Who will be the standout name in the 2022 World Cup?
Published on 09 Jul 2022 | Last updated on 13 Jul 2022 | Reading time: 3 minutes
With the 2022 World Cup just months away, national teams and players are already preparing for the tournament. 32 teams will begin the competition in Qatar in November, each hoping to take home the title.
A host of talent will take to the pitches in Qatar this year. As a result, some standout names will be looking to make their mark on the biggest international stage.
We look at some of the standout names at the 2022 World Cup and now is a great time to back an early winner. Sportsbooks are offering crazy odds, and offers, like these $1000 risk-free bet offers.
Kylian Mbappe
In 2018, Kylian Mbappe was in top form at the World Cup. Aged just 19, he went on to win the tournament with France, scoring four goals and making one assist. Mbappe also became the second-youngest ever World Cup final goal scorer, hitting the net in the 3-0 final win over Croatia.
Since then, Mbappe has continued to develop. He is now a key part of Paris St Germain and the French national team.
However, the 22-year-old will hope to improve on a disappointing Euro 2020 performance with Les Blues. France struggled in the tournament. They were eliminated by Switzerland in the round of 16, with Mbappe making just two assists in four appearances.
Vinicius Jr
Vinicius Jr has been tipped as a world talent since his £40 million transfer to Real Madrid at 16. Early expectations may have impacted Vinicius’ initial performances at Madrid. But the talented youngster has kicked on in recent seasons.
In the 2021/22 season, Vinicius was a key part of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad that won La Liga and the Champions League. The Brazilian forward scored 17 league goals and four in the Champions League, also making 20 assists in all competitions.
It was a breakthrough season for the 21-year-old at the club level and he will now be hoping to bring this form to the Brazil national team. So far, Vinicius has made just 14 appearances and scored one goal. However, a strong start to the season could see the talented Brazilian force his way into the Seleção starting XI at the 2022 World Cup.
Pedri
Since Spain’s golden generation of stars moved on, the national team has struggled to get back to the top. The retirement of Andreas Iniesta and Xavi in particular impacted the progress of La Roja.
But, the emergence of young playmaker Pedri has helped the competitiveness of Spain recently. Most notably, at the Euro 2020 competition, aged just 18 with four previous international caps, Pedri emerged as one of La Roja’s best players.
His ability to keep possession and control the tempo highlighted what Spain has been missing for years. Pedri played almost every minute of Spain’s run to the Euros semi-finals and he is likely to be La Roja’s reliable playmaker again at the World Cup.
Phil Foden
Few young players have achieved the same as Phil Foden. At the age of 22, the Man City forward has won four Premier League titles, four League Cups, the FA Cup and the under-17 World Cup.
Foden’s importance to City is clear. He made 45 appearances in all competitions last season, making 25 goal contributions and he is a young player that has improved year on year under Pep Guardiola.
The midfielder is also becoming more of a central figure in the national team. Despite making just two starts at Euro 2020, Foden has been called upon more often in recent matches. He has made five starts in the last seven matches he’s been available for and made four assists.
