Here we are: Preparing for a World Cup successful November and December. Who would've ever imagined that soccer's showpiece summertime lawsuit would go a wintertime wonderland?
The crippled of shot has changed a batch passim the years: the mode it's played, who plays it, however we ticker games being played. Slowly but surely the crippled evolved, and erstwhile there's a jarring translation -- similar a wintertime World Cup -- it tin consciousness similar a gyration has happened overnight.
That alteration is reflected by the 2022 variation of ESPN FC's World Cup Rank. We asked tv analysts, reporters, columnists, producers and editors from each implicit the satellite to ballot connected who they judge to beryllium the champion players participating successful this year's tournament.
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For much than a decade, it came down to a duel betwixt Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to apical this benignant of list, but each of a sudden, this is not a rubric to beryllium decided by them. This year's database is afloat of caller faces, galore young but immoderate older, who present person their accidental to show that they're the champion that shot has to offer.
And what amended signifier to bash it connected than the biggest sporting lawsuit connected the planet?
So, with the input of our planetary web of contributors, these are the 50 champion players astatine Qatar 2022.
Editor's note: All ages are arsenic of the commencement of the World Cup connected Nov. 20.
50. Andre Onana
Country: Cameroon
Club: Inter Milan
Age: 26
Position: Goalkeeper
2018 Rank: Not ranked
Weirdly, helium conscionable astir played much successful 2022 for Cameroon than helium did for his nine sides, Ajax and Inter. But his agility and property marque him 1 of the leaders of this Cameroon team, and it's not a coincidence that helium unseated Inter's longtime captain, Samir Handanovic, betwixt the sticks earlier this year. Onana exudes assurance and has the skills to backmost it up. -- Gab Marcotti
49. Kalidou Koulibaly
Country: Senegal
Club: Chelsea
Age: 31
Position: Defender
2018 Rank: Not ranked
Senegal person precocious hopes for this World Cup pursuing their African Cup of Nations triumph successful February, and portion there'll beryllium plentifulness of attraction astir their superb guardant Sadio Mane, immoderate triumph volition beryllium anchored astatine the backmost and skipper Koulibaly is indispensable. His play has started dilatory astatine caller nine Chelsea pursuing his summertime determination from Napoli, but he'll consciousness close astatine location successful beforehand of Edouard Mendy arsenic the past partition of defence for Senegal. He prioritises the corporate implicit immoderate idiosyncratic praise. When Senegal won the Cup of Nations, Koulibaly refused to assistance the trophy by himself and alternatively waited to beryllium backmost with his squad truthful they could observe together. -- Tom Hamilton
48. Bukayo Saka
Country: England
Club: Arsenal
Age: 21
Position: Midfielder
2018 Rank: Not ranked
There is plentifulness of contention for places successful wide attacking areas for England, but Saka's awesome Arsenal signifier gives him a unrecorded accidental of forcing his mode into the starting lineup. The 21-year-old is successful the premix with Jack Grealish, Phil Foden and Mason Mount -- among others -- for 2 positions either broadside of Harry Kane successful attack, but Southgate is afloat of praise for the mode Saka recovered from being 1 of 3 players to miss a punishment successful the Euro 2020 last shootout decision to Italy. -- James Olley
47. Ederson
Country: Brazil
Club: Manchester City
Age: 29
Position: Goalkeeper
2018 Rank: Not ranked
Brazil person played 10 games this year, and Ederson has lone appeared erstwhile -- successful a World Cup qualifier astatine location to Paraguay that was truthful casual helium could person taken a deckchair. Brave and imposing, with a near ft that combines precision with howitzer power, Ederson would locomotion into galore nationalist teams successful Qatar, but helium looks acceptable to beryllium the backup for Brazil. He got the motion successful the knockout stages of past year's Copa America, but without doing thing wrong, appears to person mislaid retired to Alisson. -- Tim Vickery
46. Christian Eriksen
Country: Denmark
Club: Manchester United
Age: 30
Position: Midfielder
2018 Rank: 19
The information Eriksen is connected the database is singular fixed what happened successful July 2021. Eriksen was playing for Denmark successful their Euro 2020 opener against Finland, and successful the 42nd infinitesimal of the match, helium suffered a cardiac arrest. He received CPR connected the tract and successful the ambulance helium told his fiancée, "I'm not going to play again, nary way." Yet present we are up of the adjacent large tournament, and Eriksen is Denmark's cardinal player.
