The squads for Qatar 2022 have been announced by all 32 teams. Every squad will have 26 players to pick from, but here are the top ten players to keep an eye on:
Harry Kane, England
The Three Lions skipper has scored one goal every World Cup game. The Tottenham talisman just needs two goals in an England shirt to tie Wayne Rooney’s all-time record of 53 goals. Kane is a good all-around player who can play as a striker or in center midfield. Referees will be on the lookout for his proclivity to back into defenders leaping for a ball in the box, frequently sending the defender to the ground.
Robert Lewandowski, Poland
Lewandowski, a game veteran who shows no signs of slowing down, scored 18 goals in his first 19 appearances for Barcelona. To be honest, no one expects Poland to do well in this World Cup. But if something huge does occur, Lewandowski, 34, will undoubtedly be at the center of it. For seven seasons, he was the highest scorer in Germany’s Bundesliga. In the 2020-21 season, he scored 41 goals. Lewandowski is a 6’1″ goal-scoring dynamo who is widely regarded as one of the best center-forwards of all time. In every way, he is a mature player who prioritizes hard work and discipline in his quest of excellence.
Michy Batshuayi, Belgium
This Belgium team is not short on stars. Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard appear to score goals for the sake of scoring goals. Batshuayi, on the other hand, scores when it counts the most, with 26 goals for Belgium. He possesses speed and strength, and he will work well with teammates to generate opportunities out of thin air. It may be difficult to stand out in this team, which has to be one of the favorites to win the championship.
Fabinho, Brazil
The Liverpool midfielder, 29, is unlikely to find himself on the scoresheet at this World Cup. He has failed to score for Brazil in 28 games, and Tite has chosen a roster of nine forwards, so he might not get much of a look in the penalty box. However, his strong style makes him one of the finest defensive midfielders in the game. He can play as a center-back when necessary, and his game vision is so good that he is well-known for winning possession and recycling balls, turning threats into fresh assaults.
Gareth Bale, Wales
Gareth Bale may not be carrying the aspirations of a country returning to the World Cup for the first time in 64 years solely on his shoulders, but it certainly seems that way. Wales has numerous good players on the team, but Bale is a global superstar. He’s lethal when he’s in form. However, personality issues and a lack of game time at Real Madrid led to his departure to Los Angeles, where he is unlikely to face the same level of competition as he did in the Premier League and La Liga.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal
At 37, Portugal’s all-time leading goal scorer may be slowing down. But he remains a formidable force in front of the goal. Ronaldo is a creative playmaker, a showman who knows and enjoys that the world is watching him. He is frequently given a lot of latitudes to wander outside of traditional positions. Ronaldo has 117 goals for Portugal. If he can put his problems with Manchester United behind him when he boards the plane to Qatar, we’re sure to see him score a couple more goals.
Hakim Ziyech, Morocco
Hakim Ziyech is one of the tournament’s most dangerous players due to his accuracy, pace, dribbling, technical prowess, and spectacular free-kicks. Morocco’s success in Group F, which includes Belgium, Canada, and Croatia, will be entirely down to the Chelsea winger, who was called “The Wizard” when at Ajax. Keep an eye out for movements that start wide on the right and end with perfect passes to teammates on diagonal runs. But it’s not just about the assists for him. With 17 goals for Morocco under his belt, his pace allows him to outrun opponents and create his own opportunities.
Neymar, Brazil
What can you say about Neymar that hasn’t already been said? He has 75 goals for Brazil. He can play as a striker, winger, or midfielder. He’s fast, and he’s got all the abilities, tricks, and flicks you could want. He’s a sparkling footballer who is a joy to watch. He can outrun opponents and score with either his foot or his head. If he truly wants to embarrass an opponent, you could even witness a rainbow flip. But Neymar has a large bullseye on his back. Expect plenty of physical challenges against him, as well as him capitalizing on each one by diving and rolling around on the pitch in spectacular fashion.
Lionel Messi, Argentina
Messi is without a doubt the best footballer of his generation. Any generation is possible. He’s been dubbed the “PlayStation footballer” because of his incredible ability to look to be hard-coded by a computer programmer. He has received seven Ballon d’Or honors. He’s shattered every European record. But he has yet to win a World Cup. And, at 35, he’s unlikely to have another shot.
Kylian Mbappe, France
Who among the future generation is capable of filling Messi’s shoes? You simply need to glance over Messi’s shoulder at PSG to see one candidate: Mbappe. The 23-year-old has now scored 28 times for France. Mbappe, another attacker who can play on either flank because to his both-footedness, provides opportunities and assists for his teammates, particularly when coming from the right. He’s inventive, with rapid acceleration and abrupt changes of pace and direction that confuse opponents. Mbappe, a phenomenal talent, has the potential to be among the finest the world has ever seen. This World Cup is a great opportunity for him to move closer to that ambition.