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The World Cup, at its best, provides a moment for people to come together behind their national teams, collectives united under a common flag and shared dreams of trophy-raising triumph.
But it’s also a global stage for the best soccer players to imprint themselves in memory — a la Pelé, Maradona, Zidane.
Here’s a look at the individuals — from the household names to the stars in waiting — who will own the spotlight at World Cup 2026:
The living legends
Lionel Messi, F, Argentina: It’s this simple: the GOAT, trying to go back-to-back. Enjoy it. He’ll turn 39 during the tournament and his fitness for a series of up to eight matches is debatable.
Cristiano Ronaldo, F, Portugal: The other, more chiseled face of soccer’s longtime duopoly. At 41, he’s no less famous, but he’s of decreasing importance to Portugal’s chances of finally winning one.
Mohamed Salah, F, Egypt: The longtime ex-Liverpool star has a case as Africa’s all-time most influential player. Coming off a down season at the club level, he’ll look to inspire Egypt into the knockouts.
Luka Modric, MF, Croatia: One of the midfield greats, Modric is improbably still ticking at the age of 40, fully eight years after he steered his country to the final.
Son Heung-min, F, South Korea: Has excelled since making a Messi-style move to MLS, and now has to translate that form for one of Asia’s dark-horse squads.
Guillermo Ochoa, GK, Mexico: “Memo” would become a third member of the six-World Cup club, along with Messi and Ronaldo, if he gets into a game. Currently penciled in as Mexico’s backup.
The guys in all the ads
Christian Pulisic, F, United States: The advance billing has led to this: Pulisic is in his prime at 27, and he’s leading the USMNT on home soil. Now he must deliver.
Kylian Mbappé, F, France: The consensus best player in the world. With five goals, the polarizing Real Madrid attacker will become the all-time leading men’s World Cup scorer. And he’s still just 27.
Erling Haaland, F, Norway: The most feared out-and-out striker in the sport gets his opportunity to showcase it on the biggest stage with Norway qualifying for the expanded tournament field.
Harry Kane, F, England: There might not be a player who’s more important to his team than the England captain, their most reliable source of goals after a blistering season with Bayern Munich.
Vinicius Júnior, F, Brazil: The protagonist of a loaded Brazil team is always in the spotlight — as a source of electrifying highlights as a winger and as the subject of persistent racial abuse while playing in Europe.
The wunderkinds
Lamine Yamal, F, Spain: He’d fit in among the World Cup’s best players, though he’s just 18. There’s no more exciting player to watch with the ball at his feet.
Arda Güler, F, Türkiye: If there’s a prop bet for most jaw-dropping goal (or pass) of this World Cup, the 21-year-old attacking midfielder is worth a wager to supply it. At the top of the U.S. scouting report for their group stage showdown.
Yan Diomande, F, Ivory Coast: The 19-year-old winger, who plays professionally in Germany but has been tipped for a move to England, could be a name on everybody’s lips in a few weeks’ time.
Fantastic, without the fireworks
Virgil van Dijk, D, Netherlands: The imperious center back at the heart of the Dutch defense remains the standard at his position. The 34-year-old might score the odd header, too.
Thibaut Courtois, GK, Belgium: Most people’s answer as the best keeper in the field, Courtois, 34, is capable of stealing games and taking Belgium deep.
Achraf Hakimi, D, Morocco: Hakimi, coming off a second straight Champions League crown with Paris Saint-Germain, is the most dangerous fullback in soccer when he goes rampaging up the right side and is Morocco’s best hope at progressing.
The Cinderella stories
Luis Díaz, F, Colombia: Los Cafeteros aren’t one of South America’s traditional superpowers. But with Diaz at the height of powers, they could have the firepower to make some noise.
Antoine Semenyo, F, Ghana: The once-unheralded prospect has risen to the top of the club game with Manchester City and now will try to lift Ghana out of a tricky group.
Alphonso Davies, D, Canada: The best player for the tournament’s least acclaimed co-host. Davies has been plagued by injuries, but when he’s healthy, he’s an absolute handful from the left back spot.
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