The 2022 World Cup will get underway on Sunday in Qatar, with France hoping to develop into the first group to efficiently defend the title since Brazil 60 years in the past. These are six of the world’s finest players who might be competing in the event:
A record-breaking hat-trick from Lionel Messi earned Argentina a 3-0 dwelling win over Bolivia in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers on 9 September 2021. Picture: @FIFAWorldCup/Twitter.
DOHA – The 2022 World Cup will get underway on Sunday in Qatar, with France hoping to develop into the first group to efficiently defend the title since Brazil 60 years in the past.
AFP Sport takes a glance at six of the world’s finest players who might be competing in the event:
Lionel Messi (ARG)
Arguably the best participant of all time, Messi has but to emulate previous legends Pele and Diego Maradona by successful soccer’s largest prize. He did lastly win a significant worldwide event with Argentina when he was the driving pressure behind their Copa America triumph final yr. The 35-year-old has mentioned this can “very likely” be his final World Cup and might be determined to go one higher than 2014, when Argentina misplaced the ultimate to Germany in further time. Lionel Scaloni’s facet have excessive hopes of successful a 3rd world title, heading into the event on a 36-match unbeaten run. Messi scored his 91st worldwide aim in a 5-0 pleasant win over the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.
Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)
Messi’s long-time rival for the standing of world’s finest participant, Ronaldo may even certainly be showing at a World Cup for the ultimate time, aged 37. International soccer’s all-time file scorer lately netted the 700th membership aim of his profession. Ronaldo gained an emotional title at Euro 2016 with Portugal however their finest effort with him on a world stage stays a semi-final exit in 2006. He might be anticipating to rating in a record-breaking fifth straight World Cup, surpassing Pele, Miroslav Klose and Uwe Seeler. Ronaldo could have to put a tough begin to the season with Manchester United behind him, having struggled for kind earlier than accusing the membership of “betraying” him.
Kylian Mbappe (FRA)
His France teammate Karim Benzema is the present Ballon d’Or holder however the world champions’ most essential participant stays Mbappe, greater than 4 years since he starred at the 2018 World Cup. The Paris Saint-Germain ahead turned the first teenager to rating in a World Cup ultimate since Pele together with his strike in France’s 4-2 victory over Croatia. Mbappe, now 23, has denied experiences he’s making an attempt to go away PSG mid-season simply months after signing a profitable new contract. After successful the finest younger participant trophy in Russia, he could have his eyes set on the senior prize this time round.
Neymar (Brazil)
Brazil head into the event as favourites to win a record-extending sixth World Cup. The sturdy type of Neymar this season for PSG might be a giant plus level for coach Tite after a tough spell for the 30-year-old. Neymar heads to Qatar simply two objectives wanting equalling Pele’s all-time Brazil scoring file, albeit having already performed 29 extra matches. The Selecao have been crushed by Belgium in the quarter-finals 4 years in the past, leaving Neymar nonetheless ready to make up for 2014, when he missed the humiliating 7-1 semifinal thrashing by Germany on dwelling soil by way of harm.
Edouard Mendy (Senegal)
The Chelsea goalkeeper misplaced his place as first-choice goalkeeper underneath Graham Potter this season after a string of expensive errors however might be essential to Senegal’s hopes of turning into the first African World Cup semi-finalists. Mendy, a Champions League winner in 2021, saved a penalty as Senegal beat Egypt in a shootout in the Africa Cup of Nations ultimate earlier this yr. The 30-year-old did begin Chelsea’s final two Premier League video games earlier than this event after an harm to Kepa Arrizabalaga. Shorn of star ahead Sadio Mane due to harm, Senegal might be determined for Mendy to rediscover the kind that noticed him named FIFA’s 2021 goalkeeper of the yr at the different finish of the pitch.
Son Heung-min (South Korea)
The Tottenham ahead is undoubtedly Asian soccer’s largest star and he might be carrying South Korea’s hopes in a tight-looking Group H if he can get better from a fractured eye socket. Son shared the Premier League Golden Boot final season with Liverpool’s Salah, regardless of not taking penalties for Spurs. He has netted 35 occasions in 104 internationals, together with the second aim of the Koreans’ beautiful 2018 win over Germany which dumped the reigning champions out in the group stage.