Barcelona stars who are expected to be at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

The World Cup remains the apex stage for any footballer. Despite the pre-eminence of club football especially in Europe and the continuous growth in popularity and revenue of competitions like the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, the allure of playing for one's nation on the world stage and have millions of people supporting/cheering every move is one that appeals to all players.

Barca as one of the world's most prominent football clubs, is expected to have a sizable contingent at this year's tournament in Russia.

Goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is guaranteed to be on the plane for Germany's Die Mannschaft and depending on number one goalie Manuel Neuer's recovery from injury, the Barca Number 1 might even be between the sticks when Germany takes on Mexico in the first match of Group F on 17th June 2018.

Yerry Mina (Colombia) will be confident of starting for Los Cafeteros (The Coffee Growers) as the South Americans take on Poland, Senegal and Japan in Group H.

Gerard Pique has been at the heart of everything for Spain's La Furia Roja (The Red Fury) for the better part of a decade and should be looking forward to safely navigate Group B which has fellow Iberian side, Portugal, alongside Morocco and Iran. He should expect to be joined by Jordi Alba and ever-reliable central midfielder Sergio Busquets.

Given the plethora of options available to manager Julen Lopetegui, utility man Sergi Roberto may not make the 23-man squad while only a miracle will see Paco Alcacer and Denis Suarez anywhere near the team.

Club captain, legend and national team vice-captain, Andrés Iniesta, is expected to make the tournament his swansong for the national team.

Iniesta is expected to make his last tournament appearance for Spain at the World Cup

Samuel Umtiti is expected to continue keeping Manchester City's Aymeric Laporte out of the French team as he is expected to be one half of manager Didier Deschamps' first choice centre-back pairing alongside Real Madrid's Raphael Varane.

Les Bleus are among the tournament favourites and winger Ousmane Dembele is expected to be among the exceptional tyros at the tournament. Left-back Lucas Digne has a good chance of making the squad as his competition for the position are either also bench warmers (Layvin Kurzawa at PSG) or injured (Benjamin Mendy at Manchester City).

Right-back Nélson Semedo and central midfielder Andre Gomes are shoe-ins for European champions A Seleção of Portugal and will relish the battle against their Spanish teammates in Group B.

Paulinho and Phillipe Coutinho have already confirmed their places for Brazil's Verde-Amarela (The Green and Yellow) and will be confident of their chances against Switzerland, Serbia and Costa Rica in Group E.

Croatia's Vatreni (The Blazers) will count themselves lucky that they have the exceptional talent of Ivan Rakitic to call upon as they seek to navigate a tough Group D that features tournament favourites Argentina as well as potentially difficult opponents in Nigeria and Iceland.

Luis "El Pisotlero" Suarez will lead the line for La Celeste (The Sky Blue) of Uruguay as they go up against hosts Russia, Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Group A, while Thomas Vermaelen has an outside chance of being in Belgium's party as the Red Devils look to finally deliver on the world stage as they seek to leap above England, Panama, and Tunisia in Group G.

It is always good to end with the best and after the heartache at Brazil 2014, Lionel Messi will look to lead La Albiceleste (The White & Sky Blue) of Argentina to their first title in almost 3 decades, and will go up against familiar foes Nigeria, Rakitic's Croatia and Iceland in Group B at the tournament.