Several known and upcoming football stars will be showcasing their talents at the FIFA 2022 World Cup scheduled to hold in Qatar. These football stars include talented midfielders such as Spain’s Sergio Busquets and France’s N’Golo Kanté.
While coaches continue to draw up the list of their squads for the 2022 World Cup, lovers of the game are also keenly watching out for the top midfielders that will represent their sides in the world’s most anticipated sports competition. To these concerns, we made a list of 20 men that will be playing in the heart position of their teams.
1. Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)
Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne will be going to the world cup for the third time. His first appearance at the completion was in 2014. He also represented his country at the FIFA 2018 World Cup where his side won the third place play-off match against England.
He has previously clinched several awards including UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Season (2019-2020). He is part of the 20 top midfielders to watch out for.
2. Bernardo Silva (Portugal)
Portugal’s midfielder Bernardo Mota will be playing at the World Cup for the 2nd time after being in Portugal’s team at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He is among the best midfielders in the world because of his agility and dribbling skills.
3. Sergio Busquets (Spain)
4. Thiago Alcantara (Spain)
Thiago represented Spain in the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cup which took place in Brazil and Russia respectively. However, he withdrew from the 2014 World Cup due to a knee injury.
The 34-year-old player is fluent in 5 languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, German, and English. He is also considered one of the world’s greatest midfielders of all time.
5. Joshua Kimmich (Germany)
6. Bruno Fernandes (Portugal)
Bruno Fernandes is an attacking midfielder, playing for Manchester United and his national team (Portugal). He made his senior international debut in 2017, being chosen in Portugal’s squads for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals, and UEFA Euro 2020. He is also among the top 20 midfielders to watch out for in Qatar.
7. Luka Modric (Croatia)
Luka Modrić will be making his 4th World Cup appearance in Qatar 2022 having played for his side in Germany, Brazil, and Russia respectively. More so, Luka led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup Final, and he received the Golden Ball Award for best player of the tournament. In March 2021, he went on to become the country’s most capped player in history.
Furthermore, he has been named Croatian Footballer of the Year a record ten times between 2007 and 2021.
8. Casemiro (Brazil)
Casimiro made his FIFA World Cup debut in 2018 in Russia. He made his debut in the competition on 17 June, playing 60 minutes in a 1–1 group stage draw with Switzerland. He has been a phenomenal defensive midfielder for his club and country.
9. Phil Foden (England)
Phil gained widespread press attention after scoring twice in the final of the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He was notably named the best player of the tournament.
He made his senior career debut in 2020 and the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be his first appearance at the tournament as a senior.
10. Frenkie De Jong (Netherlands)
Barcelona’s midfielder, Frenkie will also be making his first World Cup appearance in Qatar. He made his senior debut in 2015 and has remained a versatile midfielder known for his vision, passing, dribbling, and strong defensive techniques.
SEE ALSO: 20 Best Defenders To Watch Out For At Qatar World Cup 2022
11. Fabinho (Brazil)
Fabinho made his international debut for Brazil in 2015 and was part of the team’s squad at the Copa América in 2015, 2016, and 2021. His impressive play over the years sets him to stand a chance of being on Brazil’s squad for the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
12. Ruben Neves (Portugal)
Ruben was first called up to the senior team on 10 November 2015, ahead of friendlies against Russia and Luxembourg as an injury replacement for João Moutinho. He was later selected by manager Fernando Santos for a preliminary 35-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup but did not make the final 23-man squad. Be that as it may, the 28 year midfielder is likely making the final 23-man squad this time around for Qatar 2022.
13. Paul Pogba (France)
Pogba will be playing for his side for the third time in the FIFA World Cup tournament. In 2014, he was awarded the best Young Player Award for his outstanding performances in Brazil. Similarly, he was part of France’s winning squad in the 2018 FIFA World Cup where he as well scored in the final.
14. Bukayo Saka (England)
Qatar 2022 will be his first World Cup appearance for England having played for his country at the U16, U17, U18, U19, and U21 levels. He was first called up to the senior team on 1 October 2020.
15. Christian Eriksen (Denmark)
Eriksen made his senior international debut for Denmark in 2010 at age 18 and became the youngest player at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. At the tournament, Eriksen played 2 matches but his team was not able to go beyond the group stage. He also participated in the build-up of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He will again be representing his side come November in Qatar.
16. Kai Havertz (Germany)
Havertz was called up to Germany’s senior team for the first time by head coach Joachim Löw in 2018. He was not part of the final 23-man squad for the FIFA World Cup that year but Germany could use this technically gifted, two-footed attacking midfielder in Qatar.
17. Axel Witsel (Belgium)
Axel will be making his World Cup appearance for the third time after playing in Brazil and Russia respectively. He particularly made his international debut for his senior side in 2008 after playing for the U21 side in 2007, earning nine caps alongside other impressive records.
18. Christian Pulisic (United States)
Pulisic has represented the U.S at the U15 and U17 levels with impressive records. He was called up to the senior in 2016 and has featured in several games since then.
The 26-year-old Chelsea midfielder scored his first international hat-trick for the U.S men’s national team during their game with Panama in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification.
19. Aaron Ramsey (Wales)
Aaron made his full international debut for Wales in 2008 and was part of their UEFA Euro 2016 campaign where he helped his country to the semi-finals stage. Describing it as dream come true, Ramsey helped Wales qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2022 for the first time since 1958.
20. Ángel Fabián Di María (Argentina)
Qatar 2022 will be Di María’s 4th World Cup appearance for his country’s national team.
He made his debut for Argentina’s senior team in 2008 and has since then remained an impressive winger and midfielder to reckon with both in his club and national team.
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