Last dance beckons on the World Cup stage
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Mohamed Salah among the players who could feature at their final global tournament.
With the FIFA World Cup 2026™ now firmly on the horizon, discussions around team tactics, personnel and fixtures are intensifying. Another intriguing sub-plot is that, for many legends of the game, this may well be their final appearance on the global stage.
Many of these players have been driving forces for both club and country for a number of years, and have helped shaped the face of the sport.
Here, FIFA looks at ten superstars whose presence at this tournament could be their World Cup swansong.
It is impossible to separate Kevin de Bruyne’s World Cup history from the story of Belgium’s Golden Generation. He first played at the global showpiece in 2014 in Brazil and followed this up with two further appearances in 2018 and 2022.
The 2018 tournament in Russia turned out to be one of the most memorable for De Bruyne and his compatriots, with Belgium finishing third, their best World Cup display. Throughout the competition, De Bruyne consistently delivered strong performances in midfield and greatly enhanced his reputation on the biggest stage.
However, four years later in Qatar, the side was facing a transitional period. Despite the vast amount of talent in their ranks, they failed to live up to expectations and were knocked out in the group phase.
Mane's first foray into World Cup football came in Russia in 2018. Senegal had failed to qualify for the previous three tournaments, and Mane was a crucial part of the team who put an end to this streak. He had already put together an impressive CV at club level, and all eyes were on him as the cornerstone of Senegal’s attack.
Despite earning four points in their group and finishing level with second-placed Japan, Senegal failed to reach the knockout stages by virtue of their weaker fair play record. Although he once again helped his team qualify for the 2022 tournament in Qatar, Mane suffered an injury and was forced to withdraw from the squad.
A true icon of the game, Lionel Messi's creativity, decisiveness in key moments and ability to orchestrate the game have seen him regularly re-write history.
He made his World Cup debut in Germany 2006 and has since gone on to feature in the 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 editions, maintaining his place at the very peak of the sport for five consecutive tournaments.
This two-decade streak is a remarkable achievement that stands out even in Argentina’s storied history, and serves as testament to Messi’s longevity as one of the world’s finest. He may have changed roles and positions over the years, but he has remained firmly at the heart of his country’s squad.
Messi holds the record for the most appearances in World Cup matches with 26. He has also scored 13 goals and provided assists for another eight. In both 2014 and 2022 he won the Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament.
In Qatar, Messi brought his experience and leadership skills to bear, helping his team to both survive and thrive as they recovered from a shock opening defeat against Saudi Arabia. He scored in each game during the knockout phase, including a crucial brace in the final.
It was largely thanks to his efforts that Argentina lifted the World Cup trophy for the first time in 36 years. With this victory, Messi completed the set of major titles from both club and international football, finally getting his hands on the missing piece that was the World Cup.
For many smaller countries, going toe to toe with the world’s finest is a dream. Thanks to Luka Modric, that dream has been a reality for Croatia. His playing style combines intelligence, technique and determination, making him the ideal modern footballer. Modric’s tournament debut came at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. At the time, he was considered to be merely one talented youngster of many, but his reputation soon grew with his outings in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
The 2018 competition in Russia stands out as one where Modric’s career truly reached another level. It was the first time Croatia ever contested a major international final, with their midfield talisman putting in a series of performances that earned him the Golden Ball for best player.
Modric once again represented his country in Qatar in 2022, wearing the captain’s armband. He led them to a third-place finish, earning two World Cup medals in as many tournaments. His ability to play at the very highest level while also supporting young team-mates has earned him admiration from all over the world.
By the time his World Cup journey began in 2014, there was already a huge focus on Neymar. Brazil were playing on home soil, and expectations were high, with the young forward being viewed as a global star and a leader of his country’s next generation.
Although he left a big impression with his scoring prowess and personality, his competition was cut short by an injury sustained in the quarter-finals.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was Neymar’s third. The squad was home to multiple emerging talents, who took much more of the attention and responsibility that had previously been his, but he still had a vital role to play in the team, finding the net for a third successive World Cup, only to see Brazil bow out against Croatia on penalties in the quarter-finals.
