40+ Players Everyone Needs To Look Out For At The 2022 World Cup
The FIFA World Cup is football’s premier spectacle, and it attracts viewers from all over the world every four years. The best players in soccer will congregate in Qatar for the final two months of 2022 to decide who deserves to be hailed as the world’s best footballing nation. Everyone watches the world cup to see who among every player is the greatest of the greats, which is why this list is the perfect guide to see who are the players everyone needs to look out for at the 2022 World Cup. And without further ado, these are the players to keep an eye out for, from seasoned icons like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to budding stars like Vinicius Jr.
Virgil van Dijk – Netherlands
Since 2018, Virgil van Dijk has been Liverpool’s defensive anchor, helping the Reds win the 2019 UEFA Champions League and the 2020 Premier League championship. The Dutch center-back, who is renowned for his tackling and aerial danger, contributed to Liverpool recording the cleanest sheets in the league last year.
Virgil Van Dijk – Netherlands
Van Dijk has additionally established himself as a crucial member of the Netherlands national team, leading his nation to the upcoming Nations League semi-finals. He’s certainly one of the players everyone needs to keep an eye on for the World Cup.
Sadio Mane – Senegal
Sadio Mane surprised the world by moving to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022 after a solid career at Liverpool during which he won a Premier League and UEFA Champions League winner’s medal. Mane has now tallied 10 goals in 19 games for the German champions.
Sadio Mane – Senegal
A key attacking player for Senegal, Mane scored three goals in 2021 to help his side become the first to ever win the African Cup of Nations. He must have been overjoyed when Senegal won the African Cup of Nations.
Harry Kane – England
Harry Kane, who has won three Premier League Golden Boot trophies, is a club talisman for Tottenham Hotspur. Kane is rediscovering his form after a season that was far from his best in 2021–2022, netting 10 goals in his first 12 league appearances.
Harry Kane – England
The success of England as it seeks just its second World Cup victory in history will depend heavily on this incredibly talented finisher, who also serves as team captain. We eagerly await to see how many more victories he will bring home for his nation!
Brennan Johnson – Wales
Brennan Johnson, a young star who is just 21 years old, has the potential to make all the difference when Wales competes in its first World Cup in 64 years. The Welsh Dragons will compete against England, a bitter rival, as well as Iran and the USA.
Brennan Johnson – Wales
Johnson plays as a striker for Nottingham Forest when he is not donning a Wales jersey as they attempt to make a strong first impression in the Premier League following a 23-year absence. See how powerful of an impression they can make.
Lautaro Martínez – Argentina
Lautaro Martinez’s 25 goals across all competitions last season were crucial to Inter Milan’s victory in the Italian Cup and Supercoppa Italiana. In addition, he has proven himself while wearing an Argentina jersey, scoring seven goals to tie for the nation’s most goals during World Cup qualifying.
Lautaro Martínez – Argentina
The striker scored six goals in 11 league games for his team this season and will want to continue his outstanding play as Argentina’s World Cup campaign gets off. A truly talented player, and we hope he can continue his winning streak.
Robert Lewandowski – Poland
Robert Lewandowski won 10 Bundesliga championships while playing for Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, so it’s not surprising that FC Barcelona splashed the cash on him during the summer transfer window. The striker has additionally won seven times as the Bundesliga’s top scorer.
Robert Lewandowski – Poland
Lewandowski, who scored three of Poland’s four goals at Euro 2020, will need to be at his best as he leads Poland against teams like Argentina and Mexico. If he practices consistently over time, he will undoubtedly continue to get better.
Kylian Mbappe – France
Mbappe, who is only 23 years old, has already experienced World Cup success and was a key component of France’s World Cup-winning team in 2018. In addition, this expert finisher distinguished himself personally by scoring four goals to tie for the tournament’s second-highest total.
Kylian Mbappe – France
Mbappe has already contributed 16 goals and 4 assists in 16 games for Paris Saint-Germain this season, so France will be eager to take advantage of his strong performance in Qatar. He is a really impressive player, and we anticipate seeing him in more contests.
Christian Eriksen – Denmark
After having a health scare during the Euro 2020 group stages, Eriksen has shown his tenacity and grit by making a comeback, first playing on loan for Brentford FC before joining Manchester United on a permanent basis in the summer.
Christian Eriksen – Denmark
Eriksen, a three-time winner of the Danish Footballer of the Year award, will be looking to carry over his inventive playmaking skills from Manchester United to Qatar. If he keeps developing, he’ll be able to recreate that play without a doubt.
