Posted on: Post Date – 11:30 PM, Sat – 11/19/22
This World Cup in Qatar will undoubtedly be their last, meaning they may never have another chance at the coveted trophy missing from their cabinet.
Hyderabad: There’s no question that Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo are a cut above the rest. Soccer superstars have achieved everything in their careers except the FIFA World Cup.
This World Cup in Qatar will undoubtedly be their last, meaning they may never have another chance at the coveted trophy missing from their cabinet.
All eyes will be on these two global superstars to see if they will lift the trophy themselves. What is certain is that these people will no longer wear their national jerseys to compete in global competitions, and there are also a few stars who are playing in the last World Cup.
Here are the top five stars who are on their final stride and eyeing the final shot of glory:
Lionel Messi
Messi, who took a 180-degree turn in retirement after previous Argentina teams failed to live up to their potential, will be eager to make his name alongside the legends of Pele and Maradona.
The magician is determined to bid a fairytale farewell after they faltered close to winning the trophy in the final in 2014. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner finally ended his national team’s decades-long trophy drought when he won the Copa America last year. However, the World Cup is one thing the maestro is desperate to add to his glittering collection.
Cristiano Ronaldo
With everything around Cristiano Ronaldo and his club Manchester United in the Premier League, the Portuguese superstar is desperate to prove a point or two with his national team.
A turbulent period for the club will put the pressure on the 37-year-old to prove he is not yet past his prime He scored an impressive 117 goals for his country, the most in the world with 191 appearances.
Ronaldo has spent most of his time at his club on the bench and is hungry for game time, which bodes well for his side.
Robert Lewandowski
Poland’s Robert Lewandowski is the most underrated star of this current batch. With Messi and Ronaldo in the spotlight, Lewandowski is a rare talent who deserves a lot of credit.
He scored 312 goals for Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich season after season. His move to Messi’s former club Barcelona made headlines.
He is the leader of the Polish national team, scoring 76 goals. Despite scoring nine goals in World Cup qualifiers, he is yet to score in World Cup competition.
Thomas Muller
The 33-year-old German star has been a regular for his national team and club Bayern Munich. After scoring five goals in the 2010 World Cup, his popularity continued to rise.
Although he was briefly eliminated from the national team after the team’s poor performance in 2018, he returned to the squad at the European Cup and proved his worth in the team. His presence on the field is a great inspiration to the team’s youngsters.
Luke Modric
The Croatian star has been a revelation for his national team. The 37-year-old was a vital part of his side’s run to the last final, where they lost to champions France.
Despite being on the wrong side of the age bracket, he has been a fantastic player who shows no signs of aging. He was also a key figure for his club Real Madrid, where he spent 10 years during which time they won five Champions League titles and three league titles.
His presence in midfield is crucial for Croatia. Although he was runner-up in 2018, he won the Ballon d’Or for his performance at that tournament.
