WORLD CUP 2022: Every Nation’s Best Player To Look Out For In Qatar

With the 2022 World Cup in Qatar fast approaching, the 22nd edition of the competition is set to kick off on November 20.

The World Cup is the most prestigious association football tournament in the world, as well as the most widely viewed and followed single sporting event in the world.

After the longest qualification campaign in recent memory, the 32 teams that will compete in the competition were revealed in June. As always, there is a mix of admirable underdogs, big favorites and sides that are a shadow of themselves.

The Ghana Report Sports Desk takes a look at every best player to look out for when the showpiece began later this month.

 

1.Qatar-Akram Afif

Akram Afif is a Qatari professional footballer who plays as a left-winger for Qatari club Al Sadd and the Qatar national football team.

Early in his career, he was considered to be one of the most promising players to emerge from Qatar.

The former Villarreal winger will need to perform if they are to do anything in the tournament.

 

2.Ecuador – Moises Caicedo

Moisés Caicedo  is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion and the Ecuador national team.

It can be argued that former West Ham man Enner Valencia is still banging in goals for Ecuador, but Moises Caicedo is perhaps more important for Ecuador.
The combative Brighton midfielder had racked up over 20 caps before his 21st birthday.

 

3.Senegal – Sadio Mane

Sadio Mané is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Senegal national team.

Considered one of the best players in the world and amongst the greatest African players of all time, he is known for his pressing, dribbling, and speed.

Sadio Mane will be hoping to lead an African side further than the quarter finals for the first time in World Cup history.

If anyone can produce the goods, it’s the former Liverpool man.

 

4. Netherlands – Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Liverpool and the Netherlands national team.

Considered one of the best defenders in the world, Van Dijk is known for his strength, leadership and aerial ability.

Centre-backs aren’t normally known as game-changers, but Virgil van Dijk is not a normal centre-back.
No one in world football comes close to Van Dijk in his position and he will be desperate to impress after missing out on the last three major tournaments.

 

5. England – Harry Kane

Harry  Kane is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and captains the England national team.

Regarded as one of the best strikers in the world, Kane is known for his prolific goal scoring record and ability to link play.

Harry Kane took home the Golden Boot at the last World Cup and will be aiming to do the same again in Qatar.
There are many question marks hanging over Gareth Southgate’s selection heading into the tournament, but Kane’s spot up front is not one of them.

 

6. Iran – Sardar Azmoun

Sardar Azmoun is an Iranian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen and the Iran national team.

Azmoun made his debut for the Iran national team in 2014 aged 19.

A couple of free-scoring seasons in Russia led to Sardar Azmoun being linked with a Premier League move.
He joined Bayer Leverkusen instead and remains Iran’s most important player.

 

7.USA – Christian Pulisic

Christian Pulisic is an American professional soccer player who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Premier League club Chelsea and the United States national team.

Because of his high level of play and his nationality, he has been given the nickname “Captain America” by fans and other players.

USA are back at the World Cup and expectation is high.
Shouldering most of the pressure will be Christian Pulisic, who has not quite shown his best at club level in recent times.

 

8.Wales – Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale  is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC and the Wales national team.

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Welsh players of all time.

It is unclear how long he will keep on playing after this World Cup, but one thing is certain – Gareth Bale remains Wales’ talisman.
If the Dragons are to get out of their group, the forward will be decisive.

 

9.Argentina – Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi, is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and captains the Argentina national team.

Like Bale, Lionel Messi is reaching the tail end of his legendary career.
Is there any doubt that he is still their go-to guy? No, absolutely not. Could this be the year he adds the World Cup to his bulging trophy cabinet?

 

10.Saudi Arabia – Salem Al-Dawsari

Salem Muhamed al-Dawsari is a Saudi Arabian footballer who plays as a winger for Al-Hilal and the Saudi Arabia national team.