Rodri – Spain
Rodri has established himself as a defensive midfield stalwart since joining Man City in 2019, assisting the Citizens to win back-to-back Premier League titles as well as two English League Cups. Additionally, he helped Spain get to the Euro 2020 semifinals with his ferocious physicality.
Rodri – Spain
The 26-year-old recently contributed to Spain’s 1-0 victory against Portugal to advance to the Nations League semifinals, proving his worth as a player who might help La Furia Roja recapture their former glory. They might be closer to their glory days than they believe if he was on their side.
İlkay Gündoğan – Germany
Gündoan’s versatility has paid off handsomely for club team Manchester City. He is capable of playing in an attacking midfield, defensive midfield, as well as a classic central midfield role. The German star has won four Premier League championships and four English League Cups to date.
İlkay Gündoğan – Germany
Germany, who was eliminated in the group stage in 2018, will be eager to redeem itself and repeat its triumph from that year. Will it be too much for Gündoan to handle? We believe he will ultimately succeed, and they will triumph once more.
Kevin de Bryne – Belgium
This aggressive midfielder, who has won two Premier League Playmaker of the Year awards, has the passing skill to support Belgium’s attacking squad in outscoring their opponents as they did in 2018 when they scored nine goals in three group games.
Kevin De Bryne – Belgium
De Bryne already led Belgium to a third-place finish in 2018, and he’ll be going for it in Qatar to cement his team’s legacy as the “golden generation” of Belgium. Who knows, maybe they will advance to a higher position soon.
Luka Modric – Croatia
Real Madrid’s midfield maestro for the past ten years, Modric has entertained fans at the Santiago Bernabéu while guiding Real Madrid to five UEFA Champions League championships. The veteran almost won a World Cup in 2018 while leading Croatia to the championship game.
Luka Modric – Croatia
As his career nears its end at age 37, Modric will be eager to bring Croatia its first World Cup title before hanging up his boots. He will undoubtedly want to leave his mark on the field of play before he resigns.
Casemiro – Brazil
Casemiro cemented his status as a Real Madrid icon by winning five Champions League titles before moving on to Manchester United. Fortunately, the defensive midfielder also saved his talent for Brazil, who he led to the 2019 Copa America championship.
Casemiro – Brazil
Casemiro will aim to carry on his outstanding form with his national side after recording four shutouts and a goal in the Premier League this year. Let’s all wait and see how far he and his group can get.
Granit Xhaka – Switzerland
With 9 victories in the North London club’s first 11 games of the year, Xhaka, who is presently in his sixth season at Arsenal, has made a huge contribution to the Premier League club’s rise to the top. An outstanding athlete.
Granit Xhaka – Switzerland
Xhaka is essential to Switzerland’s success because of his strength in the middle of the field and his sporadic long-range goals, as was demonstrated by their recent surprise 1-0 victory over Spain. We can only speculate as to how many victories he could add to his record.
Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal
All eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo as he leads the Portuguese team onto the field because he is the all-time leading scorer. The legendary former player for Real Madrid and Manchester United has already guided Portugal to victories in the 2016 and 2019 Nations Leagues.
Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal
Ronaldo, who is 37 years old, will be driven to win what might be his final World Cup. His talent is well-known around the world, and we hope to see him win the world cup and possibly other competitions.
Darwin Núñez – Uruguay
Nez caught Liverpool’s eye after scoring 34 goals and dishing out four assists for Benfica last season, and the English club signed the 23-year-old for a cool $88 million. Nez will now be keen to establish himself for his nation as well.
Darwin Núñez – Uruguay
With seasoned strike partners like Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani by his side, this young prodigy will be eager to make an impression in his World Cup debut. Who knows what he will accomplish in the future at such a young age?
Weston McKennie – United States
McKennie, a center midfielder for Juventus, has been dominating the Italian Serie A since the age of 24. The Italian Cup in 2021 and the United States Footballer of the Year title in 2020 are two of his career-high points.
Weston McKennie – United States
McKennie has also achieved great success while wearing a Team USA jersey, taking home the 2020 CONCACAF Nations League title. Will McKennie contribute to the USA’s continued success in Qatar? We eagerly anticipate what his professional future holds.
Lionel Messi – Argentina
Lionel Messi, arguably one of the most skilled players of all time, has played a key role for both club and country, helping former team Barcelona win four UEFA Champions League championships and Argentina win the Copa America in 2021.
Lionel Messi – Argentina
Messi, an Argentine legend, may play in his final World Cup in 2022 at the age of 35, so he will be driven to capture the one major trophy that has eluded him. He will undoubtedly have a good chance of winning the world cup given his talent.
