Noureldein GhanemWashington, DC — While the World Cup remains football's ultimate stage, the 2026 tournament is set to be the largest in history.
Featuring 48 nations and 104 matches across the US, Canada and Mexico, the tournament will unite global superstars, rising talents and veterans seeking a final shot at glory.
While over 1,200 players compete, only a select few will etch their names into football history.
With immense pressure and every second counting, a single goal, save, or decisive moment can permanently transform a player's career.
TRT World profiles 15 key players expected to make a major impact on their teams in the tournament and provide unforgettable moments for fans.
Lamine Yamal (Spain)
It is easy to forget that Yamal is only 18, given his remarkable achievements with both Barcelona and Spain.
The Barcelona forward registered 27 goal contributions in La Liga during the 2025-26 season, including 16 goals and 11 assists. Additionally, he recorded six goals and four assists in the UEFA Champions League.
He played a pivotal role in leading Spain to the UEFA Euro 2024 title, becoming the youngest player ever to appear and score in the tournament, and finishing as the competition's top assist provider with four assists.
During the past season, he maintained an average match rating of approximately 8.0 out of 10.
Yamal has been sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained during Barcelona's La Liga win over Celta Vigo in April, raising fears he could miss Spain's opening group-stage fixture.
Head coach Luis de la Fuente has, however, confirmed Yamal is on track to recover for Spain’s opening World Cup match against Cape Verde next week.
Kylian Mbappe (France)
Mbappe is widely regarded as one of the most complete football players in the world, with many observers considering him the finest globally.
He is a natural goal scorer, has immense pace, and the skills to outplay defenders in one-on-one situations.
At the age of 19, he led France to the 2018 World Cup title. In 2022, he led his team to the final match against Argentina.
The 27-year-old Frenchman will be looking to leave another great mark in 2026 World Cup after suffering the ultimate heartbreak in Qatar despite scoring a hat-trick in the 2022 final.
In a recent fun rapid-fire challenge with content creator Finn Agostinelli, Mbappe was asked to predict who would score more goals at the 2026 World Cup between various top players, including Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
He showed strong belief in Yamal's scoring potential, rated Messi highly, but ultimately picked Ronaldo over Messi — before naming himself as the player who will score the most goals in the tournament.
Erling Haaland (Norway)
Although the Norwegian is yet to make his World Cup debut, Haaland has proved himself to be one of the world's best strikers at the age of 25.
Standing at 6ft 5in tall, the Norwegian striker has scored more than 160 goals for Manchester City since joining the club in 2022, breaking numerous records along the way.
With multiple Golden Boots, Premier League and Champions League titles, Haaland will be aiming to leave his mark at football's grandest stage.
Norway last featured at the FIFA World Cup in 1998, reaching the round of 16 — a tournament that concluded 19 days before Haaland was born.
With only days remaining until the 2026 World Cup, Haaland has clearly outlined his intentions.
Speaking recently to FIFA, Haaland said: "I have never experienced Norway being at the World Cup in my life, so I think it is about time."
Vinicius Junior (Brazil)
Widely regarded as one of the most technically gifted players in the world, Vini Jr. or Vinicius is carrying the hopes of football-mad South American nation and will lead Brazil's forward line at the World Cup.
Real Madrid's unsung hero recorded 16 goals and 5 assists in past season. He also led Los Blancos to win two UEFA Champions League titles.
As Brazil have not won the World Cup since 2002, Carlo Ancelotti’s side will rely on winger Viniciusto bring glory to the Selecao.
Vinicius has been realistic about Brazil not entering as outright favourites while expressing strong confidence in himself, his teammates, and Ancelotti’s guidance to deliver the hexa.
"I'm the one everyone talks about now because I've had five or six positive seasons at Real Madrid and have already spent years among the best players in the world," he said in a recent interview.
"That naturally brings more responsibility. And that's the responsibility I want, because I know I can do more, improve, keep evolving, and I know where I can reach because my ceiling is always very high."
Harry Kane (England)
Harry Kane is regarded as one of the world's elite finishers. Although he does not possess the same physical attributes as Haaland or Mbappe, he is exceptionally skilled at positioning and creating space.
The 32-year-old is England's all-time top scorer with 78 goals in over 110 appearances.
He is the Premier League second top scorer of all time, with 213 goals. With Bayern Munich, he scored 98 goals in just 3 seasons in the Bundesliga.
Following England's 1-0 friendly win over New Zealand in Tampa, he downplayed concerns over North America's extreme heat, declaring himself fully fit and excited for the tournament.
