Top 25 players expected to play in the 2022 World Cup

Wales will participate in the World Cup for just the second time in its existence — 1958 being the first. This means the 33-year-old Bale will be making his first and, quite well, his only appearance at the prestigious event. This is noteworthy because he's arguably the greatest Welsh player in the history of the game and certainly the most successful, with more than 30 goals in over 60 senior-level competitions. Bale made his MLS debut in 2022  with Los Angeles FC.

We'll highlight the first of two French stars for the reigning World Cup champions. Benzema, who will turn 35 just after the World Cup, made his senior national team debut at age 19 and remains one of the premier strikers in the world. Yet, the longtime Real Madrid standout and newly named Ballon d'Or winner was kept off the 2018 France World Cup roster. There was undoubtedly controversy surrounding that decision, but Benzema, who recorded three goals and two assists in five 2014 World Cup matches, is expected to feature for the French at this year's event.

Courtois had played in nearly 100 games for the Belgium national team. He's one of two keepers to make our list. Sure, Brazil's Allison and Édouard Mendy of Senegal are also top-shelf performers, but Courtois is the World Cup's reigning Golden Glove recipient after making 27 saves and helping lead Belgium to a third-place finish in the 2018 tournament. The Real Madrid star posted two clean sheets during that event, including over England in the third-place contest.

For the second time in history, Canada will participate in a World Cup (the first came in 1986). Davies is a major reason the Canadians will be in Qatar. A versatile presence on the pitch, Davies, who currently plays for German power Bayern Munich, is the team's undisputed star and has enjoyed remarkable success as an international. As of Labor Day, Davies totaled 12 goals in 32 matches with the Canadian national team. 

Some pundits believe De Bruyne is the best player in the Premier League. Well, he's certainly the star of Belgium's national team, which finished third at the 2018 World Cup. The Manchester City stalwart has recorded 24 goals while competing in just over 90 international matches for the Belgians. Barring any unforeseen issues, De Bruyne will be making his third appearance at the World Cup, where he's notched two goals and four assists through 10 matches.

It's hard not to bring up the scary 2020 European Championship incident when talking about Eriksen's international history for Denmark. Yet, Eriksen has recovered from going into cardiac arrest on the pitch and is expected to lead Denmark in what will be his third World Cup appearance. In six World Cup matches between 2010 and 2018, Eriksen, currently starring for Manchester United, has recorded a goal with an assist but remains one of the game's great central/attacking midfielders.

Hakimi won't turn 24 until November, but he's already made his mark with prestigious clubs like Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Inter, and currently, Paris Saint-Germain. Now, he shifts his sights on trying to help Morocco get out of the World Cup group stage for the first time since 1986. Hakimi has recorded eight goals in just over 51 matches with the international squad. He's a powerful player who plays with plenty of passion. If Morocco is to surprise in Qatar, Hakimi could be a big reason. 

Son has proved over the years that Tottenham Hotspur has more than one goal-scoring force. On the national team level, meanwhile, he's one of the greats to ever lace up the boots for South Korea. As of Labor Day, Son has competed in 100 matches since debuting with his national side in December 2010 and scored 32 goals. In World Cup play, his three goals in six matches (2014, '18) are tied for the most by any South Korean player. 

We can go a few different directions when it comes to the stars of El Tri. Guillermo Ochoa is a Mexican legend on the verge of his likely World Cup swan song. However, Mexico needs to score to stick around in Qatar. Jimenez is the guy likely to get it done on the most consistent basis. The 31-year-old Jimenez has 29 goals in more than 90 games with the national squad. Mexico has not made it out of the World Cup quarterfinals since 1986, so there's plenty of pressure on Jimenez and his teammates.

Speaking of pressure. The weight of the English soccer world once again sits on the shoulders of the Three Lions' biggest offensive weapon. If it's indeed "coming home," Kane must lead the way again. Kane was England's captain at the 2018 World Cup when he won the Golden Boot with six goals and led the squad to a fourth-place finish. Four years later, there are plenty of questions regarding the makeup of England's roster, but Kane will be front and center, trying to give the country its first World Cup title since 1966.

One of the world's best and most versatile defenders. Whether honing those defensive skills in the midfield or as a right-back, the Bayern Munich product is likely to be counted on to help Germany put the pain of failing to make it out of the 2018 World Cup group stage behind them. Kimmich started all three of the Germans' matches at the 2018 tournament, and that experience should be integral if Germany is to regain its place among the world's elite.

At age 35, Lewandowski is the first of several players on this list who could be playing in their final World Cup. The greatest footballer in Polish history, Lewandowski, a Bundesliga legend who now plays for Barcelona, has scored more than 600 goals for club and country. He's totaled 76 goals while playing more than 130 games for Poland's national team. However, Lewandowski was shut out in Poland's three matches during a disappointing 2018 World Cup performance. If the Polish are to make it out of the group stage for the first time since 1986, Lewandowski must be an offensive presence.

