World Cup stars to watch: The legends
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- The 2026 World Cup will feature legendary players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, and others who are expected to have significant impacts for their national teams.
- Lionel Messi, at 38, aims to help Argentina defend their 2022 World Cup title, relying on his elite skills despite being past his prime.
- Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, seeks to fill the gap in his career by winning a World Cup, facing challenges including recent play in a less competitive league and the loss of key teammate Diogo Jota.
- Kylian Mbappé, France’s 27-year-old star, looks to lead his team to a third World Cup title while recovering from a recent hamstring injury.
- Other notable veterans include Senegal’s Sadio Mané, South Korea’s Son Heung-min, the Netherlands’ Virgil van Dijk, Croatia’s Luka Modrić, and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, many of whom may be playing in their final World Cup and carry hopes of historic achievements for their countries.