Since that time successful Copenhagen, Eriksen needed to person an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator fitted, which meant owed to Serie A rules, helium could nary longer play for Inter Milan. So helium trained distant from the nationalist eye, and successful February 2022 helium returned to competitory shot successful the Premier League having signed a short-term woody with Brentford. In the summertime helium signed for Manchester United and has been cardinal for them this term, but Eriksen featuring successful the World Cup completes the afloat ellipse of a astir singular recovery.
He made his planetary instrumentality successful March arsenic a substitute against the Netherlands, and scored wrong 2 minutes of coming onto the field. "He's backmost and has the champion shot successful beforehand of him," Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand said astatine the time. -- Tom Hamilton
45. Gavi
Country: Spain
Club: Barcelona
Age: 18
Position: Midfielder
2018 Rank: Not ranked
There were complaints crossed Spain past twelvemonth erstwhile Luis Enrique called up Gavi astatine the property of 17 aft conscionable six Barcelona appearances. The complainers person since been silenced, with Gavi among Spain's champion players successful each of his 12 caps truthful far. He is already an established portion of the midfield, alongside nine teammates Sergio Busquets and Pedri, and his strength and enactment rate, not to notation his prime with the ball, volition beryllium important successful Qatar. -- Sam Marsden
44. Aurelien Tchouameni
Country: France
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 22
Position: Midfielder
2018 Rank: Not ranked
Tchouameni made his large determination from AS Monaco to Real Madrid successful the summertime and is present acceptable to anchor France's midfield successful Qatar. Tchouameni, 22, made his nationalist squad debut during World Cup qualifying and has present consolidated his position, starting 5 of France's past six games. He's settled successful good successful Madrid, making replacing Casemiro look similar nary large deal. -- Alex Kirkland
43. Romelu Lukaku
Country: Belgium
Club: Inter Milan
Age: 29
Position: Forward
2018 Rank: 33
Lukaku's instrumentality to Inter Milan connected indebtedness from Chelsea has been disrupted by hamstring occupation this season, but if helium recovers successful clip from his latest setback, helium is successful with a outcry of the Golden Boot astatine the World Cup. He is Belgium's talismanic striker and the focal constituent of their singular attack. With an awesome grounds of 68 goals successful 102 matches, Lukaku is "irreplaceable," successful the words of manager Roberto Martinez. All of Belgium volition beryllium hoping his troublesome hamstring sorts itself retired successful time. -- Tom Hamilton
42. Rodri
Country: Spain
Club: Manchester City
Age: 26
Position: Midfielder
2018 Rank: Not ranked
Spain spell into the World Cup with 2 of the champion antiaircraft midfielders successful the crippled with skipper Sergio Busquets and Manchester City's Rodri. Alongside the Barcelona player, Rodri provides a antiaircraft shield to manager Luis Enrique's backmost 4 and besides gives Spain's attacking midfielders the level to instrumentality the crippled to the absorption successful the last 3rd of the pitch. -- Mark Ogden
41. Jamal Musiala
Country: Germany
Club: Bayern Munich
Age: 19
Position: Midfielder
2018 Rank: Not ranked
Without immoderate hyperbole, this teen mightiness beryllium the champion pouch subordinate successful the crippled today. No 1 is rather arsenic slick erstwhile nether immense unit successful choky spaces. In fact, Musiala often moves into treble oregon triple sum intentionally to make country for his teammates. At 19, helium is astir to go the violative centerpiece of the Germany nationalist team. -- Constantin Eckner
40. Dusan Vlahovic
Country: Serbia
Club: Juventus
Age: 22
Position: Forward
2018 Rank: Not ranked
The large antheral has had a rocky clip implicit the past fewer months astatine nine level, but he's cardinal to Serbia's goal-scoring plans, forming a heavyweight tag squad with Aleksandar Mitrovic. At 22, erstwhile he's connected song, helium bristles with energy, athleticism and enthusiasm, outmuscling and outpacing astir defenders. -- Gab Marcotti
39. Gabriel Jesus
Country: Brazil
Club: Arsenal
Age: 25
Position: Forward
2018 Rank: 36
Jesus whitethorn person been revitalised by his summertime determination to Arsenal from Manchester City, but his spot successful Brazil's lineup is successful doubt. In fact, helium was omitted from the astir caller squad successful September altogether, though Brazilian caput manager Tite confirmed the 25-year-old is precise overmuch "in the running" to marque the last 26. Jesus' vigor and committedness person rapidly endeared him to Gunners fans, but his northbound London rival Richarlison appears to beryllium favoured to pb the Brazil onslaught astatine present. -- James Olley
38. Ousmane Dembele
Country: France
Club: Barcelona
Age: 25
Position: Forward
2018 Rank: 49
Dembele was portion of the France squad that won the World Cup successful 2018, but helium has made conscionable 7 appearances since. However, the finals get with him successful the champion signifier of his Barcelona career. Xavi Hernandez has stake large connected him and France should spot the benefits. Dembele struggles with consistency but is electrical erstwhile games unfastened up and is apt to beryllium a bully enactment disconnected the seat for Didier Deschamps. -- Sam Marsden
37. Antoine Griezmann
Country: France
Club: Atletico Madrid
Age: 31
Position: Forward
2018 Rank: 8
Griezmann surely doesn't person the aforesaid presumption arsenic helium did 4 years agone erstwhile helium arrived successful Russia having conscionable won the Europa League with Atletico Madrid and finished 1 of the champion seasons of his career. He was astatine his highest then. Now is simply a precise antithetic story.
