40+ of the Best Players to Watch Out for at the 2022 World Cup

Every four years, the world gathers to witness football's greatest showpiece — the FIFA World Cup. Over the final two months of 2022, soccer's greatest talents will descend upon Qatar to determine who deserves to be crowned as the greatest footballing nation on earth. From veteran icons such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, to rising stars like Vinicius Jr., here are the players who you should keep a lookout for.

Virgil van Dijk - Netherlands

Since 2018, Virgil van Dijk has been a rock in defense for Liverpool, helping the Reds to the 2020 Premier League title and the 2019 UEFA Champions League. Known for his tackling and aerial threat, the Dutch center-back helped Liverpool keep the most clean sheets in the league last season.

Shutterstock // kivnl

Van Dijk has also proven to be a key player in the Netherlands national squad, captaining his country to the Nations League semi-finals to be played next year.

Sadio Mane - Senegal

After a respectable career at Liverpool, which saw him win a Premier League and a UEFA Champions League winner's medal, Sadio Mane shocked the world as he moved to Bayern Munich in the 2022 summer transfer window. Already, Mane has scored 10 goals in 19 appearances for the German champions.

Shutterstock // Vitalii Vitleo

Mane has also been an attacking asset for his national team, scoring three goals to help Senegal win the African Cup of Nations for the first time ever in 2021.

Harry Kane - England

With three Premier League Golden Boot awards under his belt, Harry Kane is a club talisman for Tottenham Hotspur. Although the 2021/22 season was far from his best, Kane is finding his form yet again, scoring 10 goals in his first 12 league games.

Wikimedia Commons // Anton Zaytsev // CC BY-SA 3.0

As team captain and England's second-highest goalscorer in history, this clinical finisher will be key to England's success as the nation pursues only its second-ever World Cup victory.

Brennan Johnson - Wales

At just 21 years of age, Brennan Johnson is one of the young stars who could make all the difference when Wales participates in its first World Cup in 64 years. The Welsh Dragons are set to face heated rivals England as well as the USA and Iran.

Shutterstock // Andrew Dowling Photo

When he's not wearing a Wales shirt, Johnson plays as a striker for Nottingham Forest as they look to impress during their first season back in the Premier League after a 23-year absence from the top tier.