2026 FIFA World Cup: Key Players

Introduction
Under 20 years old
- Lamine Yamal (Spain)
- Yan Diomande (Côte d’Ivoire)
- Pau Cubarsí (Spain)
- Endrick (Brazil)
20–30 years old
- Ousmane Dembélé (France)
- Julián Álvarez (Argentina)
- Jude Bellingham (England)
- Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain)
- Erling Haaland (Norway)
- Kylian Mbappé (France)
- Pedri (Spain)
- Luis Díaz (Colombia)
- Aurélien Tchouaméni (France)
- Federico Valverde (Uruguay)
- Désiré Doué (France)
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
- Moisés Caicedo (Ecuador)
- Christian Pulisic (United States)
- Raphinha (Brazil)
- Rodri (Spain)
- Vinícius Júnior (Brazil)
- Declan Rice (England)
- Viktor Gyökeres (Sweden)
- Florian Wirtz (Germany)
- Scott McTominay (Scotland)
- Santiago Giménez (Mexico)
- Alphonso Davies (Canada)
30 and over
- Bruno Fernandes (Portugal)
- Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
- Luka Modrić (Croatia)
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
- Harry Kane (England)
- Neymar (Brazil)
- Sadio Mané (Senegal)
- Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)
- Emiliano Martínez (Argentina)
- Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands)
- Son Heung-Min (South Korea)
- Vozinha (Cabo Verde)

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

Football (soccer) player Lamine Yamal of Spain, wearing number 19, controls the ball midair during a World Cup European qualifier match at Konya Stadium in Turkiye.

Ousmane Dembele of France, wearing jersey number 11, dribbles a soccer ball on the field during a FIFA World Cup match against Australia in Qatar.

Julian Alvarez of Argentina kicks the ball to score a goal as a Canadian defender slides behind him during the Copa America 2024 semifinal at MetLife Stadium.

England's midfielder Jude Bellingham, wearing number 10, performs an overhead kick to score against Slovakia during the UEFA Euro 2024 round of 16 football match.

Erling Haaland of Norway runs toward the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Italy at San Siro Stadium in Milan.

French soccer player Kylian Mbappe, wearing jersey number 10, takes a shot on goal during the FIFA World Cup quarter final against England at Al Bayt Stadium.

Kylian Mbappé of France, wearing a blue jersey with number 10, runs with the ball during a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris.

June 2026 calendar showing 2026 FIFA World Cup match days with colored dots for host countries: green for Mexico, red for Canada, and blue for United States.

Pedri of Spain, wearing a red and yellow jersey with number 20, controls the ball on the field during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Bulgaria.

Luis Díaz of Colombia, wearing a yellow jersey, jumps to head the ball during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Venezuela at Estadio Monumental de Maturin.

2026 FIFA World Cup: Key Players: Media

Images

Football (soccer) player Lamine Yamal of Spain, wearing number 19, controls the ball midair during a World Cup European qualifier match at Konya Stadium in Turkiye.

Lamine Yamal

Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal in action during the 2026 FIFA World Cup European...

© Huseyin Yavuz—Dia images/Getty Images

Ousmane Dembele of France, wearing jersey number 11, dribbles a soccer ball on the field during a FIFA World Cup match against Australia in Qatar.

2022 FIFA World Cup

French football player Ousmane Dembélé dribbling the ball during a match at the 2022...

© Brad Smith—ISI Photos/Getty Images

Julian Alvarez of Argentina kicks the ball to score a goal as a Canadian defender slides behind him during the Copa America 2024 semifinal at MetLife Stadium.

Julián Álvarez during the Copa América 2024

Argentine footballer Julián Álvarez is expected to be one of the leading forwards...

© Ira L. Black—Corbis/Getty Images

England's midfielder Jude Bellingham, wearing number 10, performs an overhead kick to score against Slovakia during the UEFA Euro 2024 round of 16 football match.

Jude Bellingham's overhead kick

England midfielder Jude Bellingham (left) shooting an overhead kick to score a goal...

© Ina Fassbender—AFP/Getty Images

Erling Haaland of Norway runs toward the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Italy at San Siro Stadium in Milan.

Erling Haaland at a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier match

Norwegian striker Erling Haaland chasing the ball during a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier...

© Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images—LightRocket/Getty Images

French soccer player Kylian Mbappe, wearing jersey number 10, takes a shot on goal during the FIFA World Cup quarter final against England at Al Bayt Stadium.

Kylian Mbappé at the 2022 World Cup

French forward Kylian Mbappé playing for his national team during the 2022 Qatar...

Jamali Amin—ATP/SPP/Shutterstock.com

Kylian Mbappé of France, wearing a blue jersey with number 10, runs with the ball during a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris.

Kylian Mbappé, 2026 World Cup qualifiers

French forward Kylian Mbappé in action during a 2026 World Cup European qualifier...

© Ibrahim Ezzat—NurPhoto/Getty Images

Pedri of Spain, wearing a red and yellow jersey with number 20, controls the ball on the field during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Bulgaria.

Pedri during 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Spanish football player Pedri is expected to be one of the mainstays in central midfield...

© Luciano Lima/Getty Images

Luis Díaz of Colombia, wearing a yellow jersey, jumps to head the ball during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Venezuela at Estadio Monumental de Maturin.

Luis Díaz at a 2026 World Cup qualifier match

Colombia's Luis Díaz in action during a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against...

© Edilzon Gamez/Getty Images

Achraf Hakimi of Morocco in a white and green uniform controls the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

Achraf Hakimi in the Africa Cup of Nations

Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi in action during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal...

© Visionhaus/Getty Images

Christian Pulisic, wearing USA jersey number 10, dribbles a soccer ball on the field during a match against South Korea at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

Captain America

Christian Pulisic dribbling a ball during a match against South Korea at Sports Illustrated...

