World Cup 2026. in football will probably be the last major competition for some of the best players of the last two decades. Among them are the Golden Ball winners Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić, as well as one of the best goalkeepers in the history of football, Manuel Neuer.
Among them, Messi stands out, who will turn 39 on June 24. The current world champion is still the central figure Argentine national team and one of the few veterans who can still decide games at the highest level.
The best scorer of the World Cup
The impression is that Messi realized in time that he could no longer provide football at the highest level in Europe and that he retired to the United States of America, where he has been playing for Inter Miami for the last three years.
In the first game of this World Cup, he scored a hat-trick against Algeria. Those three goals are significant not only for the result, but also for the race for the best scorer in the history of the World Cup. Miroslav Klose is the first with 16 goals, Messi has now equaled him, while Kylian Mbappe has 14 goals, so their race for the record is expected until the end of the World Cup.
Argentina is one of the favorites to win winning the tournament. By the end of the group stage, Messi is expected to have matches against unpleasant Austria and outsider Jordan.
One of the main stories of the world championships of the last 20 years
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo (41) is still the most attractive figure of the Portugal national team, but the impression is that he is no longer a player around whom the game can be built. Ronaldo has been one of the main stories before every World Cup for the last 20 years. From 2006, when he was a star in the making, through 2010, 2014 and 2018, when he was expected to carry the national team, until 2022 and 2026, when it was debated whether he should even be a starter.
During his representative career, he became the best scorer in the history of national teams and led Portugal to win the European Championship in 2016. However, the furthest he reached the World Championships was the semi-finals in 2006. It is to be expected that he will retire from national football after the tournament in the USA.
After the first round in America, the impression is that Ronaldo did not have a significant impact in Portugal's draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo (1:1). During the World Cup in Qatar, he was a starter in the group stage, but after that, coach Fernando Santos decided to start the games on the bench.
Photo: FoNet/AP Photo/Karen WarrenCristiano Ronaldo is a burden for Portugal
Ronaldo has lost a good part of the physical predispositions that allowed him to be dangerous in every attack. Therefore, its quality has declined significantly.
Portugal now has a significantly better team, and by the end of the group stage, matches against Colombia and debutants Uzbekistan await them.
Luka Modric's last dance
At 40, Luka Modrić is one of the oldest players at this year's World Cup. And the captain of Croatia is playing the last World Cup. He led the national team to the greatest success in its history - to the silver medal in 2018 and the bronze medal in 2022.
Modrić played the club season in Milan and planned to stay at the club, but after the failure and the absence of the Champions League, big changes followed. That is why it is speculated that he could end his playing career after the World Cup.
At this year's World Cup, in the first round against England, there was a noticeable decline in the physical fitness of Modrić, who failed to keep up with the rhythm of the game. One of the reasons could be the cheekbone injury he had right before the start of the tournament.
Photo: FoNet/AP Photo/Julio CortezModric played a bad game against England
His weak game was noticed by the selector Zlatko Dalić, who replaced him already in the 58th minute. In that game, the captain of Croatia missed a penalty against Noni Madueke.
It is to be expected that Modrić will play better games in the continuation of the championship, as he gets into the competitive rhythm, but also due to the fact that Croatia will face somewhat easier opponents, Ghana and Panama.
The last mutt between the goalposts at the World Cup
Manuel Neuer (40) returned to the German national team after a two-year break. Julian Nagelsmann called him up after the injury to Marc-Andre ter Stegen, whom he initially planned as the first goalkeeper.
Neuer is in his late playing years and his reflexes are no longer at the level of his best days, which could also be seen during the season at Bayern. However, he is still capable of delivering top-notch games, especially thanks to his signature footwork.
In the first round, Germany outclassed Curaçao with a score of 7:1. The shot from which the Germans conceded a goal could have been stopped. However, by the end of the group stage, the Panzers will face much more serious rivals, Ecuador and Ivory Coast, against whom potential goalkeeper mistakes could have greater consequences.
During his representative career with Germany, Neuer won the World Cup in 2014 in Brazil, when he was declared the best goalkeeper of the tournament. The 2026 World Cup could be the last major competition for one of the goalkeepers who changed the way the position is played.
Regardless of how far their teams go in the tournament, the appearance of Messi, Ronaldo, Modric and Neuer at the 2026 World Cup will mark the end of one of the greatest generations in football history.
You can read all "Vremena" articles about the World Cup at HERE.
Real journalism costs money, and we will not be bought by tycoons and corporations. Support us with a one-time or monthly donation. The time for it is now!
