With the World Cup just around the corner, there is no doubt that there is a lot of anticipation around the world of football. Fans from across the globe are going to be tuning in to support their nation and hopefully watch them lift gold. Of course, this is an achievement that only one team is going to get to have, and the competition is extremely tough this year.
Because the World Cup only comes around once every 4 years, there is a lot of pressure for players to perform at the tournament. Having a good campaign at the World Cup is something that can define a player’s career. For older players, it could help to cement their place in the history books, while adding to their legacy. As for the younger generation, a good showing at the World Cup could give their status a huge boost, even earning a big move to one of Europe’s top clubs. Every player has a point to prove during this World Cup. However, the following players have an additional reason to have an impact, for their nation in this World Cup.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is going to go down in history as arguably the best to ever do it. The Argentine has won every club trophy available to him and even got his first international trophy in 2021. Lifting the Copa America against Brazil was a massive accomplishment for Lionel Messi, as he finally added a trophy to his amazing international career. However, the only trophy to have eluded him is the World Cup. Messi and Argentina came so close in 2014. An extra-time strike from Mario Gotze caused heartbreak for Messi and Argentina as Germany lifted the cup. This time around, Messi is going to want to go that one step further and get his hands on the trophy. If you are unsure if Messi can, then perhaps the best online roulette sites are a better place to do your betting.
Neymar
There is never a World Cup where Brazil are not going to be strong contenders. There is always an elite panel of footballing talent to choose from in Brazil, and that often shows in the World Cup. For the past few tournaments, Neymar has been the hero for Brazil. The country’s captain has been the star, with a lot of pressure on him to deliver a 6th World Cup back to Rio. However, he is yet to bring Brazil to a final – could this be his year?
Sadio Mane
Sadio Mane has had an amazing 2022 so far. He lifted a domestic double with Liverpool before securing a move to German giants Bayern Munich. Not to mention that he also led Senegal to AFCON success at the start of the year. All of these accolades helped him land as a runner-up in the Ballon D’or rankings. However, with a great World Cup, Mane can add to his legacy. If he has a great campaign and brings Senegal far, he could go on to be the best African player of all time.
