Messi, Ronaldo and 12 promising stars at the 2026 World Cup

The qualifying rounds have come to an end and the draw for the 2026 World Cup takes place on December 5. The big questions are: Can Lionel Messi defend his title, and how will Cristiano Ronaldo finish his national team's journey? Here are the 12 most prominent names according to form, tactical role and notable parameters that fans should follow.

12 superstars worth watching at the 2026 World Cup

Luis Diaz – Colombia

Since leaving Liverpool to join Bayern Munich in the summer, Luis Diaz has been in scintillating form and is Colombia’s “locomotive”. He scored 7 goals in qualifying, second only to Lionel Messi (8). His off-the-ball pressing and tenacity are big pluses: his goal from just 1.8 degrees against Union Berlin showed a drill that is both technical and indomitable.

Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal

The 2026 World Cup is Ronaldo's last at the national team level. Although he plays for Al-Nassr, his international performance is still huge: 143 goals for Portugal, more than Lionel Messi's total (114). The missing world title in his trophy collection is the motivation for CR7 to put all his efforts into this tournament.

Mohamed Salah – Egypt

The Egyptian King helped Liverpool win the English Premier League for the 20th time last season and was the top scorer with 29 goals. Salah is even more important in the national team as most of his teammates come from the domestic league: 63 goals in 108 matches. The World Cup is his only regret (injured in 2018, absent in 2022), and at the age of 33, this may be his last chance to shine on the biggest stage.

Gabriel Magalhaes – Brazil

Arsenal have conceded just five goals in 11 Premier League games this season, and Gabriel has been a mainstay in the centre. Since the start of last season, no Arsenal player has won more aerial duels than him (93). His presence from set-pieces is also lethal: his 18 goals from set-pieces is the most in the Premier League since 2020. Despite only having 16 caps for Brazil (10 in the last two years), he could be a reliable stopper for his first World Cup.

Alisson – Brazil

Since Liverpool signed him from Roma (2018-19), Alisson has been the Premier League’s standout goalkeeper: he has faced 783 shots and conceded 194. His xGOT suggests an average goalkeeper would concede 22 more goals – a reflection of his above-average stopping ability. His distribution is a plus, although fitness is a concern (just 28 Premier League games in the last two seasons). If fit, the Brazilian’s goal will have a reliable shield.

Harry Kane – England

At 32, Kane is still at his peak. He has scored 26 goals for club and country this season, making him a rare contender to compete with Erling Haaland. Not only does Kane score goals, he also drops deep to create firepower on both flanks – a tactical component that helps maximize England’s attacking wingers.

Abdukodir Khusanov – Uzbekistan

The World Cup welcomes Jordan, Uzbekistan and Cape Verde for the first time. For underdogs, a standout centre-back is a valuable tactical asset. Manchester City’s Khusanov is aggressive, ready to collide and fight fiercely; on the touchline, he takes inspiration from coach Fabio Cannavaro – 2006 World Cup champion and Ballon d’Or winner that same year.

Ousmane Dembele – France

The reigning Ballon d'Or winner, Dembele, thrived in the No. 9 role under Luis Enrique, helping Paris Saint-Germain win the Champions League. He has been out of action since September due to a hamstring injury. This time, Dembele has a special motivation after the sad memory of the 2022 final when he committed a foul that led to a penalty and left the field in the first half.

Lionel Messi – Argentina

After the dream ending in Qatar, Messi has not stopped. At Inter Miami, he scored 57 goals in the 2025 season, 15 more than Anders Dreyer (San Diego). Playing right on the soil of a co-host country, Messi aims to defend the title - as a gentle push for a career that has already been full of titles.

Erling Haaland – Norway

Having missed the most recent tournament, Haaland has returned with a vengeance: 14 goals in qualifying, taking Norway to their first World Cup since France 1998. His style of play revolves around his killer instinct – lurking and waiting for the right moment, then exploding with speed and physicality. If he maintains his current pace, he could reach 95 goals in 60 games this season.

Kylian Mbappe – France

A hat-trick in the 2022 final wasn't enough to win France the title, but Mbappe has kept the fire burning with 13 goals in 12 La Liga games this season. He currently has 12 goals at the World Cup, enough to dream of surpassing Miroslav Klose's record of 16 next summer, although the ultimate goal is still the gold cup.

Jude Bellingham – England

The Three Lions replaced Gareth Southgate with Thomas Tuchel and the Bellingham story immediately became the focus. After recovering from shoulder surgery, the midfielder born in 2003 is regaining his usual rhythm. Leaving him out would be a bold decision, especially when Bellingham has a knack for scoring late goals that decide the game.

Highlights

The numbers are just the starting point. When the ball rolls into the summer, organisation, individual moments and mental toughness will decide who writes the final chapter of the 2026 World Cup.