His determination to Barcelona 2 years agone was a catastrophe and helium has struggled with France, too. He needs to retrieve his champion signifier if helium wants to assistance Les Bleus spell acold successful this tourney -- and support his spot successful the starting lineup. With the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Christopher Nkunku and Kingsley Coman connected the bench, Didier Deschamps could easy driblet Griezmann. It is simply a immense tourney for him. At 31, this could beryllium his past World Cup, and the French are hoping that the excitement of the tourney volition bring the champion backmost retired of "Grizi." -- Julien Laurens
1:07
Gab Marcotti says helium has nary thought what to expect from defending champions France astatine the 2022 World Cup.
36. Achraf Hakimi
Country: Morocco
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Age: 24
Position: Defender
2018 Rank: Not ranked
This is Hakimi's archetypal World Cup, and the 24-year-old right-back is ambitious. He is playing good this play with PSG, and Morocco are underdogs with a talented squad and thing to lose. Hakimi is simply a large portion of what could marque them palmy successful Qatar with his runs and enactment connected the right. -- Julien Laurens
35. Trent Alexander-Arnold
Country: England
Club: Liverpool
Age: 24
Position: Defender
2018 Rank: Not ranked
While Alexander-Arnold is 1 of the archetypal names connected the Liverpool squad sheet, his narration with England has been little straightforward. He was omitted from their past matchday squad for the lucifer with Germany and has made conscionable 3 starts for the Three Lions since Euro 2020 -- with nary of them coming successful his accustomed right-back spot. His versatility means helium is arsenic adept successful cardinal midfield arsenic helium is connected the right, but England haven't figured retired however to play to his strengths. With Reece James ruled retired of the World Cup, Alexander-Arnold whitethorn yet beryllium fixed a accidental to showcase his uncommon skillset. -- Tom Hamilton
34. Lautaro Martinez
Country: Argentina
Club: Inter Milan
Age: 25
Position: Forward
2018 Rank: Not ranked
He's the heir to the large Argentina centre-forwards, taking up the mantle of Gabriel Batistuta, Sergio Aguero and Hernan Crespo. But he's arsenic overmuch a supplier arsenic helium is simply a finisher, ever acceptable to travel abbreviated to play a one-two oregon tally down to agelong a antiaircraft line. -- Gab Marcotti
33. Ilkay Gundogan
Country: Germany
Club: Manchester City
Age: 32
Position: Midfielder
2018 Rank: Not ranked
Gundogan didn't person a large World Cup successful 2018, but Germany person rediscovered immoderate of their swagger up of Qatar, and the Manchester City midfielder's acquisition and composure connected the shot is important to Hansi Flick's team. He's go 1 of the on-field leaders for Pep Guardiola and for his nationalist team. -- Rob Dawson
32. Frenkie de Jong
Country: Netherlands
Club: Barcelona
Age: 25
Position: Midfielder
2018 Rank: Not ranked
The Netherlands person plentifulness of endowment successful the squad, but nary 1 is arsenic important arsenic De Jong successful presumption of however the Dutch volition play. He is important successful the gameplay of Louis van Gaal. The mode helium is capable to velocity up with a dribble oregon cardinal walk is captious and helium can't beryllium missed during the tourney arsenic nary 1 successful the squad has the qualities De Jong has. -- Max Toemen
31. Thomas Muller
Country: Germany
Club: Bayern Munich
Age: 33
Position: Forward
2018 Rank: 28
Muller's hips don't lie, though presently they are causing excessively overmuch occupation and adhd to the database of caller injuries. It would, however, acceptable his vocation to spot him play an outstanding World Cup and beryllium each doubters, who foretell the extremity of the "Raumdeuter," incorrect 1 much time. His quality to work the tract amended than astir anyone successful the crippled tin assistance him flooded immoderate shortcomings related to his fitness. -- Constantin Eckner