Saudi Arabia should be well supported in Qatar and the fans who make the short trip will be excited to watch international stalwart Salem Al-Dawsari.
He is one of a select group of Saudi players who have made it to Europe with Villarreal.

 

11.Mexico – Hirving Lozano

Hirving Rodrigo Lozano Bahena, sometimes known as Chucky, is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a winger for Serie A club Napoli and the Mexico national team

As much as we love Guillermo Ochoa pulling off wonder saves aged 36, Hirving Lozano is probably Mexico’s brightest hope heading into the tournament.
The Napoli forward is an accomplished carrier of the ball but sometimes lacks end product.

 

12.Poland – Robert Lewandowski

Robert Lewandowski is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a striker for La Liga club Barcelona and captains the Poland national team.

Few Polish players in the history game have left a legacy on the game like Robert Lewandowski – and he’s far from done.

One thing missing from his career is leading Poland deep into a tournament. Perhaps that will change this winter.

 

 

13. France – Kylian Mbappe

 

Kylian Mbappé Lottin is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the France national team.

Considered one of the best players in the world, Mbappé is renowned for his dribbling abilities, exceptional speed, and finishing.

Florentino Perez may hate him, but France loves him.
After a disappointing Euro 2020, Mbappe has a point to prove at the World Cup with Les Bleus among the favorites again.

Karim Benzema, the current balon d’or holder could also be considered as the talisman for the France National team.

 

 

14. Australia – Mathew Ryan

Mathew David Ryan is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Danish club F.C. Copenhagen and captains the Australia national team.

Second goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne’s sexy hips (and penalty-saving antics) might have stolen the show in their decisive World Cup playoff against Peru, but Mathew Ryan remains Australia’s number one goalkeeper.
He is also the Socceroo with the most experience at the top level.

15. Denmark – Christian Eriksen

Christian Eriksen is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Manchester United and the Denmark national team.

Eriksen is renowned for his vision, technique, passing, and free kick ability.

Eriksen has shown remarkable determination to return to his best after he suffered a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.
He was absolutely brilliant for Brentford in the second half of the 2021/22 season and he’s been outstanding so far for Man United in all competitions.

16. Tunisia – Wahbi Khazri

Wahbi Khazri is a Tunisian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or as a forward for Ligue 1 club Montpellier and the Tunisia national team.

Hannibal Mejbri could take his crown soon, but for now, Wahbi Khazri is Tunisia’s offensive talisman.
The forward has spent his entire career in France, one ill-fated move to Sunderland aside.

17. Spain – Pedri

Pedro González López, known as Pedri, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club Barcelona and the Spain national team.

Some may say that it’s too early for Pedri to be considered his country’s best player but we think otherwise.
The teenager plays with the maturity of a 30-year-old veteran and always makes things happen in midfield.

18. Costa Rica – Keylor Navas

Keilor Antonio Navas Gamboa, known as Keylor Navas, is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Costa Rica national team.

Likely playing at his last World Cup, the greatest Costa Rican goalkeeper in history will be hoping to do his country proud in November.
He is set to be kept busy with games against Spain and Germany to come in the group stage.

19. Germany – Joshua Kimmich

Joshua Walter Kimmich is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or right-back for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Germany national team.

He is known for his complete play style, versatility, aggression, and play making ability.

Some may argue that, there is no standout player in the Germany squad – they are strong across the board.

However, Joshua Kimmich has the potential to be a difference-maker at the World Cup, such is his ability to control the tempo of a game.

20. Japan – Daichi Kamada

Daichi Kamada is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a forward for Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt and the Japan national team.

Japan could be dark horse to go far in this World Cup.

Although they lack strength in depth there is a lot to like about their starting XI, especially Daichi Kamada.

The attacking midfielder spearheads a cast of hard-working, technical front players who will cause problems.

21. Belgium – Kevin De Bruyne

Kevin De Bruyne is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Manchester City and the Belgium national team.

He is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world and of his generation. Pundits have often described him as a “complete footballer”

Kevin De Bruyne is arguably the best midfielder in the world and has been for some time.

