Top 5 players set to miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Lionel Messi’s “final dance” is expected to come at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where a new generation of stars will be eager to steal the spotlight. Talents like Lamine Yamal, Vinícius Júnior, Ousmane Dembélé, and Kylian Mbappé will all be looking to outshine the legendary Argentine.

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo is also set to make history. If he leads Portugal onto the pitch, he will join Messi as the only players ever to feature in six World Cups.

However, not everyone will get that chance. The qualification stage has already brought heartbreak, with several big-name players and teams missing out. For some stars, the journey to the World Cup has already come to an end — and they won’t be lighting up North America this summer.

Here are the top five players who won’t be playing in the 2026 World Cup.

5. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia)

With his dazzling runs and relentless work rate, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was the heartbeat of Georgia’s incredible run to the Round of 16 at UEFA Euro 2024, turning them into one of the tournament’s biggest surprises.

But this summer tells a different story. Now playing for Paris Saint-Germain, Kvaratskhelia won’t get the chance to shine on football’s biggest stage. Even though he scored twice in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification—including a strong performance in a 3–0 win over Bulgaria—Georgia struggled when it mattered most. Losing four of their last five matches, they finished third in Group E, behind Spain and Turkey, and missed out on qualification.

4. Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary)

In stark contrast, Hungary’s captain Dominik Szoboszlai was left in tears after Ireland’s hat-trick hero Troy Parrott denied Hungary a runners-up finish in Group F of the FIFA World Cup European qualifiers. 

Szoboszlai had an impressive campaign, contributing to five goals in six matches, including a stunning stoppage-time equaliser against Portugal. However, those efforts felt bittersweet, as Hungary ultimately fell short of qualifying for the tournament.

3. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)

Nigeria’s World Cup dream came to a heartbreaking end after a shocking loss to DR Congo in the African final play-offs. Fresh off a convincing 4–1 win over Gabon, the Super Eagles were widely expected to progress to the intercontinental play-off in March. But football can be cruel—DR Congo held their nerve in a tightly contested match that was ultimately decided by penalties.

For Victor Osimhen, one of the world’s top strikers, the disappointment is especially painful. Despite scoring eight goals during the qualifiers and leading from the front, the team couldn’t match his high standards when it mattered most. As a result, Nigeria will miss back-to-back World Cups, and fans will be left wondering what could have been when the 2026 tournament kicks off.

2. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)

Italy have now missed out on qualifying for the World Cup for the third time in a row. After their heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday, they’ll once again be watching the tournament from home.

Of course, Gianluigi Donnarumma isn’t to blame for Italy’s struggles. But if the four-time champions want to make a comeback and reach the 2030 World Cup, he—one of their standout players—will need to stay at his very best and lead from the front over the next few years.

1. Robert Lewandowski (Poland)

It’s hard not to feel for Robert Lewandowski. One of the finest strikers of his generation, he missed out on what could have been his final World Cup after Poland fell short in the play-off against Sweden national football team.

For a player who has given so much and remained consistently brilliant for his country, it’s a tough pill to swallow. Fans around the world will surely feel the absence of such a world-class centre-forward on football’s biggest stage—it just doesn’t feel quite the same without him.

Cover Credits - UEFA.com