30. Antonio Rudiger
Country: Germany
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 29
Position: Defender
2018 Rank: Not ranked
Rudiger volition astir surely beryllium 1 of Germany's first-choice centre-backs astatine the World Cup. The 29-year-old, who near Chelsea for Real Madrid connected a escaped transportation successful the summer, played each infinitesimal of Germany's tally to the past 16 astatine Euro 2020, wherever they were beaten 2-0 by England astatine Wembley. The deficiency of a accordant goal-scoring menace volition spot further accent connected Germany's defending, already nether scrutiny aft a tally of conscionable 1 triumph successful 7 games. Rudiger leads by illustration with his assertive antiaircraft style, partial to a bursting guardant tally that helped marque him a fashionable fig astatine Stamford Bridge, though helium has lone started astir fractional of Madrid's matches this season. Rudiger was 1 of respective players to talk retired against FIFA's determination to grant the World Cup to Qatar, claiming successful September that "it shows wealth plays a important relation successful the satellite of football." -- James Olley
29. Marquinhos
Country: Brazil
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Age: 28
Position: Defender
2018 Rank: Not ranked
It is the defence that volition find whether Brazil volition triumph oregon suffer this World Cup. Marquinhos, 28, volition person a large relation to play. His concern with Thiago Silva is precise solid, having played unneurotic for years astatine PSG and for the Selecao. They recognize each different without a word, and the Brazilians volition request them astatine their best. -- Julien Laurens
28. Rafael Leao
Country: Portugal
Club: AC Milan
Age: 23
Position: Forward
2018 Rank: Not ranked
Speed kills. And you can't manager it. His accelerations down the near flank, his abrupt bursts of creativity, his mazy dribbling ... each of these had scouts mesmerized by his skills from a young age. But it's truly lone precocious that Leao has managed to elbow his mode into Portugal's crowded beforehand line. -- Gab Marcotti
27. Bruno Fernandes
Country: Portugal
Club: Manchester United
Age: 28
Position: Midfielder
2018 Rank: Not ranked
The Manchester United midfielder has yet to play to his afloat imaginable for Portugal owed to manager Fernando Santos often favouring Manchester City's Bernardo Silva successful a floating relation betwixt the midfield and attack. There is besides a content that Cristiano Ronaldo's beingness is different complication for Fernandes, but the World Cup offers the 28-year-old the accidental to yet interruption retired connected the planetary stage. -- Mark Ogden
26. Alphonso Davies
Country: Canada
Club: Bayern Munich
Age: 22
Position: Defender
2018 Rank: Not ranked
Davies is simply a world-class footballer with the abilities of an Olympic sprinter, an attacking winger playing left-back the bulk of the time. He is truthful retired of the mean that helium people creates chaos connected the field, peculiarly wrong the opposing backmost line. Some defenders are purposely sitting heavy to springiness Davies arsenic small country arsenic imaginable to interruption done towards the byline.
While helium is 1 among galore top-class players astatine Bayern Munich, Davies is caput and shoulders supra immoderate other astatine the Canada nationalist team. Les Rouges request the Ghana-born left-footer to marque their squad genuinely competitive. If determination is immoderate contented that is perchance holding Davies back, it is the information that his muscular assemblage appears to beryllium prone to injuries. -- Constantin Eckner
1:17
Sebastian Salazar and Herculez Gomez instrumentality a look astatine which CONCACAF players marque ESPN FC's World Cup rank.
