In an effort to highlight some of those unfortunately ruled out of FIFA's flagship tournament in Qatar before a ball was kicked, let's build an unfortunate XI from the pools of competing countries.

Two rules for this XI: Each player must represent a nation at the 2022 World Cup and must have been ruled out before their team's first game.

Goalkeeper: Mike Maignan (France)

Maignan has enjoyed an incredible rise over the last few years - at Lille and latterly Milan - and would have been given the nod for France this winter, alongside captain Hugo Lloris.

Last season in Serie A, which was won by Milan, the Frenchman claimed 17 clean sheets in 32 games, conceding 19 goals in total.

Maignan picked up a calf injury in October which ruled him out until the start of 2023.

Centre-back: Presnel Kimpembe (France)

Another star player missing for Les Bleus in Qatar is Kimpembe, who is widely regarded as one of the finest defenders in European football.

He played in 41 games for French champions Paris Saint-Germain last season in all competitions, helping his team keep 14 clean sheets and scoring twice.

Kimpembe has struggled for fitness this season and has failed to completely recover from an Achilles tendon injury in time for the World Cup.

Centre-back: Diego Carlos (Brazil)

While yet to make his first senior appearance for Brazil, Carlos has represented his nation at the Olympics and was recently called up for World Cup qualifying matches.

The defender, now representing Aston Villa in the Premier League, has really made a name for himself over the last few years in Spain, where he helped Sevilla win the Europa League in 2020.

Carlos tragically ruptured his Achilles tendon in his second game for Villa, which he's still yet to recover from.

Right-back: Reece James (England)

Regarded as one of the best full-backs around, it was heartbreak for 22-year-old James to discover a knee injury sustained in Chelsea's Champions League campaign earlier this season would rule him out.

England are presently blessed with a wealth of world-class right-backs, which only further emphasises the talent of James.

To his Premier League record so far, the Chelsea man has 19 clean sheets, 14 assists and seven goals.

Left-back: Ben Chilwell (England)

A double blow for England and Chelsea was cruelly delivered earlier this month when Chilwell sustained a hamstring injury playing against Dinamo Zagreb.

With a wand of a left foot, the Three Lions will notice the gap left in their squad this winter - just as they will James.

Defensive midfield: N'Golo Kante (France)

Still very much in the conversation for best defensive midfielders in the world, 31-year-old Kante had surgery on an injured hamstring earlier this year and has been out of action since August.

With Premier League, Champions League and World Cup winners' medals already in his trophy cabinet, the 5'6" hard-hitting midfielder's star power speaks for itself.

Central midfield: Gini Wijnaldum (Netherlands)

Famed for his availability at Liverpool - missing for just 24 games between 2016 and 2021, making 237 appearances - Wijnaldum is absent in Qatar this winter.

One of the leaders in the Netherlands' dressing room, he will be sorely missed by self-described "brother" Virgil van Dijk and the entire Oranje squad at the World Cup.

Now at Roma (on loan), Wijnaldum made 31 league appearances for Paris Saint-Germain last season, totting up three assists and scoring once.

Central midfield: Paul Pogba (France)

After flip-flapping between Manchester United and Juventus not once but twice, Pogba picked up an ill-timed injury this summer and is yet to make his second debut for the Italian giants.

The hot-shot midfielder was seemingly on the road to recovery in time for the World Cup, but was ruled out after picking up an additional injury and undergoing surgery.

Pogba has been a household name for the best part of a decade and was perhaps the most noted casualty ruled out early for football's trip to the Middle East.

Right wing: Diogo Jota (Portugal)

Much like Maignan, Carlos and James in this XI, the World Cup in Qatar was on the horizon of a breakthrough period for Liverpool forward Jota.

The Portuguese goal-getter picked up a serious calf injury in the Reds' 2-1 win over Manchester City in the Premier League last month.

In an attack that already had Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, Jota scored 34 goals for Liverpool between his move from Wolves in 2019 and the end of last season.

Left wing: Sadio Mane (Senegal)

The 2022 Ballon d'Or runner-up needs no introduction and was sadly ruled out Senegal's World Cup squad just days before their first game.

A talisman for the Lions of Teranga, Mane is the country's all-time leading goal-scorer with 34 successful strikes under his belt.

With Bayern Munich, his first season playing in Germany, the 30-year-old has scored 11 times in 23 games, keeping up with the blistering place he set in the Premier League.

Centre forward: Karim Benzema (France)

Like Mane before him, the Ballon d'Or holder needs no introduction. Benzema was tragically ruled out of France's squad after picking up an injury in training.

The Real Madrid icon will effectively be replaced by Milan striker Olivier Giroud in Les Bleus' typical starting XI, but will be sorely missed all the same.

On his way to claiming the Ballon d'Or, Benzema scored a staggering 44 goals in 46 games last season, winning the Champions League and La Liga with Real Madrid to boot.

Flashscore's injured XI: Maignan, Kimpembe, Carlos, James, Chilwell, Kante, Wijnaldum, Pogba, Jota, Mane, Benzema