Top 14 Players to Miss the 2026 World Cup

Global superstars left watching from home as their nations fell short or the call never came. Who's the biggest name missing from the finals? Cast your vote!

1

Robert Lewandowski

Poland's talismanic striker, left heartbroken as his nation fell short in the play-offs.

1000pts

2

Federico Chiesa

Italy's flair forward, a Euro 2020 hero, absent from the 2026 World Cup.

643pts

3

Riccardo Calafiori

The emerging Italy and Arsenal defender who will miss the finals.

591pts

4

Piotr Zieliński

Poland's creative midfield mainstay, another casualty of their failed qualification.

577pts

5

Gianluigi Donnarumma

One of the world's finest goalkeepers, absent as Italy failed to qualify yet again.

576pts

6

Nicolò Barella

Italy's dynamic all-round midfielder denied a World Cup stage once more.

500pts

7

Alessandro Bastoni

The ball-playing Inter defender left out as Italy failed to qualify.

500pts

8

Ademola Lookman

The AFCON star winger left at home as Nigeria failed to reach the tournament.

409pts

9

Rodrygo

The Real Madrid forward surprisingly omitted from Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad.

409pts

10

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

The dazzling Georgian winger whose country missed out on the finals.

409pts

11

Sandro Tonali

The classy Italy midfielder absent as the Azzurri missed a third straight World Cup.

300pts

12

Álvaro Morata

Spain's Euro 2024-winning captain, left out of the champions' 2026 World Cup squad.

300pts

13

Dominik Szoboszlai

Hungary's captain and Liverpool midfielder whose side missed qualification.

167pts

14

Victor Osimhen

Nigeria's fearsome striker, denied a World Cup after a play-off shootout defeat.

167pts