As the world await for the biggest showcase event in football, it is expected that the game’s biggest names will put on their best performances and help their teams reach new heights while also capturing fans.
Regardless of some world superstars will not be participating in the tournament in Qatar which will kick off on November 20th 2022 some because of injuries others because their countries didn’t qualify. Out 211 FIFA member nations, only 32 qualified causing heartbreaks to many of the players.
Below is the list of 10 players who will be missing from the World Cup:
1. ERLING HAALAND – NORWAY
Erling Haaland is a Manchester City player and he is currently known as the best world’s current best young striker. He also became the first evert player to score 15 goals in the English Premier League.
However, the 22-year-old has time on his side and will have plenty of opportunities to make up for missing out in 2022.
2. MOHAMMED SALAH – EGYPT
Salah is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Liverpool and captains the Egypt national team. He is known to have won the Golden Boot as the Premier League’s top scorer alongside Son Heung-min last season, missed a penalty against Senegal in the shootout that eliminated Egypt from the World Cup playoffs. Salah’s appearance at the 2018 World Cup in Russia was hampered by injury, and he failed to take his team past the group stages.
However, the 30-year-old can still make an attempt to play another World Cup.
3. DAVID ALABA – AUSTRIA
Alaba is an Austrian professional footballer who plays either as a central midfielder, wide midfielder, left-back or centre-back for La Liga club Real Madrid and captains the Austria national team. Alaba is widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation.He is known to have made 96 international appearances for Austria, and has scored 14 goals.
Despite being arguably Austria’s best footballer over the past decade, the former Bayern Munich defender has not played a World Cup as his country has not qualified for the tournament since 1998.
4. RIYAD MAHREZ – ALGERIA
Winner of the CAF African Footballer of the Year award in 2016, the Africa Cup of Nations in 2016, and the Premier League with two different clubs, Riyad Mahrez has been consistently one of the best players from Africa in recent years. Riyad was part of Algeria’s 2014 World Cup squad but made little impact. His team failed to qualify for the 2018 edition but were on the verge of making it to Qatar until a late Cameroon goal knocked them out in extra time of their playoff tie.
Algeria’s absence in Qatar could bring an end to Mahrez’s hopes of playing another World Cup as he will be 35 in four years.
5. PAUL POGBA – FRANCE
Pogba is a French professional footballer who plays for Serie A club Juventus and the France national team. The 29-year-old Pogba played a vital part in France’s World Cup success four years ago, but has yet to play a game this season since his last official match in April.
6. MARTIN ODEGAARD – NORWAY
Martin is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Premier League club Arsenal and the Norway national team. He is known to have broke the record for the youngest debutant for Norway’s senior side at the age of 15. The midfielder has been praised for his vision with the ball at his feet, his precision with set pieces and ability to create space.
However, with his talent and skills were not enough to see his side through to the World Cup.
7. LUIS DIAZ – COLUMBIA
Luis is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Liverpool and the Colombia national team.
The 25-year-old will not be able to put his talent on display in Qatar as Colombia failed to qualify for Qatar 2022 after finishing sixth in the CONMEBOL standings.
8. FRANCK KESSIE – IVORY COAST
Kessie is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Spanish La Liga club Barcelona and the Ivory Coast national team.
He is known for joining AC Milan where he made 223 appearances and scored 37 goals in five seasons.
Ivory Coast’s qualification for the 2022 World Cup was on the line until their last match against Cameroon but they were unable to score and a 21st-minute goal confirmed Cameroon’s qualification and brought heartache for Kessie and his team.
9. VICTOR OSIMHEN – NIGERIA
Osimhen is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Napoli and the Nigeria national team.
Victor is known to be among the top strikers in Italian football, scoring 30 goals in 68 appearances for the club since 2020. Prior to playing in Italy, Osimhen played for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.
Nigeria did not qualify for the 2022 World Cup which denied Osimhen the opportunity to put his talent on display at the biggest football event. However, the 23-year -old will surely have a chance of playing at another World Cup should his side qualify.
10. GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA – ITALY
Gianluigi is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Italy national team.
He is known by replacing Gianluigi Buffon who quitted international football in 2016 where he became the youngest goal-keeper to play for Italy at only 17-years-old. Donnarumma was named as the UEFA Player of the Tournament in the Euro 2020 championship for after helping Italy win a trophy.
However, Italy’s failure to qualify for yet another World Cup means that Donnarumma will have to wait at least another four years before making his World Cup debut.
Qatar now expects to welcome more than 1.2 million visitors for the big football showcase event.
By Jane Kibathi.
