Top 11 Football Stars Who Will Be Missing at World Cup 2022

Jenny Lee November 12, 2022 | 08:02

It's a pity that stars like Haaland, Salah or Donnarumma ... can't attend the biggest football festival on the planet World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

The World Cup is always the place where the biggest names in the football world show their most sublime performances to help the home team win. But because of FIFA's 211 member countries, only 32 have tickets to the 2022 World Cup, leaving players like Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah and Gianluigi Donnarumma to stay at home as Norway, Egypt and Italy are in the list. number of teams that failed to qualify.

Below is a list of players who are unfortunately absent from the 2022 World Cup due to the national team's failure in qualifying.

1.Erling Haaland - Norway

Top Football Stars Not Present at World Cup 2022

Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland made his international debut for Norway at the age of 19, scoring 21 goals in 23 games.

The Manchester City player is also in "destructive" form this season, becoming the fastest player to score 15 goals in the English Premier League after just 9 appearances.

However, the player is arguably among the best young strikers in the world today, scoring just five goals during World Cup qualifying. Norway earned just 18 points from 10 qualifying matches, ranking third behind the Netherlands and Turkey in the same group.

2.Mohamed Salah - Egypt

Salah, one of the brightest stars in the football world today, will not play at the 2022 World Cup due to Egypt's defeat in qualifying.

Egypt and Salah himself were fouled twice in the penalty shootout against Senegal in just two months. Egypt first lost in the Africa Cup of Nations final in February, then lost a World Cup qualifying play-off.

Salah's shot hit the goal, causing Egypt to lose 3-1 on penalties.

Before that, Salah also had an incomplete 2018 World Cup due to injury, which prevented Egypt from making it past the group stage.

3.David Alaba - Austria

Despite being arguably Austria's best player of the past decade, the former Bayern Munich defender did not attend a World Cup as Austria failed to qualify for the tournament since 1998.

Alaba is 30 years old this year, has 96 appearances for Austria and scored 14 goals.

4.Riyad Mahrez - Algeria

Having won the 2016 African Player of the Year award, the 2016 Africa Cup of Nations and the English Premier League title with two different clubs, Riyad Mahrez has consistently been one of the best African footballers of all time. recent years.

The French-born winger was part of the Algerian squad for the 2014 World Cup but failed to make much of an impact. In 2018, Algeria failed to qualify and in 2022 they took one step to the World Cup until they were knocked out by Cameroon's late goal in extra time of the play-off match.

The absence from this World Cup is a pity because Mahrez will be 35 years old at the next World Cup.

5.Martin Odegaard - Norway

Odegaard is considered one of the best young talents today and it is no surprise that Odegaard broke the record for the youngest player to debut for a Norwegian team at the age of 15.

Odegaard was scouted by Real Madrid before joining Arsenal, where the player became an important member.

However, Odegaard's leadership and talent on the field were not enough to take Norway to the World Cup.

6.Gianluigi Donnarumma - Italy

As soon as Buffon's career ended, Donnarumma began to become a worthy heir to the Italian wooden frame. Donnarumma replaced Buffon in a match in 2016, becoming the youngest goalkeeper to play for Italy at the age of 17.

Not only confidently replacing Buffon's name, Donnarumma also asserted himself as the best young goalkeeper in the world. He made his professional debut for AC Milan in 2015 and moved to PSG in 2021.

Donnarumma was voted UEFA Best Player at Euro 2020 (takes place in 2021).

7.Victor Osimhen - Nigeria

Victor Osimhen is a promising young striker of Nigeria when he won the Golden Shoe at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup and is currently the leader of Napoli's attack in Serie A.

The 23-year-old is one of the top strikers in Italian football, scoring 30 goals in 68 appearances for the club since 2020. Before playing in Italy, Osimhen played for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.

Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup will prevent Osimhen from having the opportunity to show his talent at the world's biggest football festival. However, with his young age, Osimhen still has a chance.

8.Patrick Schick - Czech Republic

Patrick Schick, Euro 2020's second top scorer and the winner of the tournament's goals, is a regular for the Czech Republic, scoring 17 goals for the national team in 33 appearances.

The Bayer Leverkusen striker has been in fine form this season, scoring 20 times in a number of games, including in a 7-1 win over Bundesliga struggler Gruther Folt Four balls.

With a collective transfer fee totaling around £65m, Schick's form has attracted interest from the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, and Newcastle United. However, he will not be in shop windows this winter after the Czech Republic lost to Sweden in extra time in the play-offs.

9.Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Sweden

Sweden's bid for a 13th World Cup final was ended by Poland in the final play-off stage, which undoubtedly ended Zlatan's chances of another World Cup.

There are signs that the AC Milan striker's age is finally catching up, however, with just seven goals in four injury-related solo appearances in La Liga this season.

But, this Zlatan we're talking about, so don't be surprised to see the Swede playing for his county in 2026 at 44!

10.Jorginho - Italy

Jorginho has enjoyed great success since joining Chelsea from Napoli in 2018, winning the Europa League, Super Cup, Club World Cup, and Champions League at Stamford Bridge. After an incredible 2021 which had seen the 30-year-old become a European champion with club and country, Jorginho also received plenty of recognition during the campaign, being named in the FIFA FIFPro Men’s World 11, selected by professional players around the world, alongside midfield partner N'Golo Kante, before receiving the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award and coming third in the vote for the Ballon d'Or.

Although he was born in Imbituba, Brazil, Jorginho's nationality is Italian. On the international level, he plays for Italy's national team which is famous for being the most tactical national football league. So far they have won 48 European trophies and earned the name of the second most successful nation in European football.

11.Presnel Kimpembe - France

Top 10 Football Stars Who Will Be Missing at World Cup 2022

Presnel Kimpembe

Center-back Presnel Kimpembe did not recover from injury in time and decided to withdraw from the France squad for the 2022 World Cup.

Kimpembe made 28 appearances for the French national team. He was part of the "Les Blues" team that won the 2018 World Cup in Russia. After PSG's 1-0 victory over Brest on September 10, Kimpembe is expected to be out of action for six weeks to treat a hamstring injury. In the last match between PSG and Auxerre on November 13, Kimpembe came on from the bench, played for 15 minutes but was not in the best shape.

Axel Disasi, the player called up by coach Deschamps to replace Kimpembe, is Monaco's mainstay in Ligue 1 this season. Disasi played 21 matches in all competitions, scoring 2 goals and contributing 4 assists despite his forte as a central defender.

In another development, coach Deschamps also decided to enter the name of the son of the legendary Lilian Thuram, Marcus Thuram in the list of 26 players attending the 2022 World Cup. This is also the 8th striker in the "Les Blues" squad. wealth in Qatar.