FIFA World Cup 2026: Twenty-Six Players to Watch Out

The FIFA World Cup 2026 features 48 nations and 26-man squads — meaning 1,248 players will head to the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Sorting through that volume of talent can feel overwhelming.

This is not a list of the 26 best players at the tournament. Nor is it an exercise in obscurity. What follows is a curated selection of players who should genuinely excite — established stars at the peak of their powers, breakout talents about to announce themselves globally, and overlooked figures whose qualities deserve the biggest stage.

The Full List: 1,248 Players, 26 Worth Your Attention

1. Elliot Anderson — England

The England squad is stacked with Champions League talent, but Elliot Anderson may be the most intriguing selection. The Nottingham Forest midfielder started 37 of 38 Premier League games, playing 3,334 minutes — only five outfielders across the league played more.

Anderson’s defining quality is relentless industry combined with technical quality. Only James Garner (415.4km) covered more ground in the Premier League than Anderson (411.0km). More strikingly, he won possession at least 94 more times (306) than any other player, and topped the league on a per-90 basis for possession won (8.3).

Already attracting interest from bigger clubs, the World Cup — where he is expected to start in England’s midfield — will give us a glimpse of what Anderson can do when surrounded by elite players.

2. Donyell Malen — Netherlands

Malen (27) made an extraordinary impact after joining Roma in January. Since his Serie A debut on 18 January, only Harry Kane (16) scored more goals across Europe’s top five leagues than Malen’s 14.

He became just the third player to score 14+ times in Serie A despite playing fewer than 20 games, joining Zlatan Ibrahimović (15 in 19 in 2020-21) and Ronaldo (14 in 19 in 1998-99).

His winter transfer tally also set a new century record for the Italian league, surpassing Mario Balotelli’s 12 in 2012-13. Could Malen prove the missing piece for the Netherlands?

3. Callum McCowatt — New Zealand

McCowatt (27) plays for Silkeborg in the Danish Superliga, where he produced his finest season to date — 11 goals and 5 assists, more than his first two Silkeborg seasons combined (10 goals, 4 assists).

His threat primarily comes on the ball: only three Superliga players recorded more shot involvements following a ball carry of at least five metres than McCowatt’s 41 (29 shots attempted, 12 chances created). Since scoring on his full international debut against the Republic of Ireland in November 2019, he has only netted three more times for New Zealand — a record he will be hoping to improve upon this summer.

4. Lamine Yamal — Spain

Yamal (18) was arguably the most influential player in La Liga this season — the first player under 20 in the 21st century to reach double figures for both goals (16) and assists (11) in the competition.

He scored 24 goals in 45 matches across all competitions, and only Vinícius Júnior (92) was involved in more shot sequences following dribbles than Yamal’s 86. He completed the most dribbles (133) and attempted the most (265) of any player across Europe’s top five leagues.

He already electrified Europe at Euro 2024. Now it is the world’s turn.

5. Willian Pacho — Ecuador

Still only 24, the PSG centre-back played every minute of their Champions League campaign and won Ligue 1. In CONMEBOL qualifying, he ranked joint first for blocks (15) and fourth for clearances (65), with Ecuador conceding just five goals and keeping 13 clean sheets across 18 matches — the best defensive figures of any South American nation.

His 1,290 total touches were also the fourth-most of any player in the CONMEBOL section.

6. Mousa Al-Taamari — Jordan

Jordan’s World Cup debut will be led by the tireless Al-Taamari (29), who will celebrate his 30th birthday just before the tournament.

In Ligue 1, he won more penalties than any player (4), ranked in the top five for dribbles attempted inside the opposition box (19), and regained possession in the final third more times than anyone else (33). He also provided six open-play assists — the second most in Ligue 1.

He can sometimes be a little overeager — he was caught offside more times than anyone else in Ligue 1 this season (26) — but his fighting spirit, work rate, and technical quality will be crucial for Jordan as they make their historic World Cup debut. After facing Austria and Algeria, Jordan will close their group stage with a glamorous clash against reigning world champions Argentina — a match that already feels like a victory simply for being there.

7. Lamine Camara — Senegal

The 22-year-old Monaco midfielder is widely expected to move to the Premier League this summer. His 7.7 possession recoveries per 90 in Ligue 1 were the second most among all midfielders (1,000+ mins).

But he is far more than a ball-winner — he is tidy in tight spaces, uses his body well, and wriggles out of compromising positions with composure that points to excellent press resistance. He also offers genuine creativity from both open play and set-pieces.

The combination of defensive hunger and creative output makes Camara a genuinely rounded midfielder. With 31 senior caps already, the World Cup is his most significant audition for the clubs already circling.

8. Besfort Zeneli — Sweden

The 23-year-old moved from Elfsborg to Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium this winter. In his final Allsvenskan season, he ranked second for chances created (76), second for possession regains (176), and registered top-five finishes for successful dribbles (fifth, 47) and duels won (third, 205).