Guillermo Ochoa – Mexico
Ochoa broke the previous mark for most national team appearances for Mexico with his 130 caps. Additionally, he has been Mexico’s first-choice goalkeeper for the last four World Cups, helping the team advance each time to the round of 16.
Guillermo Ochoa – Mexico
Ochoa’s experience in goal will be helpful as Mexico aims to achieve its highest World Cup finish to date with the help of his four Gold Cup victories. He must be incredibly great to earn such a trophy; just imagine being your nation’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Karim Benzema – France
With 15 goals, Benzema, 34, showed that he still has it after being named the 2022 UEFA Champions League’s leading scorer. In addition to making an impression while wearing a Real Madrid jersey, Benzema was a significant contributor to the France team that won the 2018 World Cup.
Karim Benzema – France
To launch a successful World Cup championship defense for his country, Benzema will be eager to lend a hand as the Qatar World Cup gets begun. He will undoubtedly be able to assist his country in defending its world cup championship with proper effort.
Vincent Aboubakar – Cameroon
Aboubakar spent three seasons with FC Porto, where he twice won the Portuguese league, and a season at Besiktas, where he won two Turkish League championships, before signing with the Saudi club Al-Nassr FC. His triumph with Cameroon in the 2017 African Cup of Nations was unquestionably his proudest moment.
Vincent Aboubakar – Cameroon
Despite Cameroon’s failure to duplicate its triumph at this year’s AFCON, Aboubakar is a player to watch at the 2018 World Cup. He had the highest score in the contest. Despite not being able to duplicate their success, who knows? Maybe they will in the future.
Alphonso Davies – Canada
This left-back, who is renowned for his quickness, has established himself as a mainstay for Bayern Munich, winning four Bundesliga championships and a UEFA Champions League by the age of 21. Davies had a solid six assists last season in addition to his defensive skills.
Alphonso Davies – Canada
In 2018, Davies scored the most goals in the Gold Cup, and he will be keen to show off his talent when Canada participates in its first World Cup since 1986. We are all interested to see how skilled he has become while representing Canada.
Aleksander Mitrovic – Serbia
With a staggering 43 goals in 44 Championship games for Fulham last season, this Serbian striker surpassed the record for the most goals scored in the EFL Championship in a single season. He has also maintained his excellent goal-scoring form in the Premier League, scoring nine goals in his first 12 games.
Aleksander Mitrovic – Serbia
Mitrovic, who has 50 goals across 75 international matches, will unquestionably be a key part of the Serbian attack if they want to make an impact in Qatar. They will undoubtedly make a lasting impression on their opponents thanks to their skill.
Neymar – Brazil
While Neymar’s career peaked with FC Barcelona’s Champions League victory in 2015, the Brazilian winger is demonstrating this season that he is just as lethal in a PSG uniform, scoring 13 goals and dishing out 10 assists in just 17 games.
Neymar – Brazil
Neymar is accustomed to the taste of victory after winning the Confederations Cup in 2013 and will undoubtedly aim to honor his country at the World Cup. We are to see what he will bring to the World Cup, we are all eager.
Heung-min Son – South Korea
Son has established himself as a very important player for Tottenham Hotspur ever since joining the team. He has won back-to-back player of the year honors at the club and even shared the Premier League scoring lead the last season.
Heung Min Son – South Korea
For the South Korean national team, the winger has also shown himself to be a game-changer, helping his country win the 2019 Asian Games. We ponder how many more victories he can secure for his nation using his talent and skill.
João Cancelo – Portugal
This left-back, who played for Manchester City last season and won the Premier League with them, has maintained his fiery form with two goals, five assists, and 10 clean sheets across all competitions. He has also made an impression on a global scale, helping Portugal win the 2019 Nations League.
João Cancelo – Portugal
Given his unique combination of defensive physicality and goalscoring danger, this flexible fullback will play a big role in Portugal’s upcoming World Cup run. We’ll see how much of an effect he has on the world cup. He would undoubtedly want to bring the trophy home for his nation as well.
Iñaki Williams – Ghana
This Ghanaian-born footballer chose to play for the senior national team of the nation of his ancestors despite having previously played for Spain’s U23 squad. The striker has only participated in one game for Ghana thus far, a 3-0 friendly loss to Brazil.
Iñaki Williams – Ghana
The attacker has established himself as an interesting prospect to watch despite lacking international experience, scoring 79 goals in his Athletic Bilbao career. He will undoubtedly be able to develop into an exceptional player and perhaps even participate in significant contests with enough dedicated practice.
