World Cup's missing stars, from Cole Palmer to Tre...
Key takeaways
- Some have had the misfortune of sustaining an injury that has ruled them out, while others have had to overcome the shock of being overlooked by their national team coach.
- So with the 2026 men's World Cup set to kickoff on Thursday, who are the big names that are missing out?
- Having failed to score in eight senior appearances for the Seleção, João Pedro wasn't selected, with Brentford's Igor Thiago and Brazil's injury-hit talisman Neymar making the cut instead.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Some have had the misfortune of sustaining an injury that has ruled them out, while others have had to overcome the shock of being overlooked by their national team coach.
So with the 2026 men's World Cup set to kickoff on Thursday, who are the big names that are missing out?
The Real Madrid defender is regarded as one of the best attacking fullbacks in the world, and his ability from set pieces and crosses was a major factor in Real's move to sign the former Liverpool right back 12 months ago. But after a season disrupted by injury and poor form at the Bernabéu, the 27-year-old has failed to make the England squad, with manager Thomas Tuchel selecting Reece James, Djed Spence and Tino Livramento as his right-back options.