50 players to watch at the 2022 World Cup

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More than 800 players, representing 32 countries and six continents, will assemble in Qatar for four weeks of World Cup competition. To distill the pool into the top 50 players is no simple task. Heck, with an A and B team, Brazil could create a world-class 50 of its own. Debates about who belongs would undoubtedly last into the next World Cup cycle.

With that in mind, The Post’s list is not necessarily a ranking of the best 50. Yes, it includes many of the most famous and decorated players (Messi, Mbappé and Neymar, oh my!) but also those promising a breakout tournament or holding the key to their team exceeding expectations.

50

Almoez Ali

Qatar

Plays for Al-Duhail (Qatar)

Any hope of the hosts advancing to the knockout stage probably rests with the Sudanese-born Ali reprising his high-scoring exploits from the 2019 Asian Cup and 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup.

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Almoez AliQatar – Al-Duhail

49

Dusan Vlahovic

Serbia

Plays for Juventus (Italy)

After making his mark with Fiorentina, the 6-foot-3 striker has continued his scoring exploits for Italy’s most decorated club while also becoming a lethal threat for the national team.

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Dusan VlahovicSerbia – Juventus

48

João Cancelo

Portugal

Plays for Manchester City (England)

One of the world’s premier right backs, Cancelo has won trophies with Benfica, with Juventus and in the past three seasons with City while twice earning a place on the Premier League team of the year.

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João CanceloPortugal – Manchester City

47

Christopher Nkunku

France

Plays for RB Leipzig (Germany)

The Bundesliga player of the season in 2021-22 is off to a torrid start this campaign and primed to make a global splash while adding to France’s immense firepower.

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Christopher NkunkuFrance – RB Leipzig

46

Achraf Hakimi

Morocco

Plays for PSG (France)

Spanish-born right back came through Real Madrid’s youth system; starred in Germany, Italy and France; and started for the Atlas Lions at the 2018 World Cup.

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Achraf HakimiMorocco – PSG

45

Kalidou Koulibaly

Senegal

Plays for Chelsea (England)

Powerful center back represented France, his birth nation, at the youth level and made his mark on the club scene in eight seasons at Napoli before moving to London this summer.

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Kalidou KoulibalySenegal – Chelsea

44

Hirving Lozano

Mexico

Plays for Napoli (Italy)

“Chucky,” as he’s known, scored against Germany at the 2018 World Cup and has thrived in Europe since 2017, first with PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands), then in Italy for three years.

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Hirving LozanoMexico – Napoli

43

Mehdi Taremi

Iran

Plays for Porto (Portugal)

Taremi has been a sensation for club and country, posting 36 goals and 23 assists the previous two Portuguese seasons and eight goals in World Cup qualifying.

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Mehdi TaremiIran – Porto

42

Cody Gakpo

Netherlands

Plays for PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)

The winger has taken his game to new levels this season in the Dutch Eredivisie, mixing goals and assists in league and continental action.

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Cody GakpoNetherlands – PSV Eindhoven

41

Ilkay Gundogan

Germany

Plays for Manchester City (England)

A central player known for his versatility and polish, Gundogan is in his seventh season with City and, as a fixture in the national team, scored five goals in the qualifiers.

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Ilkay GundoganGermany – Manchester City

40

Darwin Núñez

Uruguay

Plays for Liverpool (England)

After scoring 26 goals in 28 matches for Benfica, he made the leap to Liverpool this summer in a $75 million transfer and will enter the first major tournament of a blossoming career.

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Darwin NúñezUruguay – Liverpool

39

Aurélien Tchouaméni

France

Plays for Real Madrid (Spain)

With Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté unavailable because of injuries, Tchouaméni must be rushed into the central-midfield spotlight.

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Aurélien TchouaméniFrance – Real Madrid

38

Marquinhos

Brazil

Plays for PSG (France)

The center back, who has anchored the French club’s defense since 2013, is aiming to add a World Cup title to a portfolio that includes an Olympic gold medal and a Copa América trophy.

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MarquinhosBrazil – PSG

37

Casemiro

Brazil

Plays for Manchester Utd. (England)

After winning five Champions League titles with Real Madrid, the defensive midfielder in August brought to the Premier League the grit and leadership every team covets.

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CasemiroBrazil – Manchester Utd.

36

Aleksandar Mitrovic

Serbia

Plays for Fulham (England)

His scoring rate for club and country is absurd; he set a league record with 43 goals in 46 matches last season as the Cottagers earned promotion back to the Premier League.

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Aleksandar MitrovicSerbia – Fulham

35

Jamal Musiala

Germany

Plays for Bayern Munich (Germany)

He represented England and Germany at the youth level before committing to his birth nation and, at Euro 2021, became the youngest German to feature in a major tournament.

