“The 2026 World Cup is here, and it’s bigger than ever before. To help you follow the tournament, The Athletic has identified 200 players that we’re calling the Stars of Soccer. Some are household names — yes, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are here — but plenty are not. Our guide has players from all 48 nations, including six Americans and seven members of England’s team. This list is not a collection of rankings. Instead, we’ve put these players into one of five categories: Legends, Superstars, Key players, Rising stars and Unsung heroes. You can sort or filter them however you’d like, including by country or professional club. Each link leads to a comprehensive profile, detailed charts breaking down a player’s most important characteristics and a name pronunciation guide. Whether you just want to brush up on your favorite team or learn about an upcoming opponent, we have you covered. …”
NYT/ATH