Since his Belgian league debut on 24 January, he has averaged the second-most expected assists (xA) per 90 in the league among players with 500+ minutes. An energetic playmaker who is astute defensively too, Zeneli could be the player who makes Sweden tick this summer — even in a squad that boasts Isak and Gyökeres.

9. Ricardo Pepi — USA

Pepi (23) has played exactly 100 Eredivisie matches for Groningen and PSV, averaging a league goal every 75 minutes for the Dutch champions — the best scoring rate in PSV’s history, surpassing legends including Kežman, Van Nistelrooy, Romário, and Ronaldo. He has also scored six Champions League goals in 442 minutes.

On home soil, leading the line for the co-hosts, his output could define how far the USA go.

10. Aleksandar Pavlovic — Germany

Pavlovic (Bayern Munich) averaged 100.4 touches per 90 in the Champions League — the second-highest among all players (500+ mins), behind only PSG’s Vitinha.

His pass completion rate (95.4%) was the best among midfielders and third among all players, behind only teammates and centre-backs Jonathan Tah (95.8%) and Manchester City’s Abdukodir Khusanov (95.6%). In the semi-final first leg at PSG, he had more touches than any other player (72).

Forced to withdraw from Euro 2024 due to tonsillitis, this is his first major tournament — and Germany’s midfield structure depends on him.

11. Luiz Henrique — Brazil

Brazil’s most exciting dribbler. He has completed 20 of 33 dribbles in his 548 minutes for the Seleção — averaging a completed dribble every 27.4 minutes. Despite making only five starts and 14 total caps, he has contributed five goal involvements (2 goals, 3 assists), averaging one every 109.6 minutes. Only Estêvão (one per 94 minutes) contributes at a better rate among current Brazil players with 3+ appearances.

Comparisons to Garrincha follow him — not just for the dribbling, but for wearing Botafogo’s famous number seven jersey while leading them to both the Brazilian league title and CONMEBOL Libertadores in 2024, registering 11 goals, five assists and 110 completed dribbles in 47 matches across those competitions.

Last season, he also led the Russian league in completed dribbles (51 in 28 matches), netting five goals and providing three assists in Zenit’s title-winning campaign.

12. Yan Diomande — Ivory Coast

Only Lamine Yamal contributed more goals among teenagers in the big five leagues in 2025-26 than Diomande’s 20 (12 goals, 8 assists for RB Leipzig).

Since detailed data collection began, only Jadon Sancho has produced more Bundesliga goal involvements as a teenager. He attempted the third-most dribbles in Europe (213) with the highest success rate (55%) among players with 100+ attempts, and scored five goals following take-ons — the outright most across all five leagues. He also completed 21 drives into the penalty area — second only to Vinícius Júnior (29) across the big five leagues.

Ivory Coast’s biggest hope at this tournament.

13. Vitinha — Portugal

The PSG midfielder completed the most passes (5,234), most passes in the opposition half (3,001), and ranked seventh for progressive carries of 10+ metres (277) across Europe’s top five leagues.

He provided 11 assists across all competitions — with only Kvaratskhelia and Dembélé (both 12) providing more for PSG — while winning possession 299 times in Ligue 1, third across all five leagues.

If Portugal are to succeed, it will run through Vitinha’s capacity to control tempo, transition, and rhythm.

14. Luka Vušković — Croatia

19-year-old Vušković (Tottenham, loaned to Hamburg) had the best aerial duel success rate of all Bundesliga outfielders (74.5%) with 1,000+ minutes and ranked fourth in overall duel success rate (67.7%).

Hamburg won none of the six games he missed (D2 L4) compared to a 32% win rate when he played. He was their second-highest scorer with six goals — more than any other centre-back in the Bundesliga.

He was not alive when Luka Modrić made his first World Cup appearance in 2006.

15. Michael Olise — France

The only player across Europe’s top five leagues to score 20+ goals (22) and provide 20+ assists (26) in all competitions in 2025-26.

Only Bruno Fernandes (138) created more chances across all competitions than Olise’s 123. Only Kevin De Bruyne in 2022-23 recorded more assists from a club in Europe’s top five leagues in the last 10 seasons.

He also ranked first for possession won in the final third (49), third for successful dribbles (140), and fourth for defensive-line-breaking passes (58). A strong World Cup could make Olise a genuine Ballon d’Or contender in the autumn.

16. Ayase Ueda — Japan

Ueda (27) finished as Eredivisie top scorer with 25 goals — one of only three Feyenoord players in the past 40 years to reach that tally.

Among players in Europe’s top 10 leagues, only Kane (36), Suárez (28), and Haaland (27) bettered him. His nine headed goals were the most of any player in Europe’s top 10 leagues this season.

Japan face the Netherlands first. Ueda will take the pitch against the nation he has called home for three years.

17. Caleb Yirenkyi — Ghana

The 20-year-old Nordsjælland midfielder won more possession than anyone in the Danish Superliga (205). He received the second-most high pressures (1,248) and attempted the second-most passes under high pressure (987) — yet recorded the best pass completion rate among players with 150+ such passes (89.7%).

