The FIFA World Cup 2022 is just around the corner, and the excitement is already reaching its high point. The event will be held between November 20th and December 18th and will be historic because it will be hosted in a Middle East nation for the first time and the second time in Asia.
Lionel Messi
Qatar is Lionel Messi’s last World Cup, with the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner set to turn 35 this summer.
Messi remains Argentina’s greatest hope of success despite a challenging first season at PSG, in which the forward has scored just four league goals for the Parisians.
Messi, however, has provided 13 assists and a record of 17 G/A in 21 starts remains impressive, while his recent record for La Albiceleste has been excellent, with 10 goals from his last 16 appearances.
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema has enjoyed the finest goalscoring season of his career at Real Madrid, having amassed a brilliant record of 42 goals from 42 appearances for the recently-crowned Spanish champions.
The 34-year-old is playing the best football of his career and is the Champions League’s leading scorer, having scored decisive goals against the likes of PSG and Chelsea to send Real Madrid into the semi-finals.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is another who could participate in his final World Cup this winter, as the Portugal captain looks to win international football’s biggest prize.
Ronaldo is international football’s greatest-ever goalscorer and has remained prolific on the national stage, scoring 13 goals in 14 appearances in 2021.
Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe starred during France’s 2018 World Cup success in Russia, being named as the tournament’s Best Young Player and becoming the first teenager since Pele in 1958 to score in the final.
Four years after that performance, Mbappe has evolved into one of world football’s finest, finishing as Ligue 1’s leading scorer in three consecutive campaigns and heading towards a fourth French Golden Boot this season.
Still just 23 years old, he is two goals away from moving into France’s all-time top 10 leading scorers at the international level, having amassed a record of 26 goals from 54 caps.
Mbappe has provided 39 G/A in just 31 league starts for Paris Saint-Germain this season and will be crucial to France’s hopes of becoming the first nation to defend the World Cup since Brazil in 1962.
Harry Kane
Harry Kane is the bookmakers’ favorite to win the World Cup’s Golden Boot and retain the accolade he won in Russia in 2018.
Kane became just the second Englishman – following Gary Lineker in 1986 – to finish as the World Cup’s leading scorer after netting six times during the Three Lions’ run to the semi-finals.
England has been handed a favorable-looking group stage draw with the USA, Iran, and either Ukraine/Scotland/Wales to come in Qatar, and Gareth Southgate’s side will fancy their chances of a successful tournament after reaching the final of Euro 2020 last summer.