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In the past, we have seen curious cases of players like Mikel Arteta and Gabi, two excellent servants for their respective clubs Arsenal and Atletico Madrid, who never played for the Spanish national team.
Playing for one’s country is not only an added feather in the cap for a footballer but a moment of extreme pride and honour.
However, some high-profile players are still waiting to be recognised at the international level. Therefore, in this section, we take a look at five of the world’s best-uncapped football players right now.
#5. Houssem Aouar
Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Houssem Aouar has greatly impressed after coming through the ranks at the French club, becoming one of their most valuable players in recent years. The 21-year-old is a versatile and adaptable player, capable of slotting into any of the three positions in midfield. Extremely calm on the ball, he has a tremendous passing range, technical prowess and also an eye for goal.
Remarkably, Aouar has already made close to 140 appearances for Lyon in all competitions since his breakthrough season in 2016. This season, with Lyon struggling in Ligue 1, the Frenchman has been one of Rudi Garcia’s most reliable performers. He has 8 goals and 6 assists from midfield in all competitions and is being tapped by some of Europe’s top clubs including Juventus and Arsenal.
Having made 16 appearances for the France U21 side, it is about time that Didier Deschamps recognised Aouar’s talent. The midfielder, however, has to compete with some of the world’s best players for that position with N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba and Blaise Matiudi being only a few superstars in a star-studded squad.
Aouar, however, is of Algerian descent and reports last year suggested that he might even snub France to play for the Africa Cup of Nations holders. The France national squad is one of the best depth-wise, which is why Aouar’s heart could be swayed to play for the North African nation. His Lyon teammate Moussa Dembele is also struggling to bag a spot among the 2018 World Cup winners, despite his incredible goalscoring exploits.
Lyon’s upcoming Champions League Round of 16 tie against Juventus would be a brilliant opportunity for Houssem Aouar to not only showcase the Italian champions his potential but also to the two countries who could be locked in a battle for his signature.
#4. Adama Traore
Wolverhampton Wanderers speedster Adama Traore has taken the Premier League by storm after his dazzling displays this season. The 24-year-old winger has 4 goals and 7 assists to his name this campaign, as his value continues to grow.
Traore came up through the ranks at Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy but only made a solitary appearance for the senior team. After a successful stint at Middlesborough, he was signed up by Wolves for a fee in the region of £18 million.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo used him primarily as a wing-back last season but he has been moved up to the right-wing position because of his increasing effectiveness in attack. Known for his pace, athleticism and directness, Traore is a terrific dribbler who can ease past defenders. However, the only criticism of him was his goal contributions which he has starkly improved this season.
Traore was born to Malian parents, hence he decided to represent the West African nation alongside his older brother. But after reconsidering his options, he went onto play for Spain, his birth country, at several youth levels. In November, he was called up to the senior team for their Euro 2020 qualifiers against Malta and Romania in place of the injured Rodrigo. However, he himself suffered an injury which forced him to return to England.
Many say that Traore is not a prototype Spanish player because of his physique and direct style of play. Most recently, in January, he opened up about whether he wants to play for the 2010 World Cup winners or for his parents’ country to which his answer was uncertain. Although his international career is still undecided, Spain boss Luis Enrique will surely be keeping tabs on him after his incredible rise to fame at the Molineux.
#3. Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Manchester United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka has become one of the Premier League’s best right-backs because of his consistency and reliability in defence. The 22-year-old turned heads across the country last season with his performances for Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace side. The United hierarchy were so impressed with the full-back that they did not shy away from spending close to £50 million to acquire his services.
United have had a sup-bar season so far but Wan-Bissaka has been a constant positive in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team. The youngster is second in the division in terms of tackles, only behind Leicester City’s Ricardo Pereira. Nicknamed “the spider” because of his telescopic legs, the Englishman is both strong defensively and in attack.
Extremely fast and agile, he is often found marauding the right flank and linking up with the forwards. At the back, he is almost unsurpassable because of his inch-perfect tackles, interceptions and recoveries.
Wan-Bissaka was called up by Gareth Southgate back in August for England’s UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers against Kosovo and Bulgaria but he was forced to withdraw from the squad due to a back injury.
Since then, however, he has had to wait for a subsequent call-up because of the variety of right-back options Southgate has at his disposal. Incredibly, Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier and Reece James are all fighting for the spot in the upcoming Euro 2020 squad and Wan-Bissaka will have to end the season on a high note if he is to eclipse them.
#2. Jack Grealish
Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish is still hunting for his first appearance for the English national team after making just under 150 appearances for the Premier League club. The 24-year-old broke into the first team at Villa Park at the age of 16 before he was sent to Notts County on a loan spell.
Since then, he has been a key part of the side which last season got promoted to the English top-flight after a three-year absence. For his performances last season, he was named in the Championship’s PFA Team of the Year.
Grealish has continued his Championship form into the Premier League, scoring 7 goals and providing another 6 assists in 24 matches. He has also spearheaded Dean Smith’s side into the League Cup final at Wembley where they face holders Manchester City next week.
Grealish is a blend of a number ten and modern-day playmaker. He is a superb dribbler, an excellent passer and an effective goalscorer. He can drift onto the wings or play centrally, constantly creating chances, taking on defenders and finding spaces behind the defence.
Though born in England, Grealish went onto represent the Republic of Ireland at youth levels before making a permanent switch to the Three Lions in 2015. He has played for the England U21 several times but is yet to find his place in Gareth Southgate’s squad. With youngsters Mason Mount and James Maddison also recently called-up, we could see Jack Grealish donning the white shirt in no time.
#1. Aymeric Laporte
It is almost impossible to believe that Manchester City’s principle centre-back Aymeric Laporte has still not earned a cap for France. The 25-year-old defender was signed for a then club record fee of £57 million from Athletic Bilbao and has cemented himself as one of the best in his position.
Laporte, in his two years in England, has won two Premier League titles, two League Cups, one FA Cup and two Community Shield trophies. After his brilliant 2018/19 season, he was also named in the PFA Team of the Year.
Laporte broke into the senior team at Bilbao at a very young age and went onto play for six years with the Spanish outfit. He made over 150 league appearances for the club before his big-money move to Manchester City. During his time in Spain, he was linked with a host of top European clubs including Barcelona.
The Frenchman is a textbook Pep Guardiola centre-half because of his immaculate passing, ball-playing ability, vision and defensive stalwartness.
He has quickly become one of City’s most reliable defenders at the back and his long-term knee injury at the start of the season was one the key reasons for their downfall this term. Despite Laporte’s consistency at Athletic Bilbao and Manchester City, he has still gone unnoticed among the France football team bosses who have still not handed him a senior cap.
Laporte represented the youth teams over 50 times but is yet to feature in Didier Deschamps’ side.
France did finally call him up in August for their Euro 2020 qualifying excursions against Albania and Andorra, however, his knee injury, unfortunately, occurred just two days later.
There was also talk that Laporte could feature for the Spanish national team but he squashed those rumours stating that he ‘did not apply for dual citizenship because he is French and wants to fight to play for France’.
With the defender back in contention at City, we could see him return to his usual world-class standards during the remainder of the campaign.
Laporte will hope to finish the season strongly if he is to have any chance in making France’s squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 Championships.