© Stephen Nadler—ISI Photos/Getty Images

Soccer player Raphinha of Brazil, wearing a yellow jersey and blue shorts, jumps and pumps his fist in celebration after scoring during a World Cup qualifier match.

Raphinha, 2026 FIFA World Cup

Brazilian football player Raphinha celebrating after scoring a penalty kick to net...

© Mateus Bonomi—Anadolu/Getty Image

Soccer player Rodri of Spain, wearing a red jersey with number 16, dribbles the ball during the UEFA EURO 2024 final against England in Berlin.

Rodri at Euro 2024

Spanish midfielder Rodri in action during the 2024 European Championship final against...

© Kevin Voigt/Getty Images

Vinícius Júnior of Brazil in a yellow jersey and blue shorts takes a shot during a soccer match against South Korea at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Vinícius Júnior playing for Brazil

Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior (in yellow and blue) attempting to score for Brazil...

© Ricardo Nogueira—Sports Press Photo/Getty Images

Florian Wirtz of Germany wearing jersey number 17 runs on the field during the World Cup qualifiers match against Slovakia at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig.

Florian Wirtz in action

German footballer Florian Wirtz is expected to play a prominent role in his national...

© Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images—LightRocket/Getty Images

Soccer player Santiago Giménez of Mexico, wearing a black uniform, drives the ball during a match against Türkiye at Kenan Stadium, with spectators in the background.

Santiago Giménez during international play

Mexico's Santiago Giménez dribbling with the ball during an international friendly...

© Omar Vega/Getty Images

Soccer player Alphonso Davies of Canada, wearing jersey number 19, dribbles the ball during the Copa America 2024 semifinal at MetLife Stadium.

Playing for Canada

Alphonso Davies dribbling the ball while playing for Canada in the Copa América 2024...

© Stephen Nadler—ISI Photos/Getty Images

Bruno Fernandes of Portugal, wearing a red jersey with number 8, controls the ball during a FIFA World Cup qualifier match against Hungary in Lisbon.

Bruno Fernandes at a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier

Portugal's Bruno Fernandes in action during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against...

© Eric Verhoeven—Soccrates Images/Getty Images

Lionel Messi of Argentina, wearing jersey number 10, controls the ball mid-air during the FIFA World Cup 2022 final against France at Lusail Stadium.

Lionel Messi during the 2022 World Cup

Argentine forward Lionel Messi controlling the ball during the 2022 World Cup final...

© Pablo Morano—BSR Agency/Getty Images

2022 World Cup in Qatar

2022 World Cup in Qatar

The 2022 World Cup witnessed a memorable win for Lionel Messi (center) of Argentina....

Maja Hitij—FIFA/Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal prepares to kick a soccer ball during a FIFA World Cup Qualifier match against Hungary, wearing a white and red uniform on the field.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo preparing to kick the ball in a World Cup 2010 qualifier...

© Laszlo Szirtesi/Shutterstock.com

Cristiano Ronaldo, wearing a light green Portugal national team training top, jogs on a soccer field before a FIFA 2018 qualification match.

Five-time Ballon d'Or winner

Cristiano Ronaldo, 2018.

© Gints Ivuskans/Dreamstime.com

Luka Modric of Croatia, wearing a red and white checkered jersey, controls the ball while a Ukraine player in yellow defends during a FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying match.

Luka Modrić playing for Croatia

Croatian footballer Luka Modrić (right) during a FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying match...

© Vladyslav Moskovenko/Dreamstime.com

Soccer player Mohamed Salah in a red-and-white uniform, his left leg extended as he kicks a ball during a match.

Mohamed Salah

Playing for the Egyptian national team, Mohamed Salah kicks the ball in a match against...

© Ulrik Pedersen—NurPhoto/Getty Images

Harry Kane of England, wearing a white uniform and captain's armband, runs with the ball during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match against Albania.

England's Harry Kane

Harry Kane in action during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Albania on...

© Francesco Scaccianoce—UEFA/Getty Images

Neymar of Brazil in a yellow jersey takes a shot on goal as Dejan Lovren of Croatia tries to block him during the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarter final match.

Neymar at the 2022 World Cup

Brazilian footballer Neymar (right) battling Dejan Lovren of Croatia during...

© Michael Steele/Getty Images

Sadio Mané of Senegal in a green jersey controls the ball during the AFCON final against Morocco at Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.

Sadio Mané during AFCON 2025

Sadio Mané of Senegal controlling the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)...

© Ulrik Pedersen—NurPhoto/Getty Images

Emiliano Martínez of Argentina, wearing a green goalkeeper kit, reaches out to catch a soccer ball during the Copa América 2024 final against Colombia.

Emiliano Martínez during Copa América 2024

Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez in action during the Copa América 2024 final.

© Omar Vega/Getty Images

Son Heung-Min of Tottenham Hotspur, wearing a light blue away kit, runs with the ball during a Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium.

Son Heung-Min in Tottenham Hotspur's away kit

South Korean footballer Son Heung-Min playing for Tottenham Hotspur against Arsenal...

© Bradley Collyer—PA Images/Getty Images

Interactives

June 2026 calendar showing 2026 FIFA World Cup match days with colored dots for host countries: green for Mexico, red for Canada, and blue for United States.

2026 FIFA World Cup calendar

Fixtures and results from the 2026 World Cup listed by date and venue.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Infographic titled Guide to football (soccer) explains basic rules, showing a player silhouette with green areas labeled legal for feet and head, and orange areas labeled illegal for hands and arms. Includes match duration and extra time details.

Football (soccer) rules

This slide graphic explains the basic rules of the sport.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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