25. Casemiro
Country: Brazil
Club: Manchester United
Age: 30
Position: Midfielder
2018 Rank: Not ranked
Erik 10 Hag calls Casemiro "the cement betwixt the stones" astatine Manchester United, and successful a Brazil squad afloat of attacking flair, helium is simply a invaluable security argumentation successful beforehand of the defence. After taking clip to gain a regular spot astatine Old Trafford, the 30-year-old has go 1 of United's cardinal players truthful acold this play and helium volition beryllium captious for the Selecao successful Qatar. Tite has built a Brazil that has equilibrium arsenic 1 of its strengths and Casemiro's relation successful the centre of the transportation -- alongside United teammate Fred -- is cardinal to it. He's heading to Qatar acceptable and successful form. -- Rob Dawson
24. Manuel Neuer
Country: Germany
Club: Bayern Munich
Age: 36
Position: Goalkeeper
2018 Rank: 25
No 1 is truly capable to defy age, not adjacent an all-time large goalkeeper. For the clip being, however, Neuer is inactive the aforesaid benignant of subordinate helium was a decennary ago, meaning that helium shows large reflexes and positional consciousness arsenic a changeable stopper and is tremendously talented successful the relation of a sweeper keeper, often denying opponents from counterattacks. If determination is thing that tin halt Neuer, it is his property and mounting injuries. -- Constantin Eckner
23. Ruben Dias
Country: Portugal
Club: Manchester City
Age: 25
Position: Defender
2018 Rank: Not ranked
Dias has emerged arsenic Portugal's fig 1 centre-half since playing a cardinal relation successful their UEFA Nations League triumph successful 2019. The Manchester City defender has forged a formidable concern astatine the backmost with 39-year-old Porto centre-back Pepe, who continues to defy the years for nine and country, but Dias is present the elder spouse successful that narration with his enactment qualities and quality to work the game. -- Mark Ogden
22. Jude Bellingham
Country: England
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Age: 19
Position: Midfielder
2018 Rank: Not ranked
England's wunderkind plays with much restraint for England than helium does for Borussia Dortmund, which is caused by the relation Gareth Southgate usually puts him in. While Bellingham cannot amusement his box-to-box qualities arsenic much, his runs down the tract are important for the Three Lions to make chances.
Bellingham is the Swiss pouch weapon among midfielders, arsenic helium tin bash astir thing from hard-nosed defending to opening the tract with clever passes to making penetrating sprints into the box. England person go babelike connected Bellingham. If helium plays a beardown tournament, the doors to the semifinals oregon adjacent the last are wide open. -- Constantin Eckner
1:57
The ESPN FC unit statement who volition person the champion World Cup retired of Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde and Pedri.
21. Alisson
Country: Brazil
Club: Liverpool
Age: 30
Position: Goalkeeper
2018 Rank: Not ranked
Alisson was thrown successful the heavy extremity successful 2015 when, small known and inexperienced, helium was amazingly promoted to go Brazil's first-choice keeper. It proved an inspired hunch. He has developed into 1 of the world's champion successful the position, dependable and unflashy but susceptible of the outstanding. He has worked hard astatine his distribution, and implicit clip has go 1 of the team's leaders. All of these virtues support him up of the fantabulous Ederson arsenic Brazil's No. 1. -- Tim Vickery
20. Cristiano Ronaldo
Country: Portugal
Club: Manchester United
Age: 37
Position: Forward
2018 Rank: 2
The Manchester United forward's record-breaking vocation mightiness yet beryllium connected the wane astatine the property of 37, but helium remains a talismanic fig for Portugal up of his 5th quality astatine a World Cup. Ronaldo goes into Qatar arsenic the all-time starring extremity scorer successful planetary football, taking his tally to 117 by scoring doubly successful the 4-0 UEFA Nations League triumph against Switzerland successful June.
Those are the lone goals helium has scored for Portugal successful 2022, though, and the statement astir his value to his state is opening to turn successful the buildup to Qatar. Yet Ronaldo continues to beryllium the archetypal sanction connected Coach Santos' squad expanse and his grounds of delivering big, important goals for his state cannot beryllium disputed, truthful helium volition proceed to pb his federation astatine this World Cup. -- Mark Ogden
19. Pedri
Country: Spain
Club: Barcelona
Age: 19
Position: Midfielder
2018 Rank: Not ranked
The Barcelona midfielder was named the champion young subordinate astatine Euro 2020 and volition beryllium cardinal to Spain's hopes successful Qatar. He volition crook 20 during the tourney and, arsenic is progressively the lawsuit astatine Barca, everything La Roja bash is apt to tally done him.
He has a maturity beyond his years, knows erstwhile to velocity up the crippled and erstwhile to dilatory it down and, astir importantly, seldom makes mistakes with the ball. After an injury-hit run past clip out, pursuing his exploits astatine the Euros and the Olympic Games, helium is present backmost successful highest carnal information conscionable successful clip for the biggest contention successful the game. -- Sam Marsden
18. Phil Foden
Country: England
Club: Manchester City
Age: 22
Position: Midfielder
2018 Rank: Not ranked
Foden has go cardinal to Guardiola's winning instrumentality astatine Manchester City, but he's not guaranteed to commencement for England astatine the World Cup. If Gareth Southgate decides to play with 3 centre-backs and a brace of wing-backs, it's apt to mean Foden is near battling for 1 of 2 positions either broadside of skipper Harry Kane, and determination is plentifulness of contention from Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount, Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford.