"We're all professional athletes. We all have done the right preparation to get ready for this tournament between us and the staff as well… so I think come the tournament, it won't be a factor."
Kane is so important for England that former striker Chris Sutton believes that if Kane "announced his international retirement this afternoon, everyone would instantly view England's World Cup chances in a different, more pessimistic light."
Ousmane Dembele (France)
Another Frenchman on the list, Ousmane Dembele, is a key player for Paris Saint-Germain and has already helped his team win two back-to-back Champions League titles.
The 2025 Ballon d'Or winner returned to PSG in 2023 after a rough stay at Barcelona.
With great pace and finishing skills, Dembele joins Mbappe and Bayern Munich's Michael Olise to form the deadliest front trio in the tournament.
Dembele remains focused on the tournament, acknowledging the competitive landscape.
"There are many favourites, we know that [Argentina] is the reigning World Cup champions so obviously they are one of the favorites of this competition. So is [Spain], who won the Euro in 2024. [England], [Portugal], [Germany]. There are also very complicated teams like [Brazil], [Ecuador], Portugal. It’s a difficult team. There are favorites but when the matches start it’s 11 against 11, there are no more favorites. I’ll have to stay focused," he told ESPN.
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Arguably the best player in the history of the game, Lionel Messi, who turns 39 this June, will lead the Argentine team in the tournament.
Even at this age, Messi remains his country's main man, winning everything the sport has to offer.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner will appear in his sixth World Cup and will lead his fellows to retain the title.
Messi has been quietly preparing with the team ahead of Argentina's first match on June 16 when the defending champions open their tournament against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
He was rested in their recent friendly against Honduras on June 7 due to lingering hamstring issues from late May, and he has been doing individual training sessions.
On Argentina's chances of repeating as champions, Messi recently told in an interview that, "We have to get excited, like Argentines always do, but we also have to know that there are other favorites ahead of us who are in better form", naming France, Spain, Brazil and Portugal as strong contenders.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Few players have achieved what Ronaldo has. The Portuguese forward has mastered his craft, reaching the highest levels of excellence.
The 41-year-old is football's all-time top scorer, with over 970 goals. He is the national teams' top scorer and the UEFA Champions League's top scorer.
However, his only triumph with his national team is the 2016 Euro.
As the World Cup remains the only major trophy missing from his career, Ronaldo will aim to secure the title in what is expected to be his final appearance at the tournament.
After Portugal's 2-1 friendly win over Chile on June 6, Ronaldo reassured fans not to overreact to the warm-up matches, saying: "We don't give everything in these games because there is a much bigger task ahead of us. These matches are mainly to warm up and prepare. So people shouldn't judge the Portugal national football team based on friendly games. What truly matters is what we show when the competition begins at the FIFA World Cup."
Jude Bellingham (England)
Considered the future of the Three Lions, Bellingham combines multiple traits that make him one of the best midfielders in the world.
He can score from outside the 18-yard box, could be a creative playmaker, has big-game experience, and holds a leadership role at just 22.
Bellingham has already made 46 appearances with England and will be one of the main names in the tournament.
Despite his status as one of the world's elite talents, Thomas Tuchel, the manager of the England national team, has sent a clear message to Bellingham, warning the Real Madrid midfielder that his place in England's starting XI is far from guaranteed.
"He is one of the starters, he knows he is one of the starters, but we have 14 or 15 potential starters. These roles can always change, but at the moment I think there are 14 or 15 proper starters and Jude is one of them," Tuchel told media on Monday.
Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
One of Africa's finest, Mohamed Salah, is marking his second World Cup appearance in 2026.
The 33-year-old winger has many records and awards under his belt, including two Africa Player of the Year awards and three PFA Player of the Year awards.
After a rough season with Liverpool, during which he announced that he would leave the club after an illustrious nine years, Salah will do his best to lead the Pharaohs to secure Egypt's first-ever ticket to the knockout stage and reaffirm that he is one of best.
Egypt are in Group G alongside Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand, with their opening match against Belgium on June 15. Salah, who is captaining the side at what is likely his final World Cup, has emphasised pride, hard work, and realism about the challenge.
In his latest remarks, Salah focused on national pride rather than bold predictions, framing this as a chance for Egypt to make a strong impression and potentially secure their first-ever World Cup win.
"Our goal is to represent Egyptian football with pride and bring joy to the Egyptian people by delivering performances worthy of Egypt’s name on the world’s biggest football stage," Salah said on Monday.