Cody Gakpo – Netherlands
This Dutch winger, who is only 23 years old, has dominated his Eredivisie opponents this season, scoring nine goals and dishing out nine assists in just 11 games. The player has also already accumulated two Dutch Supercups, a Dutch Cup, and an Eredivisie championship.
Cody Gakpo – Netherlands
With goals in the Netherlands’ Nations League triumphs against Poland and Wales, the emerging star has also been on fire for his country. We anticipate seeing him play in the future to see how far he can go.
Mehdi Taremi – Iran
With 60 goals for FC Porto in just two seasons, Taremi, who is 30 years old, provides Iran with a lot of elite experience. The striker has accomplished this during this time, winning the Portuguese Primeira Liga as well as the double of the Portuguese Cup and Super Cup.
Mehdi Taremi – Iran
The outstanding Porto striker Taremi has made a significant contribution to the Iranian national team as well, most notably by scoring the game-winning goal in an unexpected 1-0 victory over Uruguay. With his expertise, he will undoubtedly be a player to watch during a game.
Kalidou Koulibaly – Senegal
The Senegalese team’s defense will be maintained by Koulibaly, the team’s captain. It’s realistic to assume that Senegal supporters may have high expectations for the sturdy center-back given their victory at the 2022 AFCON. We have big expectations for him as well.
Kalidou Koulibaly – Senegal
Koulibaly will bring a wealth of experience from the top echelons of the game to Senegal’s game after securing a move to Premier League club Chelsea in the summer. Although we are interested to watch him in more competitions, we are also wondering about how strong a player he is.
Christian Pulisic – USA
At the age of 24, Pulisic has already established himself as a household figure at Chelsea after helping the Premier League team win the UEFA Champions League in 2021. However, the midfielder’s influence extends beyond the club level. How impressive is that?
Christian Pulisic – USA
For the United States, Pulisic has made 50 appearances, scoring 21 goals to help the team win the 2020 CONCACAF Nations League. We are interested to see how many more things this truly talented player could accomplish for his team.
Daniel James – Wales
James, 24, played in the Premier League for Manchester United before joining Leeds United, giving him a wealth of experience. Think about how talented and skilled he must be given the quantity of experience he has collected as well as his skills and talents.
Daniel James – Wales
The winger is now on loan at Fulham, who are currently in the top half of the league standings. James will be essential to the Dragons’ maiden World Cup campaign this century as Wales’ starting left winger. We anticipate what that crucial role might be.
Sergej Milinković-Savić – Serbia
Milinkovi-Savi, Lazio’s playmaker, is at the center of the midfield. This Serbian playmaker is now on track to surpass his amazing 11 goals and 11 assists last season with three goals and seven assists in just 12 league games, all while assisting Lazio in their quest for Champions League advancement.
Sergej Milinković Savić – Serbia
This 27-year-old midfielder has established himself as an essential member of the Serbian national team, aiding in their advancement to League A of the UEFA Nations League. We are interested to see what kind of contribution he will make to his country’s team.
Leroy Sané – Germany
This Bayern Munich great has not only won two Bundesliga championships in as many seasons, but he has also dominated the Champions League this season, scoring four goals and dishing out two assists in only four games to lead the German champions to the top of their group.
Leroy Sané – Germany
Sané has been equally productive for his country, helping Germany to a resounding victory in the World Cup qualifying matches with four goals and three assists. He must undoubtedly play a significant role in his country’s team. We eagerly anticipate his upcoming plays.
Wojciech Szczęsny – Poland
This goalkeeper has extensive experience at the highest level of football, having played for Arsenal, AS Roma, and currently Juventus. Szczesny was a key player on the great Juve team that captured two Coppa Italia championships and three straight Serie A championships.
Wojciech Szczęsny – Poland
Szczesny was Poland’s first-choice goalkeeper and helped the nation qualify for the World Cup by keeping four clean sheets, including the team’s 2-0 victory over Sweden in the playoffs. He undoubtedly contributed to the victory over Sweden by combining his skills and expertise.
Takehiro Tomiyasu – Japan
This left-back caught Arsenal’s attention after excelling for Italian club Bologna, who quickly signed the player. Tomiyasu is now an essential member of the Arsenal team, which has risen to the top of the Premier League standings with 10 victories in its last 12 games.
Takehiro Tomiyasu – Japan
Tomiyasu was a vital part of the Japan team during World Cup qualifying, and he will undoubtedly play a part when his country faces Spain, Germany, and Costa Rica. We are interested to see how he performs in upcoming contests.
