Messi, Ronaldo and others who could take part in their last World Cup in 2026 | OneFootball

We are just under a year away from the 2026 World Cup taking place in the USA, Canada and Mexico and it should be enthralling for several reasons. Not least because it will be the final World Cup for so many legends of the current generation.

So who could take part in their final World Cup in 2026?

Lionel Messi

The Argentinian legend played what was thought to be his last international game on home soil, as Argentina beat Venezuela 3-0 at the Estadio Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires.

Messi was emotional as he received a standing ovation from the 80,000 in the stadium before kick-off. He capped the occasion in typical fashion, scoring two goals and being named player of the match.

It is widely expected that the 38-year-old will play at the World Cup next year – it would be his sixth – but he tempered those expectations.

“I’m trying to feel good and, above all, being honest with myself,” he said. “When I feel good I enjoy it, but when I don’t, honestly, I don’t have a good time, so I prefer not to be there if I don’t feel good. We’ll see.

“I haven’t made a decision about the World Cup. I’ll finish the season then I’ll have pre-season, and there will be six months left. So we’ll see how I feel.”

Messi had the fairytale moment of his career during the 2022 World Cup when he and his teammates went on to win the competition.

It therefore is possible that the Inter Miami star may choose to bow out before next summer, but with the tournament only 10 months away and Messi still capable of playing at a high level, it seems unlikely.

Cristiano Ronaldo

The other of the two greatest players of this generation, Cristiano Ronaldo, will also likely play in his final World Cup next year for Portugal.

The 40-year-old currently plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, and is also still operating at a high level.

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has seen Ronaldo as a key part of his starting XI since taking charge of the national team in January 2023, and the legendary forward is still delivering.

He has eight goals and one assist in his last nine international games, and one of the key differences between Ronaldo and Messi is that the former has always been vocal about just how ambitious he is and wanting to break all possible records.

For that reason it seems almost certain that injury aside, he will be playing for Portugal next year.

Neymar

Neymar has often been regarded as the third in the ‘big three’ of this generation. He has never had the consistency in either output or robustness of Ronaldo and Messi, but there is no doubt he has the talent.

When he broke through as a 17-year-old at Santos, he was seen as the best Brazilian prodigy since Pele, and someone who could win the Selecao their first World Cup since 2002.

Unfortunately for Neymar and his country, it has never worked out that way. They have come close over the years, but never gotten over the line.

The 33-year-old has played in three World Cups and the closest he came to winning it was in 2014, when the tournament was in Brazil.

But that competition ended horribly for the hosts, with a 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semi-final. In the two since, Brazil have been knocked out at the quarter-final stage.

Now Neymar is back at Santos – a full-circle moment in career – but he is not the same player. He suffered an ACL and meniscus tear in October 2023 which ruled him out for over 12 months.

He came back in late 2024 but since then has been battling repeat muscle issues. He is currently fit but his output has seen a sharp decline.

He has three goals in his last 13 games for Santos and has not played for Brazil since October 2023, in the game where he suffered his ACL and meniscus injury.

He was left out of this international break despite being fit, because Carlo Ancelotti has said he wants players in top physical condition.

It feels as though it will be an uphill battle for Neymar to be fit and in the correct physical condition to take part in next year’s World Cup, but football fans the world over will be hoping to see him play at the highest level one last time.

Luka Modric

Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric will likely play in his last World Cup for Croatia next year. The 39-year-old is still in good shape and has just made the move from Real Madrid to AC Milan, leaving Los Blancos after 13 years.

Modric has been ever-present in what has been a golden generation for Croatia, with players like Ivan Rakitić, Mateo Kovačić, Mario Mandžukić and Ivan Perišić.

They reached the final of the 2018 World Cup, and the semi-final in 2022, and will be confident of a successful tournament next year.

Kevin De Bruyne

Like Modric, Kevin De Bruyne has been part of a golden generation for his country, but unlike Croatia, Belgium have failed to hit the heights many expected.

It’s fair to say they had a more talented squad too, with Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois, Vincent Kompany and many others.

The talented group couldn’t deliver, however, and between 2014-2022 the best they managed was a third place World Cup finish in 2018.

They never reached a final, and by 2022 the squad looked fractured and past its prime.

Many of the old guard have retired or been phased out, and it seems they are unlikely to achieve anything special next year, but De Bruyne will be hoping for a successful send-off.