Best Players Who Could Be Featuring in Their Last FIFA World Cup in 2026

The 2026 World Cup is set to be held in the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico. For some players, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, it will be a final chance to compete in football’s biggest change. Let’s see some top players who might be playing their last World Cup in 2026 – of course, granted that their teams qualify for the next Mundial.

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Top Players That Could Feature in the World Cup for the Last Time in 2026

Football players consider the World Cup as an opportunity for them to stamp their names in their country’s history books. For these players, 2026 might be the final opportunity to write or rewrite their entries in their nation/continent’s record books.

Honorable Mentions – Lewandowski, De Bruyne, Neymar

Honorable mentions per our prediction in this list include Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, Brazil’s Neymar, and Belgium’s legendary midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. Each of these players has had massively incredible careers – no doubt. But old age may have had a serious toll on their health by the 2030 World Cup.

6. Alisson Becker, Brazil

Alisson is widely regarded as one of the game’s best goalkeepers. He has demonstrated a significantly fine form between the sticks for Liverpool. However, his services in the Brazilian national colors have also been noteworthy. Becker won the 2019 Copa America with his national side but has yet to win the World Cup.

Brazil was knocked out of the FIFA 2022 World Cup by Croatia on penalties as Alisson failed to save any penalty. However, he has some chance to leave with a loud ovation in the 2026 World Cup as the Brazilians would again compete for international honors. With 63 appearances (and 41 clean sheets) for his national team, Becker is undoubtedly experienced at his game.

5. Mohamed Salah, Egypt

Mohamed Salah has been outstanding for Liverpool. However, he’s often been forced to shoulder Egypt’s burden due to an underwhelming squad. Egypt failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. However, with an expanded format to a 48-team tournament in the 2026 edition, Salah’s qualification goals should be easier. 

Salah played at the 2018 World Cup but was hampered by injury. Consequently, the next World Cup in North America could be his first – and final World Cup– chance to truly show his prowess on world football’s biggest international stage.

4. Virgil Van Dijk, Netherlands

Virgil van Dijk has been a spectacular defender for his club and country’s defense lines all through his career, despite beginning later than most world-class footballers. The Netherlands international has won everything there is to win at Liverpool, including the Champions League and Premier League. However, he has yet to win any silverware with his country, his closest attempt being a second-place finish at the 2019 Nations League. 

Lionel Messi’s Argentina knocked the Netherlands out of the quarterfinals at the last World Cup. However, Van Dijk would hope to say his goodbyes with tangible success at the game’s highest level come July 2026.

3. Harry Kane, England

Harry Kane is England’s record goalscorer – a record that undoubtedly shows how important he is to his national team. Despite never lifting any trophy from a major tournament in his international career (and club career yet), Kane is clearly one of the world’s best players, capable of deciding the fate of matches in the final third. 

While he became England’s highest goalscorer ever in March 2023, he’ll hope to help his country win the World Cup in 2026. The Three Lions came close in 2018 after losing to Croatia in the semi-finals, and in the knockout stages to finalists France in 2022. However, that doesn’t take away the fact that England is in a golden era with a Euro 2024 silver medal in their arsenal – an era that Kane will want to cap with a World Cup title as a winning captain.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of all time – and there’s one major trophy he’s yet to win, the World Cup. The Portugal International has won the Euros and the UEFA Nations League (with multiple Ballon d’or feats) but has always fallen short on the world’s biggest football stage.

Ronaldo currently plies his trade for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, where he still maintains a terrific goal-scoring form alongside the record for the most international goals scored.  Surprisingly, he has only scored eight times at the World Cup, 50% of Miroslav Klose’s tally, who holds the competition’s goal record. Even if he would be 41 by the start of the 2026 World Cup, the Portuguese will hope to partake in his sixth World Cup. Who knows? He might win this time.

1. Lionel Messi, Argentina 

Messi practically completed football after winning the FIFA World Cup in 2022 with Argentina in a dramatic final that changed back and forth against France to finish 3-3 after extra time. Most people thought Messi wouldn’t play another World Cup after Argentina won the World Cup on penalties, but the Argentine hasn’t yet ruled out playing in North America.

Messi has incredible goal-scoring records for his national side, with over 100 goals in less than 200 appearances. If he can keep playing professionally and keep fit to be around for the next World Cup in 2026, the Captain would be considering extending Argentina’s title-winning streak in what could well be his final World Cup outing, after winning another Copa America title in 2024. 

Why the 2026 FIFA World Cup May Be the Best in Recent Years

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar was touted as one of the most entertaining in recent years, thanks to a thrilling final game that saw unprecedented goals, a hat-trick from France’s Mbappe, and an illustrious career peak to one of football’s GOATs, Lionel Messi, with Argentina beating France on penalties to lift the trophy. 

However, the 2026 World Cup appears to promise even more excitement and thrill with its expanded format of 48 teams. With more countries and players involved, we may just prepare to expect some of football’s most surprising upsets come June/July 2026. Moreover, the tournament would also be held in three countries – a number hardly gone by in recent history – which could add more unique expressions as teams work their way through the standings – or out of the Mundial – from the group stage to the knockout rounds under sometimes unique circumstances.

It’ll likely also safely mark the end of a football era – that saw Ronaldo and Messi lead the rest of the pack – and possibly become the biggest stage for new names like Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, and Jude Bellingham to show what stuff they’re made of as they eclipse the GOATs’ shadows in active football.

Final Thoughts 

The FIFA 2026 World Cup could be the final time we see some spectacular footballers who have enjoyed legendary careers register their last appearances at the Mundial – including Ronaldo and Messi. Other top players in this category include Kevin De Bryune and Robert Lewandowski. Alisson Becker, Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk, and Harry Kane. 

With its expanded 48-team format and location across three hosting nations, the next 2026 FIFA World Cup could easily become one of the best we’ve seen in recent years. However, we can only wait till the summer of 2026 to verify that.