The 2026 FIFA World Cup roster is total goals.
The U.S. soccer team features many popular players as the tournament begins on June 11 in cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Plus, the entire international competition is full of incredibly talented stars.
This year’s event will feature many legendary soccer players, including the one and only Lionel Messi.
At 38 years old, Messi will return as the defending champion representing Argentina in his sixth World Cup. The experienced player is also aiming to add to his record of 21 goals and assists – the most of any player in World Cup history.
Cristiano Ronaldo is close behind, pushing hard to make his mark. The 38-year-old has already been involved in 19 goals during the tournament and is determined to lead Portugal to their first-ever World Cup victory in what is his sixth appearance.
In a 2025 interview with Piers Morgan, he stated that Portugal has never won the World Cup, but believes they have the potential to do so, adding, “Yes, we’re going to fight for that.”
Ronaldo pointed out that winning the trophy isn’t the only measure of whether he’s one of the greatest players ever.
When asked if winning the World Cup is just a dream, the athlete – a father of five with his partner Georgina Rodriguez – responded, ‘Absolutely not.’ He believes a World Cup victory would cement his place in football history.
Ronaldo stated, “People are saying that if they win the World Cup, Christian will be considered the greatest. However, I don’t agree with that.”
Many players still hope to win the World Cup. For example, Lamine Yamal is playing in his first World Cup with Spain.
The 18-year-old athlete said his lifelong dream is to play in the World Cup, with his mother watching from the stands and representing his country. Speaking at the Laureus World Sports Awards on April 20th, where he received the Young Sportsperson of the Year award, he added that the coming months will likely fly by, and he’s optimistic his team will win the championship.
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappé of France considers chasing FIFA’s top honor his “obsession.”
Speaking at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where his team lost to Argentina, he emphasized the tournament’s significance, calling it ‘the competition of my dreams.’
Want to know about more international players to watch at this year’s tournament? Keep reading to find out!
Age: 18
World Cup Team: Spain
Current Soccer Club: FC Barcelona (Spain)
Position: Midfielder
Despite being very young, Yamal has already achieved a lot in his soccer career. He helped Spain win the UEFA European Championship and was a close second in the running for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award – given to the world’s best player – in 2025.
Age: 38
World Cup Team: Argentina
Current Soccer Club: Inter Miami CF (United States)
Position: Forward
Lionel Messi is one of the greatest soccer players of all time, with a record number of awards. As the current World Cup champion and an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, he’s now aiming to make history by leading his team to win the World Cup again, something no captain has ever done consecutively.
Age: 41
World Cup Team: Portugal
Current Soccer Club: Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia)
Position: Forward
Honestly, I’m completely obsessed with Ronaldo, and it’s easy to see why everyone thinks he’s one of the best ever! The guy has scored over 970 goals in his career – 970! – and he’s still going strong! It’s insane! He managed to hit over 100 goals for every club he’s ever played for – Real Madrid, Manchester United, Juventus – and then he went and scored over 130 for Portugal! It’s just… unbelievable. He’s a goal-scoring machine!
Age: 32
World Cup Team: England
Current Soccer Club: Bayern Munich (Germany)
Position: Forward
Harry Kane is widely considered one of the top goalscorers of his generation and is captaining the England national team for the third World Cup in a row. He recently scored the goal that won their warm-up game against New Zealand on June 6th.
Age: 23
World Cup Team: Germany
Current Soccer Club: Bayern Munich (Germany)
Position: Midfielder
Jamal Musiala has been called “Bambi” since he started playing professional soccer at just 16 years old, a nickname inspired by his elegant style of play. He first appeared in the World Cup in 2022.
Age: 23
World Cup Team: Brazil
Current Soccer Club: Santos FC (Brazil)
Position: Forward
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, known simply as Neymar, is a soccer superstar and his country’s all-time top scorer. He broke Pelé’s long-standing record in 2023, which had stood for over 52 years. Now, he’s aiming to help his team win the World Cup again, something they haven’t done since 2002.
Age: 40
World Cup Team: Croatia
Current Soccer Club: AC Milan (Italy)
Position: Midfielder
Luka Modric is widely considered Croatia’s best soccer player ever. He led his national team to a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup and has played for Croatia more than 190 times, making him the country’s all-time leader in international appearances.
Age: 27
World Cup Team: France
Current Soccer Club: Real Madrid (Spain)
Position: Forward
Mbappe won the World Cup in his first appearance in 2018. After narrowly losing to Argentina in a penalty shootout in 2022, he’s determined to win again this year.
Age: 25
World Cup Team: Brazil
Current Soccer Club: Real Madrid (Spain)
Position: Forward
Vinícius José Paixão de Oliveira Júnior, widely known as Vini Jr., is a Brazilian soccer sensation. In 2024, he was named FIFA’s Best Men’s Player and finished second in the Ballon d’Or voting. As he enters his second World Cup, Vini Jr. aims to help Brazil win the championship for the first time in 24 years.
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2026-06-09 15:20