Foden has been successful good signifier for City truthful acold this season, but Southgate hasn't ever picked his squad connected signifier and helium whitethorn person to hold for his chance. The 21-year-old has a wont of influencing large games for City and it's lone a substance of clip earlier helium does the aforesaid for England. -- Rob Dawson
17. Joao Cancelo
Country: Portugal
Club: Manchester City
Age: 28
Position: Defender
2018 Rank: Not ranked
Cancelo has developed a estimation arsenic 1 of the astir devastating attacking full-backs successful the satellite astatine Juventus and Manchester City, and volition beryllium expected to present the work for Ronaldo. He's expected to play successful his preferred right-back relation contempt regularly playing connected the near astatine the Etihad Stadium. -- Rob Dawson
16. Bernardo Silva
Country: Portugal
Club: Manchester City
Age: 28
Position: Midfielder
2018 Rank: Not ranked
There is simply a feeling successful Portugal that if they are to bash good successful Qatar, it volition beryllium due to the fact that of players similar Silva alternatively than Ronaldo. Portugal person a squad of prima names but they volition request the manufacture and enactment complaint of the Manchester City antheral if they are going to marque it to the aboriginal rounds. -- Rob Dawson
15. Joshua Kimmich
Country: Germany
Club: Bayern Munich
Age: 27
Position: Midfielder
2018 Rank: Not ranked
He is the bosom and lung of Germany's midfield. Kimmich seldom breaks nether pressure, which makes him hard to abstracted from the ball. The bulk of buildup plays spell straight done him and Ilkay Gundogan. The 2 complement each different greatly successful the mediate of the park, arsenic Kimmich provides strength and antiaircraft consciousness portion Gundogan has proven to beryllium a originative mind. -- Constantin Eckner
14. Federico Valverde
Country: Uruguay
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 24
Position: Midfielder
2018 Rank: Not ranked
Few players person improved truthful much, truthful accelerated arsenic Valverde successful the past year. Now 1 of Real Madrid's cardinal attacking players, helium is consequently a star-in-waiting for Uruguay astatine this tournament. One question people is precisely what presumption helium volition adopt: He has tended to run much centrally for his state than the right-wing relation that has already brought him 8 goals for Madrid this season. -- Alex Kirkland
13. Son Heung-Min
Country: South Korea
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Age: 30
Position: Forward
2018 Rank: 37
South Korea person a deeper endowment excavation than successful caller years, but Son remains the country's superstar, carrying a nation's hopes connected his shoulders. So successful that context, quality that the Tottenham guardant required country connected a fractured oculus socket little than 3 weeks earlier the tourney began was conscionable astir the biggest scare South Korea could endure. They look a pugnacious radical with Uruguay, Portugal and Ghana to play, and they volition surely request Son backmost astatine his champion to progress. -- James Olley
12. Virgil van Dijk
Country: Netherlands
Club: Liverpool
Age: 31
Position: Defender
2018 Rank: Not ranked
Van Dijk has had a mixed nine play truthful far. Great performances against Man City and Napoli were combined with matches wherever helium was rightfully criticised for his performances. Along the mode helium besides mislaid his astonishing unbeaten grounds astatine Anfield, but immoderate happens, Van Dijk is and volition beryllium passim this tourney the undisputed person of the Dutch nationalist team. -- Max Toemen
11. Harry Kane
Country: England
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Age: 29
Position: Forward
2018 Rank: 5
Kane is rather simply England's talisman and could go his country's all-time grounds extremity scorer successful Qatar (currently connected 51, 2 down Wayne Rooney). He won the Golden Boot astatine the 2018 World Cup and volition person designs connected doing the aforesaid again arsenic portion of a Three Lions broadside that was 4th successful that tournament, 2nd astatine Euro 2020 and eyeing the biggest prize of each this month. The occupation is, England person struggled for goals of precocious successful a six-match winless run, and Kane has not scored an planetary extremity from unfastened play since November 2021. -- James Olley
10. Sadio Mane
Country: Senegal
Club: Bayern Munich
Age: 30
Position: Forward
2018 Rank: 31
The Bayern Munich guardant is arguably Africa's starring player, edging retired his aged Liverpool teammate and Egypt prima Mohamed Salah for that distinction, and Mane's performances for Senegal much than backmost up his claims to beryllium regarded arsenic his continent's astir important player.
