Almost there. Nothing is missing. Qatar convenes the Selections and each one has its own numbers. Apart from Lionel Messi, who has his weight and does not enter into any speculation, there are at least 15 current stars playing in European teams that will seek their consecration or ratification in the Persian Gulf event. Are these.
1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Who had, withheld. If the Portugal “7” is among the stars, it is more for his past than for his present, but the former is of such a stature that it is impossible not to include him in the constellation of Qatari footballers. Though he hasn’t been the same since he left Real Madrid, the 36-year-old Ronaldo maintains an unbeatable dose of quality and one goal in mind, to take his country to the top of world football.
2 Kylian Mbappe (France)
Tomorrow, today In the absence of Norway and its star Erling Haaland, the most consolidated future passes through the haul of Kylian Mbappé, who despite his young age already has a World Cup on his bulletin board. Unlike what happened four years ago in Russia, the 23-year-old Parisian is now the undisputed protagonist of a France that starts as a great favorite for the final victory, which will depend a lot on the performance of the Paris Saint-Germain player, in full sporting maturity.
3 Karim Benzema (France)
Ballon d’Or available to the champion If Karim Benzema won the last Ballon d’Or it was more thanks to his brilliance with Real Madrid than his performances for France, but the 34-year-old striker is having the best time of his career career and, little by little, he is finding his place among the “bleus”, after more than three years of absence for non-sporting reasons. Qatar is his World Cup and, after winning everything with Real Madrid, his declared ambition.
4 Neymar (Brazil)
Leading the nation Consistency is not Neymar’s strong suit, but the Brazilian dreams of giving it his all at a key moment when his country is looking for a leader to break a 20-year drought without winning a FIFA World Cup World. At 30, the PSG player has turned his life around in recent months and arrives in Qatar with the ambition of leading his nation, the one that has won it several times, to the title.
5 Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Goal guaranteed. Since 2015, Lewandowski hasn’t dropped below 40 goals per season and is, without a doubt, the most efficient “9” in the world, a guarantee that, at 34, the Barcelona player can project him among the Qatar stars, provided that the his goals take away a team that is not among the favourites.
6 Kevin de Bruyne (Belgium)
The stiletto of the eternal aspiring Belgian has been waiting for the feat of his team for years, who have found in Kevin de Bruyne the best exponent of a golden generation that makes us dream of great things. The City player is, at 31, the fittest survivor of third-place finish in Russia four years ago.
7 Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)
And why not an archer? Chosen as his best man last season, Courtois made it clear that goalkeepers are further from the center than forwards. But, in top form, the 30-year-old Merengue goalkeeper can become one of Qatar’s landmarks and help Belgium finally realize their dream.
8 Vinicius (Brazil)
The future of Brazil. For many he is Brazil’s future, but the 22-year-old Real Madrid striker arrives at his first consolidated World Cup with his club and eager to step up in quality with one of the favorites to lift the title. Placed in the shadow of Neymar, Qatar can serve as a springboard to become the point of reference for the “auriverdes” for the next decade.
9 Luka Modric (Croatia)
The calm experience Luka Modric owes a large part of his reputation to his solidity, a characteristic that shines little, but which, sublimated to the extreme that the Croatian has taken, places him among the best in any tournament. At 37, the Real Madrid player is once again the best asset to the world’s runner-up.
10 Peter (Spain)
The star of the starless team. Spain faces the World Cup in Qatar with the conviction that the group is above individual players. But, among these, one name stands out, Pedri, a footballer who, despite his 19 years, already defines a way of playing football. The success of the Barcelona player largely depends on whether the alchemy of Luis Enrique works.
11 Harry Kane (England)
Few players define the idiosyncrasies of English football better than Kane, who at the age of 29 is waiting for his moment to make the leap in quality, a mutation that could arrive in Qatar, where the cradle of football will have more eyes than ever, footballer of the Tottenham.
12 Joshua Kimmich (Germany)
The all-rounder of the “Mannschaft”. For Germany to shine, it has to be a block and every block needs a cement. Kimmich is both at Bayern and in the national team, where at the age of 27 he has proved to be an essential player, the face of a team that comes with more collective than individual qualities.
13 Darwin Nunez (Uruguay)
The “charrúa” promise. Although he has yet to show some of the talent that made him shine in Portugal with Liverpool, the 23-year-old “charrúa” striker awaits a springboard like the World Cup to reveal his qualities to the world. If Uruguay go the distance, it will largely be due to a good alliance between the Liverpool player and Luis Suárez.
14 Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands)
Regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the world in recent times, he has carved out a gap in the constellation of attacking figures. Indeed, among his other successes, he finished second in The Best 2019 between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He is the real point of reference for ‘Oranje’ dream of being the protagonist again, with his positioning, his ability to let the ball out and his forays into the opponent’s area in blocked actions.
15 Sadio Mane (Senegal)
Not surprisingly, Sadio Mané finished second in the voting for the last Ballon d’Or, above all thanks to his contribution to Senegal’s victory in the last African Cup of Nations. A knee injury against Werder Bremen just days before the start of the World Cup casts doubt on his participation, although coach Aliou Cissé has decided to include him in the shortlist due to his influence on the rest of the squad
Source: Clarin