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Jamal MusialaGermany – Bayern Munich

34

Christian Eriksen

Denmark

Plays for Manchester Utd. (England)

Eriksen steps onto the sport’s biggest stage 17 months after suffering cardiac arrest during a European Championship match and less than a year after restarting his career.

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Christian EriksenDenmark – Manchester Utd.

33

Joshua Kimmich

Germany

Plays for Bayern Munich (Germany)

A steadying figure in Bayern’s defensive midfield for more than seven years (and occasionally at the back), Kimmich has made more than 200 Bundesliga appearances.

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Joshua KimmichGermany – Bayern Munich

32

Matthijs de Ligt

Netherlands

Plays for Bayern Munich (Germany)

Since being voted Europe’s best young player in 2018 while at Ajax, the center back played three seasons for Juventus before moving this summer on a $70 million transfer.

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Matthijs de LigtNetherlands – Bayern Munich

31

Bruno Fernandes

Portugal

Plays for Manchester Utd. (England)

A playmaker with a knack for both creating and scoring — 18 goals for United in 2020-21 — Fernandes has served a key role in Portugal’s attack since the 2018 World Cup.

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Bruno FernandesPortugal – Manchester Utd.

30

Romelu Lukaku

Belgium

Plays for Inter MIlan (Italy)

Physically imposing and clinical, the greatest scorer in national team history (by a wide margin) has recorded goals at a prolific pace in Serie A and the Premier League for 10 years.

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Romelu LukakuBelgium – Inter MIlan

29

Gareth Bale

Wales

Plays for Los Angeles FC (USA)

A bit player at Real Madrid in recent years, Bale made a surprising turn to MLS this summer to prepare for his country’s first World Cup appearance in 64 years.

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Gareth BaleWales – Los Angeles FC

28

Richarlison

Brazil

Plays for Tottenham (England)

After scoring five goals in a gold medal-winning Olympic campaign, he pocketed six goals in World Cup qualifying and secured a $63 million transfer to Spurs from Everton this summer.

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RicharlisonBrazil – Tottenham

27

Jude Bellingham

England

Plays for Borussia Dortmund (Germany)

In sensational form for his Bundesliga club and gaining prominence with England, Bellingham is destined for a lucrative move in the next year to a European heavyweight.

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Jude BellinghamEngland – Borussia Dortmund

26

Alphonso Davies

Canada

Plays for Bayern Munich (Germany)

From refugee camp in West Africa to MLS stardom and then Bundesliga elite, Davies is perhaps the best left back in the world and a key to Canada qualifying for the first time since 1986.

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Alphonso DaviesCanada – Bayern Munich

25

Christian Pulisic

United States

Plays for Chelsea (England)

The pride of Hershey, Pa., has made splashes in the Bundesliga and Premier League, and after missing the previous World Cup, he brings his clever and ruthless skills to the biggest stage.

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Christian PulisicUnited States – Chelsea

24

Serge Gnabry

Germany

Plays for Bayern Munich (Germany)

From the flanks, Gnabry knocks opponents off-balance with piercing acceleration and panoramic vision. He creates but also finishes, posting 10-plus goals in four straight Bundesliga seasons.

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Serge GnabryGermany – Bayern Munich

23

Bernardo Silva

Portugal

Plays for Manchester City (England)

Small in size and large in stature, the playmaker has set the pace for club and country for five years and enters his second World Cup after starting three times in Russia.

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Bernardo SilvaPortugal – Manchester City

22

Alisson

Brazil

Plays for Liverpool (England)

When you think of Brazil, you think of attackers, but in Alisson and Manchester City’s Ederson, Seleçao boasts two of the best in net in the world. Alisson, though, is the front-runner to start.

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AlissonBrazil – Liverpool

21

Gavi

Spain

Plays for Barcelona (Spain)

Known by his nickname, Pablo Gavira is the youngest player in Spanish national team history and winner of the 2022 Kopa Trophy as Europe’s best player under 21.

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GaviSpain – Barcelona

20

Phil Foden

England

Plays for Manchester City (England)

One of the most prodigious talents to come out of England in recent years, Foden debuted with City at 17, broke into the national team in 2020 and started six qualifiers.

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Phil FodenEngland – Manchester City

19

Luka Modric

Croatia

Plays for Real Madrid (Spain)

Four years after guiding his small country to the World Cup final and winning the Golden Ball as MVP (as well as FIFA player of the year), the immaculate playmaker remains a joy to watch.

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Luka ModricCroatia – Real Madrid

18

Rúben Dias

Portugal

Plays for Manchester City (England)

In just over two Premier League seasons, the center back has established himself as a vital cog in the City machine through leadership belying his age and an innate ability to read the game.

