Star Players

36 key players to watch at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Kylian Mbappe

🇫🇷France
Forward
Age: 27

Club: Real Madrid

WC Apps: 2WC Goals: 12Intl Caps: 94
World Cup Winner (2018)World Cup Golden Boot (2022)

Lionel Messi

🇦🇷Argentina
Forward
Age: 38

Club: Inter Miami

WC Apps: 5WC Goals: 13Intl Caps: 196
World Cup Winner (2022)Ballon d'Or (x8) (2023)

Erling Haaland

🇳🇴Norway
Forward
Age: 25

Club: Manchester City

First World CupIntl Caps: 48
Champions League Winner (2023)Premier League Champion (x2) (2023, 2024)

Vinicius Junior

🇧🇷Brazil
Forward
Age: 25

Club: Real Madrid

WC Apps: 1WC Goals: 1Intl Caps: 45
Champions League Winner (x2) (2022, 2024)La Liga Champion (x3) (2020-2024)

Lamine Yamal

🇪🇸Spain
Forward
Age: 18

Club: FC Barcelona

First World CupIntl Caps: 23
European Championship Winner (2024)Euro 2024 Young Player (2024)

Jude Bellingham

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿England
Midfielder
Age: 22

Club: Real Madrid

WC Apps: 1WC Goals: 1Intl Caps: 46
Champions League Winner (2024)La Liga Champion (2024)

Cristiano Ronaldo

🇵🇹Portugal
Forward
Age: 41

Club: Al Nassr

WC Apps: 5WC Goals: 8Intl Caps: 226
European Championship Winner (2016)Ballon d'Or (x5) (2017)

Mohamed Salah

🇪🇬Egypt
Forward
Age: 33

Club: Liverpool

WC Apps: 1WC Goals: 2Intl Caps: 110
Champions League Winner (2019)Premier League Champion (2020)

Harry Kane

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿England
Forward
Age: 32

Club: Bayern Munich

WC Apps: 2WC Goals: 8Intl Caps: 112
World Cup Golden Boot (2018)England All-Time Top Scorer (2023)

Florian Wirtz

🇩🇪Germany
Midfielder
Age: 23

Club: Bayer Leverkusen

First World CupIntl Caps: 37
Bundesliga Champion (Unbeaten) (2024)Bundesliga Player of Season (2024)

Pedri

🇪🇸Spain
Midfielder
Age: 23

Club: FC Barcelona

First World CupIntl Caps: 38
European Championship Winner (2024)Nations League Winner (2023)

Rodri

🇪🇸Spain
Midfielder
Age: 29

Club: Manchester City

WC Apps: 1Intl Caps: 59
Ballon d'Or (2024)European Championship Winner (2024)

Julian Alvarez

🇦🇷Argentina
Forward
Age: 26

Club: Atletico Madrid

WC Apps: 1WC Goals: 4Intl Caps: 49
World Cup Winner (2022)Copa America Winner (x2) (2021, 2024)

Alexis Mac Allister

🇦🇷Argentina
Midfielder
Age: 27

Club: Liverpool

WC Apps: 1WC Goals: 1Intl Caps: 43
World Cup Winner (2022)Copa America Winner (2024)

Emiliano Martinez

🇦🇷Argentina
Goalkeeper
Age: 33

Club: Aston Villa

WC Apps: 1Intl Caps: 57
World Cup Winner (2022)World Cup Golden Glove (2022)

Bruno Fernandes

🇵🇹Portugal
Midfielder
Age: 31

Club: Manchester United

WC Apps: 1WC Goals: 1Intl Caps: 85
Nations League Winner (2019)FA Cup Winner (2024)

Raphinha

🇧🇷Brazil
Forward
Age: 29

Club: FC Barcelona

WC Apps: 1Intl Caps: 36
La Liga Champion (2025)Copa del Rey Winner (2025)

Christian Pulisic

🇺🇸United States
Forward
Age: 27

Club: AC Milan

WC Apps: 1WC Goals: 1Intl Caps: 82
Champions League Winner (2021)CONCACAF Gold Cup Winner (2021)

Alphonso Davies

🇨🇦Canada
Defender
Age: 25

Club: Bayern Munich

WC Apps: 1WC Goals: 1Intl Caps: 58
Champions League Winner (2020)Bundesliga Champion (x5) (2020-2024)

Achraf Hakimi

🇲🇦Morocco
Defender
Age: 27

Club: Paris Saint-Germain

WC Apps: 2WC Goals: 1Intl Caps: 93
WC Semi-finalist (Africa first) (2022)Ligue 1 Champion (x3) (2023-2025)

Luis Diaz

🇨🇴Colombia
Forward
Age: 29

Club: Liverpool

First World CupIntl Caps: 70
Copa America Runner-up (2024)Copa America Golden Boot (2021)