Many of the players on this list have accumulated a huge number of World Cup appearances over the years. For James Rodriguez, however, his impact at one tournament – the 2014 event in Brazil – was enough for his name to go down in folklore.
At the age of 24, James lined up at the centre of a promising Colombia side, and made his presence felt as they progressed through the group stage and into the knockouts. His stunning volley in the round of 16 secured victory over Uruguay and is still considered by many to be one of the greatest-ever World Cup goals. By the end of the competition, he had scored a total of six times, earning him the Golden Boot. This was the first time Colombia had ever got as far as the quarter-final stage, setting a new high watermark in their footballing history.
James' World Cup story so far has been a bright blaze rather than a steady fire. Nonetheless, he may be the purest example of how the competition allows players to grab the world’s attention in an instant and leave a lasting memory.
The story of Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup has been one of continuity and reinvention. The Portugal star first stepped onto the world stage in 2006 in Germany. He has since gone on to represent his country in the four subsequent tournaments, in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.
Along the way, he has made 22 appearances in all, racking up a total of eight World Cup goals. His consistency has been particularly noteworthy, and he now holds the distinction of being the only male player in history to score at five consecutive World Cups. His ability to deliver in such varied surroundings and circumstances is a clear testament to his goalscoring prowess and competitive spirit.
In his debut showing, Ronaldo caught the attention of the world as he drove his team to a fourth-place finish. Over the tournaments that followed, he continued to shine as one of Portugal’s biggest stars, and eventually took on the responsibility of captaining his national team. When the event came to Russia in 2018, he showed precisely what he was made of with a number of fantastic individual performances, including a hat-trick against Spain in the group stage.
In 2026, he will be chasing the unprecedented feat of scoring in six consecutive World Cups, a prospect that will make him one of the focal points of the tournament.
For Mohamed Salah, simply appearing at the World Cup is something special. It carries a meaning that cannot be measured in facts or figures, and an importance that can only be felt by a player who shoulders the hopes of their country and their continent.
Mohamed Salah’s first and, so far, only outing at the World Cup came in 2018, when Egypt returned to the tournament following a 28-year absence. By this point, he was already emerging as a global icon due to his club performances.
Unfortunately for Salah, his two goals at the World Cup were not enough for his team to progress from the group stage. While he has been at the very peak of European club football for the vast majority of his career, Salah has not been blessed with many World Cup opportunities, and he will once again carry the hopes of his nation in North America.
Korea Republic great Son Heungmin was quick to ascend to the highest levels of the game, and made his first World Cup appearance in Brazil in 2014, before adding the 2018 and 2022 tournaments to his record.
In the final group stage game in Russia, Korea Republic found themselves up against defending champions Germany, needing to beat the European side by a two-goal margin to stand a chance of progressing. In added time in the second half, Korea opened the scoring, and shortly afterwards, Son secured a 2-0 win with almost the final kick of the game. Unfortunately, the result in the other game in their group prevented them from qualifying, despite their sensational victory.
By the time the 2022 tournament in Qatar rolled around, Son was wearing the captain’s armband for his country. Despite suffering from an injury, he insisted on remaining on the pitch, leading his team not only with his performances, but also with his attitude, as they reached the knockout stages.
Towards the end of 2010s, the Netherlands were going through a transitional period and missed out on Russia 2018. Fortunately, they had the right man to build their defence around – captain Virgil van Dijk. At the 2022 tournament, Van Dijk played every match for his country as they reached the quarter-finals
Van Dijk’s defensive discipline proved crucial in maintaining the composure of the Dutch backline as they went toe-to-toe with Argentina in the last eight, battling back from 2-0 down with two late goals, only to exit on penalties to the eventual champions.
Having been runners-up on three previous occasions, van Dijk will be at the heart of the Oranje defence once again as they look to take the final step to glory.