With an input of global network and contributions, American sports broadcasting company ESPN compiled and ranked the best 50 players in the world heading into the Qatar world cup 2022. Below is the ranking of the top 10 players that featured in the list.
Country: France
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Age: 23
Position: Forward
Russia 2018 was the World Cup where Mbappe truly announced his arrival. He was 19, up and coming, still not necessarily known worldwide, and he took the competition by storm to become the first teenager since Pele to score in the final and to win it. Qatar 2022 will be the World Cup confirmation for the French prodigy; confirmation of his world-class status, of his superstar image, of his superstar talent.
2. Karim Benzema
Country: France
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 34
Position: Forward
Benzema, at the age of 34, has had to wait eight and a half years to feature again in the World Cup. He wants to make up for lost time.
After all that time away from the national team, he came back with a bang at the Euros in 2021 with four goals in four appearances, but the last 16 elimination left a sour taste in his mouth. Now, after winning the 2022 Ballon d'Or, he is ready to make this World Cup count. It is likely to be his last one, so this marks his biggest opportunity to write his name in the competition's history books.
3. Kevin De Bruyne
Country: Belgium
Club: Manchester City
Age: 31
Position: Midfielder
After Belgium's 2-1 win over Wales in September, Belgium manager Roberto Martinez was asked about De Bruyne. Sometimes managers prefer to focus on the collective, rather than the individual, but when it comes to De Bruyne, his ability is so remarkable and abundantly clear, that there's little point in holding back on celebrating his talents.
4. Lionel Messi
Country: Argentina
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Age: 35
Position: Forward
This is likely his last World Cup and he'll arrive in Doha while playing, at 35, some of the best football of his recent career. Messi is obviously critical to Argentina's success, but, relative to the last World Cup, things are different. Coach Lionel Scaloni has made him the key cog in a well-oiled machine, capable of going 34 games unbeaten. It's a stark contrast to the last World Cup, when he was expected to carry the side amid coach Jorge Sampaoli's chaos.
5. Robert Lewandowski
Country: Poland
Club: Barcelona
Age: 34
Position: Forward
There will be few nations in Qatar whose hopes are pinned so much on one player. That's not to say Poland do not have other good players, but the reality is none are close to Lewandowski's level.
Now 34, the striker has seamlessly translated his form with Bayern Munich to Barcelona, where he has already scored 18 goals this season after being signed for €45 million in the summer. Now, his task is to lead Poland out of the group stage for the first time since 1986. A record of 76 goals in 134 caps proves his form carries into international football.
6. Neymar
Country: Brazil
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Age: 30
Position: Forward
The pressure will be immense on Brazil's No. 10, who may well overtake Pele as Brazil's all-time top scorer during the tournament. He trails well behind Pele in terms of achievement, though, and this will be the World Cup where he is expected to put that right.
7. Luka Modric
Country: Croatia
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 37
Position: Midfielder
What else is there to say about Modric? Croatia's record appearance holder -- with 154 caps since he made his debut in 2006 -- and arguably greatest ever player will be turning out for his eighth major international tournament in Qatar. Modric was key to Croatia's surprise run to the 2018 World Cup final and at 37, his level hasn't dropped a bit, starring in last season's LaLiga and Champions League-winning campaign for Real Madrid.
8. Vinicius Junior
Country: Brazil
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 22
Position: Forward
The young winger has exploded as an international star with Real Madrid, that extraordinary acceleration sowing panic in opposing defences. In contrast with Raphinha on the Selecao's opposite flank, Vinicius has taken time to find his feet with the national team, with one goal from 16 games, and his place in the starting lineup by no means a given.
9. Thibaut Courtois
Country: Belgium
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 30
Position: Goalkeepere
A year ago, Courtois felt underrated and underappreciated, overshadowed by high-profile Premier League counterparts like Alisson and Ederson. Not anymore. An all-time great, man-of-the-match goalkeeping performance in Real Madrid's Champions League final win over Liverpool in May -- making a record nine saves -- was followed by a seventh-place finish on the 2022 Ballon d'Or shortlist.
10. Sadio Mane
Country: Senegal
Club: Bayern Munich
Age: 30
Position: Forward
The Bayern Munich forward is arguably Africa's leading player, edging out his old Liverpool teammate and Egypt star Mohamed Salah for that distinction, and Mane's performances for Senegal more than back up his claims to be regarded as his continent's most important player.
Source: ESPN
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