Bryan Oviedo – Costa Rica
This 32-year-old has a lengthy and varied soccer career, having played for FC Copenhagen of Denmark, Everton, and Sunderland of the Premier League, and four-time champions FC Copenhagen of the Danish League. Oviedo joined the MLS team Real Salt Lake at the beginning of this season.
Bryan Oviedo – Costa Rica
Throughout Costa Rica’s World Cup qualifying campaign, this left-back stood out as a defensive rock, but especially during their 1-0 playoff win over Oceania champions New Zealand. He is without a doubt an important player for his nation’s team, and we anticipate his future contributions.
Anis Ben Slimane – Tunisia
At just 21 years old, Slimane has already established himself as a key player for both club and country, helping Bröndby IF win the Danish league championship in 2021 despite his defensive orientation. Slimane is truly an amazing player.
Anis Ben Slimane – Tunisia
By helping Tunisia qualify for the World Cup with just one game lost, Slimane similarly demonstrated his significance to the national squad. They must have won a lot of games despite one loss. He must have developed into a crucial participant.
Raheem Sterling – England
Before moving to Chelsea in the summer, Sterling spent seven years playing for Manchester City, where he won four Premier League titles. Sterling began his career at Liverpool. Now, the winger’s attention is on the international stage. We are interested to see how far he can go.
Raheem Sterling – England
Sterling, who has two goals and two assists in seven World Cup qualifying games, will be a crucial playmaker for England when they take off for Qatar. He will undoubtedly be a very valuable addition to your squad.
Álvaro Morata – Spain
Morata, who is now Atletico Madrid’s primary striker, offers a wealth of experience to a Spanish national team that is still relatively inexperienced. The 30-year-old also won two La Liga championships and two Champions League medals with Real Madrid in addition to two Serie A championships with Juventus.
Álvaro Morata – Spain
The nation will look to Morata to grasp victory as he did during the team’s 1-0 Nations League victory over Portugal because he is the frontman in Spain’s attacking formation. He will undoubtedly continue to win games in the same manner.
Simon Kjaer – Denmark
It’s no secret that Kjaer possesses all the qualities required to make him a qualified captain for Denmark. He was praised for his valiant response to Christian Eriksen’s medical issue during Euro 2020. Additionally, Kjaer guided the group through the entire competition, getting them to the semifinals.
Simon Kjaer – Denmark
Kjaer will be eager to continue the ascent of the Danish team in international soccer after making six appearances for defending Serie A winners AC Milan this season. With enough effort, Kjaer will undoubtedly be able to lead his squad to a high position, so let’s see how far he can take them.
Leandro Trossard – Belgium
Brossard is a high-energy player who is accustomed to making an impact late in games, even though he frequently sits on the bench for his national team. For example, in a 6-1 thrashing of Poland, the Brighton star scored twice after coming off the bench.
Leandro Trossard – Belgium
As a result of his versatility as a wingback and left winger, the Brighton star will provide the Belgian team with more defensive and offensive capabilities. He and his squad will win more games if they possess both of those traits.
Vinicius Junior – Brazil
Vinicius Junior, who is only 22 years old, has already established himself as a key player for Real Madrid, scoring the game-winning goal against Liverpool in the Champions League final last year. We can only speculate as to how much more he will develop with time at such a young age.
Vinicius Junior – Brazil
In the first 18 games of the current season, he has scored nine goals in all competitions, continuing his strong play. Vinicius, who is still a rookie in the Brazilian national team, is eager to establish himself and secure his place in the annals of Brazilian football.
Edinson Cavani – Uruguay
The 35-year-old attacker has a wealth of experience, having led Uruguay’s national team to the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals. Cavani is having a strong season, scoring four goals and dishing out an assist in seven games for his new team Valencia.
Edinson Cavani – Uruguay
The success of Uruguay will depend heavily on Cavani’s strong mentality and experience managing big games, especially given the team’s youth. Given their skill and experience as well as their youth, we are interested to see how far they can go.
Tajon Buchanan – Canada
This winger joined Club Brugge at the beginning of 2022 after breaking out with the MLS team New England Revolution. He won the Belgian league in his debut season. Additionally, Buchanan has demonstrated his value in the Champions League, unexpectedly helping Brugge to win their group.
Tajon Buchanan – Canada
Buchanan not only contributed four goals to Canada’s World Cup qualification campaign, but he was also a significant contributor to the Canucks’ run to the 2021 Gold Cup semifinals. Do you believe he will be able to bring home any more victories for his country?