After Saudi Arabia's historic upset of Argentina at the World Cup on Tuesday morning, Lionel Messi became the trending topic around the world with everyone only interested in discussing his performance and team's future. Cristiano Ronaldo can't be having that.
Following is a list of players who have been ruled out or are doubtful for the Nov. 20-Dec. 18 World Cup through injury.
PAUL POGBA (FRANCE)
Pogba injured his knee in pre-season and went under the knife in September to repair a damaged meniscus. The 29-year-old resumed training but on Oct. 31 his agent said the midfielder would not return to action for Juventus nor the world champions before the World Cup.
DOHA - The United States and Wales will head into Monday's World Cup clash knowing that victory could decide one of Group B's two qualifiers, with England fancied as heavy favorites to advance as group winners.
With a golden generation of talent spearheaded by Gareth Bale and playing at their first World Cup in 64 years, Wales will be out to echo their recent successes at European level, having reached the Euro 2016 semifinals and the last 16 at Euro 2020.
Every four years the World Cup brings together the world’s best players and Qatar 2022 will not be an exception.
On the attacking front, the exotic winter tournament brings us a combination of new talent, legendary strikers, generational wingers and a pair of GOATs.
In celebration of the World Cup being so close, we rank the forwards who are most likely to make an impact at Qatar.
To prepare you for the tournament, The18 has launched team-by-team previews for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Here’s the Uruguay World Cup preview who'll play in Group H against Portugal, South Korea and Ghana.
World Cup Appearances: 14th
Best Finish: Champions (1930, 1950)
It's time to get laughed at. Here are The18's 2022 FIFA World Cup predictions, although many of our employees have elected the safest route after gazing into their crystal balls.
To prepare you for the tournament, The18 has launched team-by-team previews for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Here's the Portugal World Cup preview 2022. The Seleção das Quinas will play in Group H against Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea.
World Cup appearances: 8th
Best finish: Third place (1966)
Many football lovers hope an African team will finally win the men’s 2022 FIFA World Cup. The world has been waiting for this since the great Brazilian player Pelé predicted (in the 1970s) that an African country would win before the year 2000. That didn’t happen, but it didn’t stop Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football, from saying (in 2021): "An African team must win the World Cup in the near future."
To prepare you for the tournament, The18 has launched team-by-team previews for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. This is for Group H's South Korea.
World Cup appearances: 11th
Best finish: Fourth place (2002)
How they got here: South Korea achieved automatic qualification by finishing second in AFC Group A behind Iran.
To prepare you for the tournament, The18 has launched team-by-team previews for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Here’s the Ghana World Cup preview — they’ll play in Group H against Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay.
World Cup appearances: 4th
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2010)