Across Ghana’s last four friendlies, he led the squad for recoveries (23) and interceptions (8). Former Ghana star Michael Essien is now part of the coaching staff at his club — a fitting guide for an emerging talent.

18. Stepán Chaloupek — Czechia

The 23-year-old Slavia Praha centre-back averaged 2.1 interceptions per 90 — surpassed by only 9 of 639 centre-backs with 900+ minutes across Europe’s top 10 leagues. Open-play sequences involving him contributed an average of 0.7 expected goals per 90 in the Czech league — the fourth-highest rate across Europe’s top 10 leagues, with only established centre-backs Kim Min-jae, Eric García, and Jerdy Schouten involved in more threatening sequences.

He scored eight non-penalty goals — more than any other centre-back in Europe’s top 10 leagues — including the most goals from throw-ins (4) of any player across those leagues.

His xG per 90 (0.35) was the highest of all centre-backs in those leagues. A set-piece weapon and one of the tournament’s most unique defensive profiles.

19. Armando González — Mexico

González (Chivas) scored 24 goals in 35 Liga MX games — an average of 0.69 per game, the highest in a single Liga MX season for a Mexican player since 2013.

In the Clausura, no player was involved in sequences generating more xG (13.6), and he led the league in shot accuracy (53%) and first-time shots (37). As co-hosts, Mexico need goals. González may be the forward who provides them.

20. Ibrahim Maza — Algeria

The 20-year-old Leverkusen midfielder completed more dribbles per 90 than almost any Bundesliga player with 1,500+ minutes — only Diomande (4.3), Nusa (3.0), and Olise (2.5) bettered his 2.3. No central midfielder averaged as many touches in the opposition box (5.4). He covered the most distance per 90 of any Leverkusen player (12.1km) and contested the most duels at the club (247), winning 133 (54%).

21. Arda Güler — Türkiye

At approaching 22, Güler has already become the youngest debutant scorer at a European Championship and the youngest Real Madrid player to score a Champions League free-kick.

In La Liga, no Madrid teammate created more chances (70), and he led the club for assists (9). In the Champions League, only Kimmich (22) and Yamal (17) played more defensive-line-breaking passes than Güler’s 16.

He can become the youngest Turkish goalscorer at the World Cup and the youngest to assist a World Cup goal on record (since 1966). Türkiye’s first World Cup in 24 years will revolve around him — and he has proven time and again he can handle the pressure.

22. Johan Manzambi — Switzerland

20-year-old Manzambi led Freiburg to the Europa League final (7 goals, 6 assists). He recorded 116 progressive carries of 10m+ — the most of any Bundesliga central midfielder.

He was fouled 139 times in all competitions — more than any other player at a club in Europe’s top five leagues. He scored three goals from outside the box in the Bundesliga — only Kane (6) and Olise (4) bettered him.

He also led Freiburg in duels won (179) and dribbles completed (33). Switzerland’s youngest squad member — and potentially their most influential.

23. Ismael Saibari — Morocco

After winning the Eredivisie Player of the Year award, Saibari has produced 26 goals and 19 assists across the last two Eredivisie seasons for PSV.

Across that period, he averaged 4.0 shots per 90 and 2.1 open-play chances created per 90 — figures only Dembélé and Yamal could match among all players with 1,000+ minutes in Europe’s top 10 leagues.

He became the first PSV player since 1980 to score a hat-trick away to Feyenoord.

24. Marko Arnautovic — Austria

Austria’s record appearance holder (133 caps) and all-time top scorer (47 goals) at 37 years old. He scored eight qualifying goals — second only to Haaland among European qualifiers — while exceeding his xG by 3.2 (scoring eight from chances worth 4.8 xG).

Only four European qualifiers outscored their xG by a larger margin. In September 2025, he scored in the Europa League more than 16 years after his previous goal — the longest gap between two goals by the same player in the competition’s history.

In November 2023, he also scored in the Champions League almost 13 years after his first goal there — also the longest such gap in that competition.

25. Patrick Berg — Norway

A lifelong Bodø/Glimt man — aside from eight months at RC Lens — Berg represents Norway’s third generation of footballers in his family, following his father Runar and grandfather Harald.

The career progression tells its own story: he recorded eight goals and four assists in his first 120 Eliteserien games, but added an impressive 19 goals and 21 assists in the 107 appearances since returning to the club in August 2022.

In 2025, he reached double figures for assists (12) for the first time and ranked third in Norway for defensive-line-breaking passes (29). His World Cup debut will be a generational family landmark.

26. Nico Paz — Argentina

Paz (21) recorded 12 goals and six assists in Serie A for Como — helping them qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Only Dimarco (24), Lautaro Martínez (23), and Marcus Thuram (19) managed more goal involvements. Off the ball, only Soulé (38) and Conceição (29) won final-third possession more often than Paz (26). Real Madrid reportedly have a buy-back option — a strong World Cup could prompt them to trigger it.

Read More: World Cup 2026: 10 World Cup Group Stage Games You Cannot Afford to Miss

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