22. Canada – Alphonso Davies

Alphonso Boyle Davies is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a left-back or winger for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Canada national team.

He is regarded as one of the best full-backs in the world due to his pace, dribbling and creativity.

Canada’s lengthy wait for a World Cup will come in handy this month, thanks in small part to Alphonso Davies.

The Bayern Munich left-back will be vital in both directions for his side.

23. Morocco – Achraf Hakimi

Achraf Hakimi is a professional footballer who plays for French Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Morocco national team.

He mainly plays as a right-back, although he occasionally also plays as an attacking full-back.

Hakimi came through Real Madrid’s youth academy.

Even if Hakim Ziyech did play for his country, Morocco’s best player is still Achraf Hakimi.

Very much one that got away for Real Madrid, Hakimi has been superb for first Inter and now PSG.

24. Croatia – Luka Modric

Luka Modrić is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for La Liga club Real Madrid and captains the Croatia national team.

He plays mainly as a central midfielder, but can also play as an attacking midfielder or as a defensive midfielder.

The timeless Luka Modric shows little sign of letting up, but this will surely be his last major tournament.

Modric led Croatia into the 2018 World Cup final, earning a Ballon d’Or for his efforts.

25. Brazil – Neymar

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, known as Neymar, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazil national team.

A prolific goalscorer and renowned play maker, he is regarded as one of the best players in the world.

Vinicius Junior is threatening to usurp his position, however, Neymar remains his country’s top dog heading into the 2022 World Cup.
He will be desperate to stay fit, something he has not always managed to do in recent times.

26. Serbia – Dusan Tadic

Dušan Tadić is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder and captains both Eredivisie club Ajax and the Serbia national team.

Tadić spent his youth at hometown club AIK Bačka Topola and Vojvodina, eventually playing in the UEFA Europa League with the latter.

There is a three-way toss up between Dusan Tadic, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Filip Kostic.
In the end we’ve gone for Tadic, the owner of the sweetest left foot in world football.

27. Switzerland – Yann Sommer

Yann Sommer is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach and the Switzerland national team.

Sommer completed his apprenticeship at Basel, where he won the Swiss Super League on four consecutive occasions before transferring to Mönchengladbach in 2014.

Much like with Serbia, Switzerland have several players who could take this crown.

Yann Sommer – one of the best goalkeepers in the Bundesliga for several years – takes the honour.

28. Cameroon – Andre Onana

André Onana  is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Inter Milan and the Cameroon national team.

He might be a little rusty given his recent drug ban, but Onana is adapting quickly as he’s been the preferred pair of hands for Inter Milan in the Champions league.

He is one of the best goalkeepers in Europe.

29. Portugal – Christiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Manchester United and captains the Portugal national team.

Portugal are full of grizzly veterans like Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Raphael Leao who looks up to lead the Portuguese national team in the future but none are more important than Cristiano Ronaldo.

We think his record speaks for itself.

30. Ghana- Thomas Partey

Thomas Teye Partey is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Arsenal and the Ghana national team.

The combative midfielder has good positional awareness and shows impressive intuition about when to move out to press, when to hold his position, and when to cover for others.

Players like Kudus Mohammed, Kamaldeen Sulemana who are on the come up may aspire to lead the Ghana Black Stars someday but Partey stands out as the best Ghana has at the moment.

31. Uruguay – Federico Valverde

Federico Santiago Valverde is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club Real Madrid and the Uruguay national team.

Darwin Nunez is coming on strong but Federico Valverde’s experience at the top level just gives him the edge.

Valverde’s displays during Real Madrid’s run to the 2022 Champions League final made people sit up and took notice.

32. South Korea – Son Heung-min

Son Heung-min is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and captains the South Korea national team.

Few players on this list are as far ahead of their teammates than Son Heung-min.

The Spurs man is a genuine world class forward as he has repeatedly proved in recent seasons.