All the biggest football stars to miss out on World Cup 2022 in Qatar
For hundreds of football players, the world stage beckons as they head out to Qatar to compete for the greatest honour in the sport.
The 2022 World Cup might be controversial for human rights reasons — even former FIFA chief Sepp Blatter concedes he should have never handed hosting duties to the Middle East emirate — but for some stars, it will be the pinnacle of their career.
Yet despite being famed for being football’s most prized cup, the World Cup will be missing some huge players that light up European leagues week-in, week-out.
Some will be absent simply because the country they represent did not make it through the qualifiers over the past two years.
Other talents have been receiving the heart-breaking news in recent days that they have not made the cut for their nation’s squad at the November-December competition, while some have picked-up injuries.
Here’s a list of those you won’t be watching at the 2022 World Cup.
Players missing out on the Qatar World Cup
Key men for some of the big European, South American, African and Far East Asian teams have been ruled out or face a nail-biting wait for their fitness news.
Mohamed Salah
He may be a regular Ballon d’Or nominee — the annual award for the greatest player in the European leagues — but Liverpool’s star man will be at home watching his colleagues and former colleagues battle it out for their countries.
Egypt made the third round of the World Cup qualifiers, pitting them head-to-head against Senegal.
But unfortunately for Salah, his former teammate Sadio Mane scored the decisive goal for the west African side during a penalty shootout to put them through after the two legs resulted in a draw.
Erling Haaland
The Manchester City star has lit up the Premier League since his arrival in the summer from Borussia Dortmund but he too will only be able to watch on as others strive for the December 18 final.
Haaland, 22, is from Norway, the Scandinavian country came third in its qualification group, falling three points short of reaching the play-offs.
The Netherlands automatically qualified by coming top of the group, with Turkey taking the second place play-off spot, leaving Haaland and Norway to rue what could have been.
Paul Pogba
The former Manchester United midfielder lifted the World Cup with France four years ago, but he will play no part in 2022’s clashes for France in Qatar.
Pogba injured his knee in pre-season and went under the knife in September to repair the damage.
The 29-year-old resumed training but, on October 31, his agent said the midfielder would not return to action for Juventus or for the world champions in time for the World Cup.
Chelsea man N’Golo Kante, another linchpin for France's world-beating team in 2018, is also out through injury.
Roberto Firmino
Brazil’s embarrassment of riches upfront means striker Firmino’s services will not be called upon for the South American side.
The 31-year-old might have knocked in eight goals this season in all competitions for Liverpool, but Brazil head coach Tite could not find a place for the Premier League forward in his 26-man squad.
His failure to make the cut could mean he watches the World Cup on the same sofa as his at-home Reds’ team mate Salah.
They can make it a viewing party with a full Liverpool attack, with fellow Anfield forward Diogo Jota confirmed to be nursing an injury that will keep him out of Portugal’s squad.
Reece James
A knee injury left Chelsea full-back sweating over his fitness in time for the World Cup but he confirmed on social media that the tournament would come too soon for him.
He and fellow club defender Ben Chilwell will not be on the plane with the England team to Qatar.
Chilwell picked up a nasty injury in the Blue’s Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb earlier this month, ruling him out of Gareth Southgate's plans.
Giovani Lo Celso
Argentina know it is the last chance for them to win the World Cup with Messi — possibly the greatest player of his generation — in the side.
Spurs player Lo Celso was influential in the middle of the park when the Albicelestes picked up the Coppa America title in 2021.
However, the 26-year-old, who is currently on loan with Spanish side Villarreal, is reportedly out of contention altogether after suffering a hamstring injury that is likely to require surgery.
Timo Werner
Germany's forward line could be feeling a bit lightweight in Qatar after Timo Werner felt a strain that means he won't be in Hansi Flick's side.
The former Chelsea man had to be replaced last week during a game for his club RB Leipzig. A day later it was confirmed he would miss the World Cup as a result of the injury.
Georginio Wijnaldum
The former Liverpool man and Champions League winner is normally a key player for The Netherlands.
But a serious injury at loan side Roma, not long after joining from PSG in the summer, means he won’t feature in the European nation's squad.
Other massive players anxious about proving their fitness in time for the World Cup include Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, Senegal’s aforementioned Sadio Mane — who hurt himself 20 minutes into a Bayern Munich match on Tuesday (November 8) — and South Korea’s Heung-Min Son, who underwent surgery only last week for a fractured eye socket.
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