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I would swap a title with Barcelona for one with the national team. While I want to win things again with my club, I want to win something with the national team. -Lionel Messi
The above quote highlights how desperate even a player of the stature of Messi is, to get a chance to lift the world cup. That is the only trophy missing from his glittering cabinet, thereby underlining the fact that a world cup win is the pinnacle of a player’s career.
World cups not only help cement a player’s legacy but also provides a platform for the next superstar to flourish. Players like Landon Donovan (2002), Lukas Podolski (2006) and Asamoah Gyan (2010) to name a few, became household names after their world cup exploits. They were relative unknowns before the tournament began yet left the greatest stage, being revered not only by their fans but also from fans all around the globe.
With the world cup fast approaching kick off, we look at 5 lesser known players who could light up the grandest stage in world football:
#5 Hakim Ziyech (Morocco)
One of the best players in the Eredivisie for the past few years, Hakim Ziyech will surely be on the move this summer. His current employers, Ajax, know that if Ziyech performs anywhere near his best, his value will skyrocket.
A central midfielder by trade, Ziyech is the star turn in an average Morocco side. The nation will hope that Ziyech’s playmaking abilities are at their best if they want to get out of an impossible looking group having the likes of Spain, Portugal, and Iran.
Having contributed 9 goals from midfield in the 2017/18 Eredivisie season, Ziyech can score as well as he can create. Morocco fans will hope that their star can announce himself at the global stage with some scintillating performances in Russia 2018.
#4 Aleksandar Mitrovic (Serbia)
Unplayable at best and dreadful when things are not going his way, Aleksandar Mitrovic is a perfect example of an enigma. A physically imposing striker, Mitrovic will hope to showcase his Fulham form which saw him hit 12 goals in 17 games in the second half of the 2017/18 season.
The strong centre-forward who was on loan at Fulham from Newcastle ended up as Serbia’s top scorer with six goals during qualifications. Possessing good hold up play as well as a decent first touch, no one has ever doubted Mitrovic’s talent. It is his attitude problems and disciplinary issues which have held him back.
The 2018 world cup can be Mitrovic’s coming of age moment, as he has to be at his best for Serbia to stand any chance of negotiating a tricky group containing the likes of Switzerland and Costa Rica as well as tournament favorites Brazil.
#3 Hirving Lozano (Mexico)
Despite the presence of stars like Chicharito and captain Andres Guardado, Mexican fans get most excited by Hirving Lozano. Currently plying his trade in the Eredivisie with PSV Eindhoven, Lozano has just completed his first season in Europe.
A left winger by trade, Lozano loves to cut inside and shoot, which has resulted in 17 league goals in his first season. A firm fan favorite both in his homeland and in Holland, the national team would be hoping that the 22-year old winger can translate his domestic form on the biggest stage.
With the likes of South Korea and Sweden as well as world champions Germany in Mexico’s group, Lozano will get a good chance to showcase his talent and lead his nation into the second round.
Having scored four goals during qualifications, Lozano could follow Chicharito’s footsteps from the 2010 world cup and secure a move to one of the big boys in the champions league.
#2 Alex Iwobi (Nigeria)
A surprising inclusion on the list, Alex Iwobi did not have a great 2017/18 season, scoring just 3 goals in 26 premier league games. Perhaps there is always an exception and Iwobi will hope to get a fresh start under new Arsenal manager Unai Emery.
Born in Nigeria and brought up in England, Iwobi chose to represent his country of birth. Iwobi broke into the Arsenal team as a 19-year old teenager during the 2015/16 season, impressing everyone with his performances. As is the case with most Arsenal youngsters nowadays, Iwobi too stagnated after a promising start.
Despite this, Iwobi made his debut for the Super Eagles in 2015 and has been a valuable asset since. Scoring both home and away against 2nd placed Zambia, Iwobi ensured Nigeria’s qualification to the 2018 world cup.
Nigeria find themselves in a tough group with tournament favorites Argentina and dark horses Croatia and Iceland to face. Despite the presence of some talented youngsters as well as some old heads, Iwobi should be the one to look forward to.
#1 Lucas Torreira (Uruguay)
All the players on this list are attacking ones, therefore Lucas Torreira bucks this trend as he seeks to help his nation Uruguay go deep into the world cup. A defensive midfielder by trade, Torreira currently plays for Sampdoria in Serie A.
Uruguay, generally play two world-class strikers Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani up front, meaning that the midfield has a huge job of covering their defence. This is where Torreira’s doggedness and determination could help Uruguay compensate for their attacking talents.
A good passer of the ball, Torreira would most likely form a midfield partnership with Juventus’s Rodrigo Bentancur. Both players will be crucial as Uruguay start favorites in a group comprising of hosts Russia, Salah-led Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