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Rúben DiasPortugal – Manchester City

17

Federico Valverde

Uruguay

Plays for Real Madrid (Spain)

Valverde has evolved into a complete player on Europe’s most complete club, balancing strength and skill while also gaining a scoring touch.

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Federico ValverdeUruguay – Real Madrid

16

Lautaro Martínez

Argentina

Plays for Inter MIlan (Italy)

Demonstrating Argentina’s attack is more than just Lionel Messi, Martinez totaled 65 goals over the past five club seasons in Serie A play.

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Lautaro MartínezArgentina – Inter MIlan

15

Thomas Müller

Germany

Plays for Bayern Munich (Germany)

After winning the 2010 Golden Boot with five goals and taking second in 2014 with five, Müller is aiming to redeem himself — and Germany — after a quick and fruitless 2018 effort.

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Thomas MüllerGermany – Bayern Munich

14

Pedri

Spain

Plays for Barcelona (Spain)

Voted the best young player in Europe last year, Pedro González López continues the tradition of technically gifted Spanish playmakers with both Barcelona and the national team.

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PedriSpain – Barcelona

13

Son Heung-Min

S. Korea

Plays for Tottenham (England)

Regarded as one of the finest Asian players in history, Son shared the Premier League’s Golden Boot award last season with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah after scoring 23 goals.

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Son Heung-MinS. Korea – Tottenham

12

Vinícius Júnior

Brazil

Plays for Real Madrid (Spain)

Flashy left wing debuted with the Spanish titans at 18 and rocketed to stardom last season with 22 goals across all competitions while building his portfolio with the national team.

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Vinícius JúniorBrazil – Real Madrid

11

Thibaut Courtois

Belgium

Plays for Real Madrid (Spain)

The 2018 Golden Glove winner returns to the spotlight with an opportunity to secure his place as the best shot-stopper in the game and anchor the Red Devils’ bid for their first title.

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Thibaut CourtoisBelgium – Real Madrid

10

Virgil van Dijk

Netherlands

Plays for Liverpool (England)

Mixing strength and agility, the 6-foot-4 center back will make his long-awaited debut in a major tournament after the Dutch failed to qualify in 2018 and he missed Euro 2020 with an injury.

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Virgil van DijkNetherlands – Liverpool

9

Sadio Mané

Senegal

Plays for Bayern Munich (Germany)

The Lions of Teranga’s hopes of becoming the first African semifinalist rest in large part with Mané, who was sensational over six seasons at Liverpool before leaving this summer.

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Sadio ManéSenegal – Bayern Munich

8

Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal

Plays for Manchester Utd. (England)

He has scored in four World Cups and is the oldest to record a tournament hat trick, and with a deep run this year, he would strengthen his standing among the finest ever.

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Cristiano RonaldoPortugal – Manchester Utd.

7

Harry Kane

England

Plays for Tottenham (England)

The London-born striker hasn’t padded his stats in friendlies, scoring almost all his goals in high-level international tournaments, including six at the 2018 World Cup to win the Golden Boot.

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Harry KaneEngland – Tottenham

6

Karim Benzema

France

Plays for Real Madrid (Spain)

Absent from Les Bleus from 2016 through 2020, the Lyon native roared back last year with nine goals in 13 matches and was also voted UEFA player of the year with 44 goals for Madrid.

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Karim BenzemaFrance – Real Madrid

5

Robert Lewandowski

Poland

Plays for Barcelona (Spain)

There is no purer striker in the game than Lewandowski, the national team’s career leader who had more than 300 goals in 12 Bundesliga seasons before moving to Spain this summer.

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Robert Lewandowski Poland – Barcelona

4

Kevin De Bruyne

Belgium

Plays for Manchester City (England)

De Bruyne can make a case for being the finest player in the world, a versatile attacker who posted 57 goals and 84 assists and won four Premier League titles in the previous seven seasons.

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Kevin De BruyneBelgium – Manchester City

3

Neymar

Brazil

Plays for PSG (France)

After fracturing a vertebra in 2014 and getting mocked for embellishment in 2018, Neymar needs to show his immense talent and lead Seleçao to its first title in 20 years and sixth overall.

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NeymarBrazil – PSG

2

Kylian Mbappé

France

Plays for PSG (France)

Mbappé introduced himself to the global audience by scoring four goals at the 2018 World Cup, including one in the final, then proceeded to score 150 over four seasons with PSG.

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Kylian MbappéFrance – PSG

1

Lionel Messi

Argentina

Plays for PSG (France)

One last chance (we think!) for one of the greatest, if not the greatest, to cap an international career defined by outrageous stats and trophies at FC Barcelona.

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Lionel MessiArgentina – PSG

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