The World Cup will feature some of the world’s most talented men’s soccer players, including a few historic greats vying for the biggest prize in the sport. While a lot of the focus will be on these big names, it takes more than individual brilliance to become world champions, as teams such as Argentina, Portugal and Belgium know all too well in recent years. But having world-class talent available gives teams someone to rely on for a game-changing performance – and a psychological lift. Here are seven of the world’s best players to watch in Qatar.
Illustration by The Globe and Mail
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
Forward
Arguably the two greatest men’s soccer players in history are appearing at what could be their last World Cups. They both captain their national teams and hold their respective country’s record for appearances and goals. Both have won nearly every major team and individual award, in some cases multiple times, but the aging legends have a World Cup-sized hole in their trophy cabinets.
Ronaldo, 37, led Portugal to a European championship in 2016, the country’s long-awaited first international title. The five-time winner of the Ballon d’Or as the world’s best player is well known for his prodigious goalscoring, elite fitness and drive to win. Playing in his fifth World Cup, he will be making a final bid to best a fourth-place finish in 2006. Instagram’s most-followed person, his worldwide fan base will be eager to see if he can get Portugal to the later rounds in Qatar.
Paris St-Germain’s Messi, 35, is fresh off winning last year’s Copa America, the first major international title of his career. The seven-time winner of the Ballon d’Or has an unfathomable ability both to score and assist, and can turn a match on its head with a moment of magic. The Barcelona legend has had a frustrating international career, full of hope and bitter disappointment, including losing four major finals in nine years leading him to retire briefly from the national team in 2016. He was eventually convinced to come back and he’ll be looking to replicate 2014′s run to the final again in December at his fifth World Cup.
Illustration by The Globe and Mail
Kylian Mbappé
Forward
The Paris St-Germain star is the heir apparent to Ronaldo and Messi’s attacking dominance – and the 23-year-old already has a World Cup title. With his move to PSG from Monaco in 2017, he became the second-most expensive signing in history and continues to hold the record for a teenager. He was a burgeoning star in his debut World Cup in 2018, scoring four goals, including one in the final to help France claim its fourth international trophy. His combination of dribbling, speed and finishing makes him a nearly unstoppable attacking threat. Mbappé, along with a deep roster of stars including Hugo Lloris, Raphaël Varane, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Antoine Griezmann, will be looking to claim a second consecutive championship for France.
Illustration by The Globe and Mail
Vinicius Jr.
Forward
At the tender age of 22, the Brazilian has already established himself as one of the best strikers in the world. The Real Madrid star was a product of the Flamengo academy, making his debut as a 16-year-old and quickly securing a transfer to Spain’s biggest club. He finished last season as the team’s goal-scoring list with 22 goals and scored the winning goal to clinch Real’s 14th Champions League title. Although it is the record title holder and a perennial favourite, Brazil hasn’t won the World Cup since 2002. It goes into the tournament ranked as the world’s No. 1 team and Vinicius, Neymar and Co. will be hoping to end that wait in Qatar.
Illustration by The Globe and Mail
Virgil van Dijk
Central defender
The Liverpool defender will lead the Netherlands, which is returning to the World Cup after missing out four years ago. The 31-year-old is a powerhouse central defender known for his strength and aerial ability – both in defence and attack. He’s been the heart of a Liverpool defence that has led to a turnaround in the club’s fortunes, helping the team win the Champions League in 2019 and its first league title in 30 years in 2020. His individual brilliance has been recognized with runner-up finishes for the Ballon d’Or and for FIFA’s best men’s player, and becoming the only defender to win UEFA men’s player of the year. Appearing in his first World Cup, van Dijk will captain the Netherlands as the small country once again seeks to be a major force in the tournament.
Illustration by The Globe and Mail
Sadio Mané
Forward
The Senegalese star is making his second trip to the World Cup, hoping to lead the top-ranked African team to the knockout rounds. Mané, 30, plays for Germany’s Bayern Munich after six top seasons at Liverpool. He won the Premier League’s Golden Boot award in 2019 and has been consistently rated as among the best players in the world. He helped Senegal to its first Africa Cup of Nations title last year, scoring the winning goal in a penalty shootout in the final, and was named the player of the tournament. He is his country’s top goal scorer with 34 in his career and he’ll be hoping to add to that total to lead his team to its second knockout-round appearance.
Illustration by The Globe and Mail
Kevin De Bruyne
Central midfielder
Having led Manchester City to consecutive league championships, De Bruyne will want to replicate that success with the second-ranked Belgian squad. He is considered one of the best midfielders to play the game, with his vision on the field, two-footed ability and range of passing making him a dangerous attacking threat and producing an astonishing amount of assists. The gifted 31-year-old is making his third World Cup appearance. After achieving the country’s best result with a third-place finish in 2018, he will be hoping to give Belgium’s golden generation, including Thibaut Courtois, Jan Vertonghen and Eden Hazard, a chance to play for the trophy this year.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
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