Five top players set to shine in the World Cup

Form and fitness concerns are looming over several of football’s biggest names just three weeks before the World Cup begins.

AFP sports examines five of the stars who will carry the expectations of their nations in the first 48‑team finals held across the United States, Mexico and Canada:

Kylian Mbappé (France)

Mbappé could become the all‑time top goalscorer in World Cup history in the coming weeks, but he will cross the Atlantic after a difficult period at Real Madrid.

The 27‑year‑old has yet to win a major trophy in two seasons with the Spanish club, despite his prolific scoring record.

His commitment has been questioned after he went on holiday while nursing a hamstring injury toward the end of the season.

A change of scenery on the international stage could be what he needs as he aims to add more history on the global stage.

Mbappé dominated the tournament as a teenager in France’s 2018 World Cup win. He netted eight goals, including a hat‑trick in the final, as Les Bleus missed out on penalties to Argentina four years ago.

He needs just four more goals to match Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals.

Erling Haaland (Norway)

Haaland finally gets his first taste of a major international tournament after ending Norway’s 28‑year wait to reach the World Cup.

The Manchester City striker struck 16 times in eight games during Norway’s flawless qualifying campaign that included two thrashings of Italy.

That brought his tally to a remarkable 55 goals in 49 international appearances.

Haaland is the poster boy for a golden generation of Norwegian players, including Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard, who have been tipped as dark horses.

Norway will need their star striker in top form after being drawn into a tough group with France and African champions Senegal in Group I.

Vinícius Júnior (Brazil)

Neymar’s return to the Brazil squad has captured the imagination, but it is Vinícius’s performance that will likely determine whether Carlo Ancelotti’s men finish with a sixth star on the famous yellow jersey.

He and Mbappé have had to share the spotlight at Real Madrid, but the World Cup gives Vinícius the chance to become a national hero in Brazil and win the Ballon d’Or he craves.

Vinícius and his club teammates famously boycotted the ceremony after he was overlooked for Manchester City’s Rodri despite scoring in the Champions League final two years ago.

His record for Brazil has been uneven. He scored just once in the World Cup four years ago and has only eight goals in 47 caps overall.

Harry Kane (England)

England’s captain and all‑time record goalscorer faces what is probably his last shot at World Cup glory after a stunning season with Bayern Munich.

Kane scored 58 goals in 50 games as Bayern romped to the Bundesliga title and narrowly missed out on the Champions League final.

At international level he has led the rise of the Three Lions to serial contenders, but he has yet to end his nation’s 60‑year wait to win a major tournament.

Kane has often been hampered physically at international tournaments, exhausted by his exertions during the club season.

However, this time his minutes have been managed by Bayern for months as they prioritised a deep run in the Champions League, with the Bundesliga long since won.

Lamine Yamal (Spain)

The breakout star of Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, Yamal’s hopes of taking the world by storm will depend on his recovery from a hamstring injury.

The 18‑year‑old has not featured since suffering the injury for Barcelona on April 22 and could reportedly miss Spain’s first two group games against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia.

After a slow start to the season, Yamal had been in blistering form prior to his injury, scoring 24 goals in all as Barca cruised to a second consecutive La Liga title.

Spain will be confident of negotiating the early stages of the tournament before unleashing the player many regard as the best in the world for the latter stages.

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