The 2022 African Player of the Year struck the winning spot footwear successful this year's Africa Cup of Nations last punishment shootout against Salah's Egypt and helium became his country's all-time starring extremity scorer with 32, eclipsing the erstwhile grounds of Henri Camara, successful June. Having been named arsenic the subordinate of the tourney astatine the Cup of Nations, Mane past delivered for Senegal again by sending his squad to the World Cup, scoring the decisive punishment erstwhile again successful the playoff against Egypt. -- Mark Ogden
9. Thibaut Courtois
Country: Belgium
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 30
Position: Goalkeeper
2018 Rank: 43
A twelvemonth ago, Courtois felt underrated and underappreciated, overshadowed by high-profile Premier League counterparts similar Alisson and Ederson. Not anymore. An all-time great, man-of-the-match goalkeeping show successful Real Madrid's Champions League last triumph implicit Liverpool successful May -- making a grounds 9 saves -- was followed by a seventh-place decorativeness connected the 2022 Ballon d'Or shortlist.
The Belgium stopper is wide recognised arsenic the champion successful the satellite close present and he'll person the accidental to beryllium that successful Qatar. Some of Belgium's seasoned outfield players specified arsenic nine teammate Eden Hazard mightiness beryllium past their best, but Courtois, astatine 30, is astatine the apical of his game. -- Alex Kirkland
8. Vinicius Junior
Country: Brazil
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 22
Position: Forward
2018 Rank: Not ranked
The young winger has exploded arsenic an planetary prima with Real Madrid, that bonzer acceleration sowing panic successful opposing defences. In opposition with Raphinha connected the Selecao's other flank, Vinicius has taken clip to find his feet with the nationalist team, with 1 extremity from 16 games, and his spot successful the starting lineup by nary means a given.
Brazil person 3 flimsy variations successful their formation. Vinicius appears successful two, but not successful the 1 that looks astir apt successful the pugnacious games, wherever Lucas Paqueta operates arsenic a withdrawn near winger. Even so, helium inactive has a immense portion to play successful the tournament, if lone disconnected the bench. He volition anticipation that by the extremity of the contention helium volition person made himself undroppable. -- Tim Vickery
7. Luka Modric
Country: Croatia
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 37
Position: Midfielder
2018 Rank: 13
What other is determination to accidental astir Modric? Croatia's grounds quality holder -- with 154 caps since helium made his debut successful 2006 -- and arguably top ever subordinate volition beryllium turning retired for his eighth large planetary tourney successful Qatar. Modric was cardinal to Croatia's astonishment tally to the 2018 World Cup last and astatine 37, his level hasn't dropped a bit, starring successful past season's LaLiga and Champions League-winning run for Real Madrid.
A midfield of Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic is simply a formidable portion and Croatia's chances of coming anyplace adjacent to repeating their heroics past clip retired volition remainder connected the trio's shoulders. You would accidental that this volition surely beryllium his planetary swansong, but with Modric, you ne'er know. -- Alex Kirkland
6. Neymar
Country: Brazil
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Age: 30
Position: Forward
2018 Rank: 3
The unit volition beryllium immense connected Brazil's No. 10, who whitethorn good overtake Pele arsenic Brazil's all-time apical scorer during the tournament. He trails good down Pele successful presumption of achievement, though, and this volition beryllium the World Cup wherever helium is expected to enactment that right.
Neymar says this volition beryllium his past World Cup, and it volition surely beryllium the tourney that defines his bequest arsenic a nationalist squad player.
He benefits from the emergence of a highly promising procreation of young attackers, which volition instrumentality immoderate of the load disconnected his slender shoulders. The timing of the tourney besides works to his advantage. He has tended to beryllium astatine his champion successful the archetypal fractional of the season, and determination would look to beryllium nary problems astir his signifier and fittingness arsenic helium marches towards his day with destiny. -- Tim Vickery
5. Robert Lewandowski
Country: Poland
Club: Barcelona
Age: 34
Position: Forward
2018 Rank: 10
There volition beryllium fewer nations successful Qatar whose hopes are pinned truthful overmuch connected 1 player. That's not to accidental Poland bash not person different bully players, but the world is nary are adjacent to Lewandowski's level.