Ousmane Dembele

🇫🇷France
Forward
Age: 29

Club: Paris Saint-Germain

WC Apps: 2Intl Caps: 57
World Cup Winner (2018)Ligue 1 Champion (x2) (2024, 2025)

Gianluigi Donnarumma

🏳️Italy
Goalkeeper
Age: 27

Club: Paris Saint-Germain

First World CupIntl Caps: 79
Euro 2020 Player of Tournament (2021)European Championship Winner (2021)

Raul Jimenez

🇲🇽Mexico
Forward
Age: 35

Club: Fulham

WC Apps: 3Intl Caps: 123
CONCACAF Gold Cup Winner (x2) (2023, 2025)Liga MX Champion (2014)

Santiago Gimenez

🇲🇽Mexico
Forward
Age: 25

Club: AC Milan

First World CupIntl Caps: 44
CONCACAF Gold Cup Winner (2023)Eredivisie Champion (2023)

Takefusa Kubo

🇯🇵Japan
Forward
Age: 25

Club: Real Sociedad

WC Apps: 1Intl Caps: 48
La Liga Young Player Nominee (2024)

Son Heung-min

🇰🇷South Korea
Forward
Age: 33

Club: Tottenham Hotspur

WC Apps: 3WC Goals: 3Intl Caps: 141
Asian Games Gold Medal (2018)Premier League Golden Boot (2022)

Virgil van Dijk

🇳🇱Netherlands
Defender
Age: 34

Club: Liverpool

WC Apps: 1Intl Caps: 88
Champions League Winner (2019)Premier League Champion (2020)

Kevin De Bruyne

🇧🇪Belgium
Midfielder
Age: 34

Club: Manchester City

WC Apps: 3WC Goals: 2Intl Caps: 115
Champions League Winner (2023)Premier League Champion (x6) (2018-2024)

Luka Modric

🇭🇷Croatia
Midfielder
Age: 40

Club: Real Madrid

WC Apps: 4WC Goals: 4Intl Caps: 194
Ballon d'Or (2018)World Cup Runner-up (2018)

Sadio Mane

🇸🇳Senegal
Forward
Age: 34

Club: Al Nassr

WC Apps: 1Intl Caps: 126
AFCON Winner (x2) (2022, 2025)Champions League Winner (2019)

Federico Valverde

🇺🇾Uruguay
Midfielder
Age: 27

Club: Real Madrid

WC Apps: 1Intl Caps: 71
Champions League Winner (x2) (2022, 2024)La Liga Champion (x3) (2020-2024)

Jamal Musiala

🇩🇪Germany
Midfielder
Age: 23

Club: Bayern Munich

WC Apps: 1Intl Caps: 40
Bundesliga Champion (x2) (2022, 2023)Youngest German Euro Scorer (2024)

Phil Foden

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿England
Midfielder
Age: 26

Club: Manchester City

WC Apps: 1WC Goals: 1Intl Caps: 47
Champions League Winner (2023)Premier League Champion (x6) (2021-2024)

Bukayo Saka

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿England
Forward
Age: 24

Club: Arsenal

WC Apps: 1Intl Caps: 48
Euro 2024 Runner-up (2024)Euro 2020 Runner-up (2021)

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

🏳️Georgia
Forward
Age: 25

Club: Paris Saint-Germain

First World CupIntl Caps: 47
Serie A Champion (2023)Ligue 1 Champion (2025)

Players by Position

PositionCountKey Players
Forward20Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Vinicius Junior
Midfielder11Jude Bellingham, Florian Wirtz, Pedri, Rodri
Defender3Alphonso Davies, Achraf Hakimi, Virgil van Dijk
Goalkeeper2Emiliano Martinez, Gianluigi Donnarumma

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the star players to watch at the 2026 World Cup?▼

Key players include Kylian Mbappe (France, Real Madrid, age 27), Lionel Messi (Argentina, Inter Miami, age 38), Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City, age 25), Vinicius Junior (Brazil, Real Madrid, age 25), Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona, age 18), and Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid, age 22).

Will Lionel Messi play in the 2026 World Cup?▼

Lionel Messi, age 38, is expected to participate in the 2026 World Cup with Argentina, which would be his final World Cup. As the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and 2022 World Cup champion, his participation would cap the greatest career in football history.

Is the 2026 World Cup Erling Haaland's first?▼

Yes, the 2026 World Cup will be Erling Haaland's first. Norway has not appeared at a World Cup since 1998 (28 years). Haaland, age 25, plays for Manchester City and has scored 55 international goals in 48 games.

Will Cristiano Ronaldo play in the 2026 World Cup?▼

Cristiano Ronaldo, age 41, is named as a key player for Portugal. If he plays, it would be his sixth World Cup. He remains the all-time top international goalscorer and seeks to finally win the trophy.

Who is the youngest player at the 2026 World Cup?▼

Lamine Yamal of Spain is one of the youngest prominent players at 18 years old. The two-time Kopa Trophy winner dominated Euro 2024 as a teenager and plays for FC Barcelona.