The former Liverpool star earned a massive payday to play for Bayern Munich and would love to show off his scoring prowess for Senegal in a World Cup setting. In just over 90 matches for his national squad, Mané has totaled 33 goals. One of those goals came while spanning three matches at the 2018 World Cup. Senegal has an underdog mentality heading into Qatar, and if the country is to make serious noise at the event, Mané must be among the best players in the tournament — like he is on paper.

The star of France's 2018 World Cup triumph, Mbappé just might be the best player in the world. And, he's only 23 years old. At the 2018 World Cup, Mbappé became the youngest French player to score a goal and the only teenager other than Pelé to score in the tournament's final match. After recording four goals during that event, Mbappé was named FIFA World Cup Best Young Player. The Paris Saint-Germain star has totaled more than 25 goals while posting nearly 60 international caps.

Messi has confirmed this will be his final World Cup. At age 35, that would make sense. But, when talking about one of the greatest players of all time (86 goals in national team play), anything is possible. First and foremost, he wants to win the World Cup — something Argentina has not done since 1986. This will be his fifth World Cup after recording six goals and five assists in his previous 19 games at the event. So, one can assume Messi will go full throttle for his country in pursuit of football's ultimate going-away gift.

Sticking with the World Cup sunset theme, the 37-year-old Modrić appears to be in the same boat as Messi, Lewandowski, and others on this list. And like those guys, he can still play, whether with Real Madrid or as a legendary member of the Croatian national squad (22 goals in 152 caps). Modrić was the Golden Ball winner as the World Cup's best player — recording two goals, one assist, and playing stellar defense — during Croatia's run to the final in 2018. Whether he has enough left in the tank to help Croatia get over the line this year remains to be seen. 

There is not much the 33-year-old Müller hasn't accomplished during his stellar football career. A World Cup Golden Boot winner (2010) and champion (2014) with Germany, Müller has recorded 10 goals and six assists during 16 matches spanning three tournaments. However, not long ago, the Bayern Munich legend wasn't considered a sure thing to be part of the German national squad for 2022. At the moment, all signs point to Müller, who has 44 goals over 116 international caps, being in Qatar to help his country get back on the World Cup track.

This Brazilian legend is just 30 years old, but it seems like he's been playing forever. That's probably because he debuted as a pro at age 17. He's played for Barcelona and PSG, and on the international scene, has scored 74 goals over more than 115 matches for Brazil. This could be Neymar's final World Cup, assuming he's fit enough to feature in Qatar. We'll see. He's totaled six goals and two assists over 10 matches of the past two World Cup tournaments.

When it comes to technical play in the central midfield, Pedro Gonzalez Lopez (aka Pedri) is one of the brightest young talents in that department, And he'll turn 20 during the World Cup — his debut tournament. Spain's last World Cup came in 2010, and it failed to get past the Round of 16 in the last two events. So, there is pressure on the squad to be better in 2022. Expect this young Barcelona talent to be a vital part of that cause.

Pulisic is the best player on the USMNT, and everybody knows it. And there's even a commercial about the pressure he's facing to make the world take U.S. soccer seriously. Pulisic's World Cup debut will be a major storyline for American coverage of the event, and he's certainly someone to keep an eye on. During his rather young national team career, Pulisic has lived up to the hype while recording 21 goals in 50 matches since March 2016.

The greatest in the world. Or is it Messi? Whichever the choice, the two international superstars will again be the talk of the World Cup. The 37-year-old Ronaldo, who has played more than 1,100 matches and scored better than 800 goals for club and country, is also vying for that first World Cup title. Portugal is traditionally a threat, but its best finish is fourth from 2006 — Ronaldo's first World Cup appearance. In terms of World Cup individual performances, it's been rather inconsistent for Ronaldo, who has seven goals and two assists in 17 matches. 

Tadic will turn 34 just before this World Cup, but he's still expected to be a big part of Serbia's quest to make it beyond the group stage for the first time since 1998. On that note, Serbia is a bit of an underdog but a team to watch, notably because of its established talent like Tadić, who has registered 18 goals in 88 matches for the national team. He failed to score in three 2018 World Cup games but recorded an assist.

While 35-year-old Luis Suarez still might have some fight remaining, Uruguay's future star could be ready to break out on the international scene. The 24-year-old Valverde, who made a name for himself on the club level with Real Madrid, is a versatile talent who has recorded four goals over 42 games with Uruguay's senior national team. However, he continues to draw raves as a budding star defensive midfielder. A position that is vital to any side's World Cup success.

It's still safe to recognize van Dijk as the best center-back in the world. Whether starring for Liverpool in the Premier League or the Dutch national team, where his sturdy 6-foot-4 frame continues to be a problem for opposing attackers. When it comes to his defending ability in the box, van Dijk remains the gold standard. He can be a threat on set pieces on the other end of the pitch. After the Netherlands surprisingly failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, football fans finally get to see one of the game's greats on this massive stage in 2022.

One of the most talented wingers in the world, Vinícius appears to be headed to his first World Cup with Brazil. Is he the heir apparent to Neymar, perhaps? Though, they are different players. Another Real Madrid standout, Vinícius played in just 14 senior national team matches (as of early September) and has one goal to his name. Yet, if we're looking for one particular young talent to watch in Qatar, Vinícius should be the guy.