The 10 Best Players Missing the World Cup This Summer (Ranked)

The 10 Best Players Missing the World Cup This Summer (Ranked)

As everyone in the football world knows, the World Cup is the peak of the football mountain. It's the most prestigious sporting competition in the world and a dream for any player to play in it. So, the question now comes up: who are some of the elite players who won’t be making it to the USA this summer and won’t be able to play?

10 – Dusan Vlahovic (Serbia and Juventus)

We start this list with one of Juventus's strikers. Vlahovic hasn’t had exactly the best season ever, having scored 8 goals in his 20 matches so far this season. However, he would’ve still loved to play for his nation in the summer. Unfortunately, he won’t be able to do that. Having failed to get out of their group qualification, they won’t be taking part in this year’s World Cup and that includes Vlahović missing out on the chance to represent his country at the top level. Only 1 point away from moving onto the next stage, they would’ve been devastated.

9 – Giorgi Mamardashvili (Georgia and Liverpool)

Another player who will miss out as a result of the nation failing to qualify for the World Cup and this will be devastating. After a good showing in the 2024 Euros, they would’ve hoped to be able to make the World Cup this year and with Mamardashvili showing his ability at the EuroEuros,would’ve loved to have a repeat this time with the world watching. However, he will have to settle with finishing his season with Liverpool and working towards helping Georgia in the future as he ages.

8 – Jack Grealish (England and Everton)

The first name that is part of a nation that qualified for the World Cup. Grealish started the season really strong with Everton and looked like he would be able to make the team playing on the left side of the attack. However, in the middle of January, he would pick up an injury that would end his season. The 30-year-old has a stress fracture in his foot and is expected to come back in May, too late for any dream of the World Cup. Even more unfortunate for him is that this was likely his last chance to take part. Being 34 at the next one with young players coming through makes his chances for the 2030 World Cup very low.

7 – Levi Colwill (England and Chelsea)

We now follow up with one of Grealish’s England teammates in Colwill. Colwill has been sidelined for the entire season after picking up an ACL injury before the start of the season. While he is expected to be back before the end of the season, it will be too little too late. He won’t be given enough minutes to prove himself and be able to show why he should be picked and ultimately this will see him miss his first ever World Cup. While this is incredibly disappointing for him, he will be 27 come the next World Cup and will be hoping he is one of the first names for that year.

🚨🔵 | Levi Colwill training on the grass with his personal trainer as he continues his recovery from the ACL injury suffered last August 🔥💪

Back on the pitch soon ⏳💙 pic.twitter.com/H23NH9lHfq

— AUSTIN HONEY (@AUSTINHONEY88) February 20, 2026

6 – Jan Oblak (Slovenia and Atletico Madrid)

One of the greatest goalkeepers from this generation will likely miss his final World Cup as a result of Slovenia not making the competition. Even with him in net, they couldn’t find the quality to be able to find that next gear to make the competition and the 33-year-old will possibly spend his last World Cup watching. Having been one of the best goalkeepers in La Liga this season, it will be a massive loss not seeing him at the biggest competition.

5 – Bryan Mbuemo (Cameroon and Manchester United)

United’s main man this season and he won’t be making the World Cup after failing to make it out of the group. It was a shock having been put in a group that many would’ve expected them to make it out of easily. However, they finished second 4 points behind Cape Verde and would then face DR Congo in the qualification phase. They would have their hearts broken as a dagger in the 91st minute would end the dream. In the end Mbuemo will have a break and be hoping to come back to help United as much as possible. At 26 years old he will still have at least 1 more chance and will be determined to make that chance count.

4 – Rodrygo (Brazil and Real Madrid)

Brazil has many attacking options and Rodrygo is one of them likely to go to the World Cup with ex-manager Carlo Ancelotti being the head coach. However, his dream was smashed as it was announced he would be missing the rest of the season and the World Cup. Sadly, for the 25-year-old, he found out he had torn his ACL and his dream was over. He will be hoping he can recover and come back stronger, making the team for the next 2 World Cups. However, his dream of helping this current Brazil team is over.

3 – Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary and Liverpool)

Liverpool’s best player this season will not be taking part in the World Cup. It was heartbreak for Hungary in the last game of the qualifiers. They needed all 3 points to still have a chance, and they faced the team that would be competing with them for that. They took a 2-1 lead into half-time before Troy Parrott would smash the hearts of Hungary with 2 goals in the last 10 minutes, including a 96th-minute winner. At 25-years-old Szobozlai will be hoping he can right his wrongs and help Hungary to the next World Cup.

"That's Troy Parrott, that is unbelievable!" 🥰

Happy 24th Birthday, Troy 🥳💚 pic.twitter.com/Z5cG5K7KNP

— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) February 4, 2026

2 – Victor Osimhen (Nigeria and Galatasaray)

He is one of the best strikers in Europe, and yet he won’t be playing this summer. It’s a similar story to Mbuemo. Nigeria finished second in their group, only 1 point behind the team that finished top and would then go through to the qualifiers. They would first face Gabon and walk to an easy 4-1 victory; however, once again, the dream would be ended. Once again, the nation ending the dream would be DR Congo, who managed to get the win on penalties. At 27 years old, he still has a chance and will be hoping to help Africa’s most populated country to a World Cup.

1 – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia and Paris Saint-Germain)

The best player on this list and the current Champions League winner are on this list. Kvaratskhelia will follow his teammate Mamardashvili from watching at home. He is one of the best wingers in the world and we won’t be able to see his technical ability on show for the world to see. It isn’t just disappointing for the player but also for the fans. He and Mamardashvili will be hoping that they can help Georgia to the next World Cup and another good Euro in between.