Arda Guler (Türkiye)
The UEFA Champions League's "Revelation of the Season" is central to Türkiye's squad in the World Cup.
Arda Guler possesses exceptional versatility and can play in multiple positions using both feet.
Türkiye are returning to the tournament after 24 years, with Güler (now 21) emerging as one of the team’s star players alongside others like Juventus' Kenan Yıldız.
Guler has emphasised that Türkiye are determined to make an impact and fear no opponent in the tournament.
"We are very excited about the World Cup. The last time we went to the World Cup, I wasn't even born yet. We heard about it from our fathers and brothers. We made a lot of effort to participate in the cup. We want to show that we didn't come here for nothing…We are not afraid of anyone!"
Türkiye have been on a strong run and unbeaten in recent games, including a 2-1 win over Venezuela on June 6 where Güler provided both assists.
Head coach Vincenzo Montella has already declared that Arda is "revered in Türkiye" at levels "similar to Maradona in Napoli," highlighting Güler’s talent, intuition, game-reading, and ability to perform under pressure.
Teammates call him a "complete player" who can score, assist, and influence games from multiple positions.
Türkiye’s hopes of progressing through the group stage or making a deep run rest heavily on Güler.
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
Achraf Hakimi is one of the best attacking full-backs in the world, arguably Africa's best player at the moment, and remains the face of that "Atlas Lions" golden generation.
Hakimi led Morocco to the recent AFCON final and the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-final. Very few players can match his pace.
The PSG full-back will try to recreate the successful run his team made in Qatar in 2022.
The Moroccan captain, star right-back, and a game-changer is in his third World Cup (2018, 2022, 2026) and ha been been publicly motivating the squad, saying their goal is to go even further than the historic 2022 semi-final run: "Why not do even better than in Qatar? This is our objective!"
Morocco are again being talked about as a dark horse, and having their captain fit and firing is a massive boost for fans and the team.
If the Atlas Lions are to surprise the world again, Hakimi will undoubtedly be the key player driving their attack from the right flank.
Bruno Fernandes (Portugal)
Manchester United's midfielder has been one of the best playmakers in the world since joining the Red Devils in 2020.
He provided over 70 assists since joining United and scored over 70 goals.
The 31-year-old has a strong chance of being Portugal's key player during the tournament, given his form this season.
Although Cristiano Ronaldo remains the team's global face and captain, analysts and coaches increasingly view Fernandes as the on-pitch leader driving the squad.
At 31 and in his prime, Portugal's vice-captain serves as the creative hub and central playmaker in Roberto Martinez's side.
Fernandes is vocal about wanting to win the World Cup "not just for Portugal, but for everything Cristiano has given to football."
Teammates and fans see him as the player who takes responsibility in big moments, while analysts say Portugal's chances of winning the tournament will improve dramatically if Martínez builds the team around Fernandes and gives him the ball constantly – similar to how he was used at Manchester United under certain managers.
Michael Olise (France)
Another French player features on the must-watch list. The Bayern Munich winger has scored 15 goals and has been pivotal to his team's success.
In his first two seasons with the German giant, he scored 41 goals and provided 46 assists.
Although he has only 15 appearances with Les Blues, Olise completes what many call one of the most dangerous forward lines in the world alongside Mbappe and Dembele.
Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany believes Olise is "sure to be one of the best players in the world", while France coach Didier Deschamps notes that Olise brings "real fluidity" and is "a difference-maker". Meanwhile, teammate Harry Kane describes him as "currently the best winger in the world".
Raphinha (Brazil)
Like Vinicius Junior, Raphael Dias Belloli – known as Raphinha – will be crucial for Brazil this summer. Moving to Barcelona from Leeds United in 2022, the 29-year-old in his second World Cup, has been important to Barca's success.
While Vinicius headlines the Brazil squad, Raphinha cannot be overlooked and will be a crucial member of the team at the World Cup.
Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil’s coach, has openly called him "the best player in the world at attacking deep", making him a regular starter and key creative hub.
He has deployed Raphinha in a central attacking-midfield role, where he links play, dribbles, scores and creates opportunities.
For former Brazil star Ronaldinho Gaucho, this is no longer just Neymar Junior’s show.
"Brazil now has another player capable of deciding matches and carrying responsibility under pressure. If Raphinha brings his Barcelona form into the World Cup, he can become one of the tournament’s most important players," Ronaldinho opined in his latest remarks.