Now 34, the striker has seamlessly translated his signifier with Bayern Munich to Barcelona, wherever helium has already scored 18 goals this play aft being signed for €45 cardinal successful the summer. Now, his task is to pb Poland retired of the radical signifier for the archetypal clip since 1986. A grounds of 76 goals successful 134 caps proves his signifier carries into planetary football, but arsenic a guardant helium is always, to an extent, reliant connected the work helium gets. Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Argentina volition each person him singled retired arsenic the antheral to halt erstwhile they instrumentality connected Poland. -- Sam Marsden
4. Lionel Messi
Country: Argentina
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Age: 35
Position: Forward
2018 Rank: 1
This is apt his past World Cup and he'll get successful Doha portion playing, astatine 35, immoderate of the champion shot of his caller career. Messi is evidently captious to Argentina's success, but, comparative to the past World Cup, things are different. Coach Lionel Scaloni has made him the cardinal cog successful a well-oiled machine, susceptible of going 34 games unbeaten. It's a stark opposition to the past World Cup, erstwhile helium was expected to transportation the broadside amid manager Jorge Sampaoli's chaos.
Messi doesn't tally similar helium did, but the trickery and the quality to find abstraction remains. And his trademark move, erstwhile helium starts wide right, cuts wrong and whips a low, hard decorativeness past the keeper, remains adjacent to unplayable. The Copa America triumph successful 2021 got the "major planetary tournament" monkey disconnected his back. Now it's clip for the 1 crown that has ever eluded him. -- Gab Marcotti
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Gab & Juls preview Group C astatine the 2022 World Cup, with Argentina expected to cruise into the knockout rounds.
3. Kevin De Bruyne
Country: Belgium
Club: Manchester City
Age: 31
Position: Midfielder
2018 Rank: 4
After Belgium's 2-1 triumph implicit Wales successful September, Belgium manager Roberto Martinez was asked astir De Bruyne. Sometimes managers similar to absorption connected the collective, alternatively than the individual, but erstwhile it comes to De Bruyne, his quality is truthful singular and abundantly clear, that there's small constituent successful holding backmost connected celebrating his talents.
"It's a connection for each our fans, don't instrumentality for granted watching Kevin De Bruyne play," Martinez said. "For maine he's the astir unthinkable playmaker successful satellite shot astatine this contiguous time."
At Manchester City, Guardiola has precocious challenged De Bruyne to improve. A week aft Guardiola's ask, the subordinate responded by scoring their victor against Leicester City, to beryllium alongside his Premier League-leading 9 assists this term. He's indispensable for nine and country, and his ranking of 3rd successful the past Ballon d'Or was the highest spot ever reached by a Belgian player. If the Red Devils marque a dent successful this year's tournament, past you tin stake your location connected the information De Bruyne volition beryllium connected song. -- Tom Hamilton
2. Karim Benzema
Country: France
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 34
Position: Forward
2018 Rank: Not ranked
Benzema, astatine the property of 34, has had to hold 8 and a fractional years to diagnostic again successful the World Cup. He wants to marque up for mislaid time.
After each that clip distant from the nationalist team, helium came backmost with a bang astatine the Euros successful 2021 with 4 goals successful 4 appearances, but the past 16 elimination near a sour sensation successful his mouth. Now, aft winning the 2022 Ballon d'Or, helium is acceptable to marque this World Cup count. It is apt to beryllium his past one, truthful this marks his biggest accidental to constitute his sanction successful the competition's past books.
Benzema is ultra motivated and helium knows that his concern with Kylian Mbappe up beforehand is the cardinal to France's success. They get connected good and complement 1 different connected the pitch. Benzema is simply a relation exemplary for Mbappe, and together, they are acceptable to pb France. -- Julien Laurens
1. Kylian Mbappe
Country: France
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Age: 23
Position: Forward
2018 Rank: 15
Russia 2018 was the World Cup wherever Mbappe genuinely announced his arrival. He was 19, up and coming, inactive not needfully known worldwide, and helium took the contention by tempest to go the archetypal teen since Pele to people successful the last and to triumph it. Qatar 2022 volition beryllium the World Cup confirmation for the French prodigy; confirmation of his world-class status, of his superstar image, of his superstar talent.
There volition beryllium much pressure, the expectations volition beryllium higher and his relation with France volition beryllium bigger. On the pitch, the 23-year-old has to redeem himself aft not scoring a azygous extremity for Les Bleus since missing the decisive punishment successful the past 16 shootout decision to Switzerland successful the 2021 Euros immoderate 18 months ago. Now helium has to deliver, similar helium did successful 2018. -- Julien Laurens
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