight earlier seasons with the membership. Can Salah, 33, summon sufficient to steer Egypt on a deep World Cup run? The Egyptians have an inviting group with Belgium, and and Salah enters this World Cup wholesome not like he did in 2018.
The previous winger has performed the final two seasons for in MLS and enters the World Cup on a purpose drought. Son has eight assists in 13 MLS appearances this season however has failed to attain a purpose after notching 9 in 10 appearances a season in the past. If Son can rediscover his goal-scoring type, South Korea has an outstanding probability of getting out of the group stage.
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Actual Madrid’s captain is the brand new focus of the . Valverde will function as a part of a three-man midfield that additionally options Manchester United’s and Tottenham’s Betancur. However Ugarte hardly noticed any enjoying time this season at Man U and Tottenham was dysfunctional because it barely averted relegation. If Valverde has to hold the midfield all by himself, Uruguay is destined for a brief World Cup keep. If he has some assist — and can rating a purpose or two — Uruguay is usually a sleeper.
Van Dijk’s type dipped in 2025-26 as Liverpool was unable to defend its Premier League title. The captain remains to be an undisputed starter for each membership and nation, nonetheless, and is integral to a Dutch protection that can should be wonderful for the Netherlands to be a severe contender.
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Viní Jr. shall be enjoying for his former Actual Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti and would be the group’s important goal-scoring menace as he occupies his normal spot down the suitable facet. Can Ancelotti be the key to a breakout efficiency on the World Cup? Regardless of being top-of-the-line purpose scorers on the planet at Actual Madrid, Viní Jr. has scored simply eight objectives in 47 appearances for the .
Do not be stunned in the event you do not see Yamal early within the World Cup. He is been coping with a hamstring damage and Spain is the large favourite to win a gaggle that features , and Uruguay. The sport towards Uruguay is not till June 26. Lacking a pair group video games will probably take Yamal out of the working for an award just like the Golden Boot, but it surely’s exhausting to see how anybody else usurps him for greatest younger participant on the event if Spain makes a deep run.