Qatar 2022: The players who could play in their last World Cup
As holders France prepare to defend their crown, a host of talented players will be hoping to inspire their respective nations to glory in the Middle East.
But as the start of the competition approaches, there will also be some focus on the names that could be appearing in the event for the final time in their careers.
The big news that has already been confirmed is Lionel Messi will make Qatar the last World Cup of his outstanding career.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward will be 39 by the time the 2026 edition will roll around, adding a bigger narrative for Argentina to deliver on this occasion.
With that said, Flashscore takes a look at some of the more veteran players who could see this edition of the World Cup be their last.
Hugo Lloris
A mainstay in goal for France since his debut in 2008, Hugo Lloris is set to lead les Blues to a World Cup for the fourth time in his career.
The Tottenham stopper lifted the trophy in 2018 and will be keen to help his side mount a staunch defence, although it could be his last chance to do so now at his current age.
Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez is a household name on the global stage, for both his talents and on-pitch antics, which included a deliberate handball against Ghana in 2010 and biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini in 2014.
After helping Nacional in Uruguay win the title, plenty of eyes will be on Suarez and how his nation fares in what is likely to be the striker’s final tournament.
Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski does not seem to be slowing down, but he will be hoping to have a better World Cup than he did in 2018 when he failed to score as Poland exited at the group stage.
The Qatar edition stands as the Barcelona man’s second tournament, though, and it could provide some extra incentive to perform in front of goal.
Manuel Neuer
Another World Cup-winning goalkeeper on the list, Manuel Neuer will be hoping to use his experience to inspire Germany back to the top after a dismal 2018 outing which saw them exit at the group stage.
Neuer won the 2014 edition which cemented his place atop the goalkeeper’s union at the time, but time is starting to tick down on the Bayern Munich man’s career.
Sergio Busquets
Sergio Busquets is the last man standing from Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning squad - a time when he was establishing himself as one of the best midfielders in the world.
Now an experienced veteran entering his twilight years, Qatar could very well be the wily midfielder's last dance.
Luka Modric
Age may seem like just a number for Luka Modric, but you have to question if he is planning to stick around long enough to make the next World Cup in 2026.
The Croatian is not anything phase him, though, as he continues to pump out world-class performances for Real Madrid - at an astonishing frequency too.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Like Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo is another player that may choose to hang his boots up by the time the next tournament comes around.
The men’s international all-time top scorer helped Portugal lift the Euro 2016 trophy, but he has not earned football’s top prize in the World Cup - something which he would undoubtedly want to change.
Thiago Silva
Thiago Silva’s continuity has been nothing short of outstanding, boasting an impressive trophy cabinet in the process.
Silva has not shown many signs of slowing down and has been an assured addition to the Chelsea backline, but he'll turn out for Brazil on the global stage for what is likely to be one last time.
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema has trended upward in recent years, which earned him a recall back to the France squad after being omitted for Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup.
Real Madrid’s talisman became the second oldest man in history to win the Ballon d’Or after a stellar domestic and international season, although the abundance of young attacking talent in France could see him miss out before 2026.
