🌍 The World Cup's missing stars! From Palmer to J. Pedro 🤯 | OneFootball

Every World Cup has its heroes. And then it has its omissions.

In fact, they’re often the ones who spark more debate than the players who actually made the squad. Because when you read that players like Cole Palmer, Phil Foden or Alexander-Arnold will not take part in the most important competition on the planet, one question comes naturally: just how strong is the team that left them at home?

The final squads for the 2026 World Cup have already produced quite a few surprises. Some understandable, others far less so, and then of course we also have to remember the injured players.

Players who have retired from international duty (Suarez, Griezmann, Muller...) will be excluded from this article.

England, the big cut: Palmer, Foden, Alexander-Arnold and Maguire

England dominate the list of high-profile omissions, with a series of decisions that have made headlines across the country.

Cole Palmer is perhaps the most shocking case: coming off seasons of the highest level and regarded as one of the Premier League’s most decisive talents, he was left out of the final squad. The same fate befell Phil Foden, a world-class player and a standout performer for Manchester City, but never truly central to the manager’s tactical plans.

Completing this run of surprises are Trent Alexander-Arnold, one of the most creative full-backs in European football, left out despite his unique quality in building play, and Harry Maguire, a defensive leader in recent international tournaments but sacrificed in the final selections.

Four big names, four different stories, but one single conclusion: even a top-tier national team like England has to leave world-class stars at home.

France: Camavinga, K. Thuram, Kroupi and Ekitiké’s injury

When a national team leaves out Eduardo Camavinga it means the level of competition is simply insane. No less striking is the exclusion of Khéphren Thuram: indispensable for Juve, but not for Deschamps.

There would be plenty of names up front, but we’ll mention two: Ekitiké will miss the World Cup with a ruptured Achilles tendon and, even so, France still could not find room for Kroupi, the Bournemouth striker who is on the rise.

Brazil: J. Pedro makes way for Neymar! Estêvão, Rodrygo and Militão out

Neymar’s call-up inevitably changed the balance of Brazil’s squad. And the player who paid the highest price was João Pedro. The forward was coming off a very positive season and seemed close to making the squad, but Carlo Ancelotti chose to rely on O Ney’s experience and charisma.

A decision that hurts even more when you consider that Brazil will also be without Rodrygo and Estêvão in attack, both through injury. And in defence, the absence is no less significant: Militão.

Spain: injuries to F. Lopez and Samu. Carreras and Huijsen not called up

Two strikers at opposite ends of the spectrum, but both would have been useful for Spain: Samu Aghehowa (previously known as Omorodion) represented one of the few physical options up front, but an ACL tear in February ruled him out well in advance.

Fermin Lopez had an excellent season with Barça, especially in the Champions League, until May, when an injury that had seemed manageable took a turn for the worse: a broken toe that required surgery.

In defence, De La Fuente decided not to rely on Real Madrid players: Carreras and Huijsen failed to convince during Los Blancos’ trophyless season and so, for the first time, there will be no Real Madrid players in Spain’s World Cup squad.

Netherlands: Frimpong ignored! Tough luck for Xavi Simons

Ronald Koeman’s selections did not please everyone in the Netherlands. Frimpong paid the price for an underwhelming season with Liverpool and two injuries that affected his physical condition at the start and midway through the campaign.

The star who will not be there, however, is Xavi Simons: an ACL tear at the end of April was a huge blow for him, the national team, and above all Tottenham, who risked relegation until the closing stages of the Premier League season.

Other omissions / injuries: Gnabry, Bennacer, Kudus and more

In this article we have looked at 32 players who will not take part in the World Cup despite having the quality to be there. Bad luck or someone else’s decision: either way, this will not be their summer.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

📸 ADRIAN DENNIS - AFP or licensors