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The 2022 FIFA World Cup will not feature quite a few big names following the elimination of multiple stars over the last six months. Italy's last-minute loss to North Macedonia in the qualifiers was the latest shock, especially after the Azzurri won the European Championship last summer.
However, stars from various other countries are also poised to miss out on the FIFA World Cup this year.
A number of big names will be absent at the 2022 FIFA World Cup
The tournament, which is scheduled to be held in November later this year, will not have many big names. These stars might not be playing for big countries, but their individual skillset is enough to show that they should be playing in the biggest competitions in the world.
On that note, let's take a look at the most valuable starting XI who will not be going to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
GK- Gianluigi Donnarumma- €65 million
Gianluigi Donnarumma was the hero at the Euros for Italy but unfortunately, the shot-stopper will not be going to the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
As mentioned above, Italy had to beat North Macedonia before playing either Portugal or Turkey in their ultimate qualifier. But to everybody's surprise, they were knocked out at the penultimate stage itself.
Donnarumma, who has been excellent for the better part of last year, will have to wait four more years before hoping to play in the grandest competition of the game.
This failure did not come at a good time for the goalkeeper, especially as PSG were also recently knocked out of the Champions League.
CB- Milan Skriniar- €65 million
Milan Skriniar has arguably been the best centre-back in Serie A over the last couple of years. However, the Slovakian star will not be at this year's FIFA World Cup.
The Falcons had a tough group to get through, with both Croatia and Russia being a part of it. The latter two sides took the 1st and 2nd spot in the group, leaving Slovakia with the prospect of not qualifying for a third consecutive FIFA World Cup.
But this would be a major regret for a player like Skriniar who has been excellent in domestic football over the last half a decade.
With the defender turning 27 last month, he will be hoping to play in the FIFA World Cup once before retiring.
LB- David Alaba- €55 million
David Alaba has been sensational domestically as well in international football over the last decade.
Although Austria have not picked up major silverware for a long time, they have been at several tournaments. They also got to the qualifiers but could not get past Wales.
Alaba will now be hoping to focus on Real Madrid but given that he is still 28, he could have another shot at playing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
RB- Davide Calabria- €25 million
Davide Calabria is not the most prominent player in world football but he has done well domestically this season. The full-back has scored two goals and provided three assists in 19 league appearances for Milan.
This led to him being part of the Italy squad that lost in the UEFA Nations League semi-final against Spain in October last year. He was not a part of the current squad that lost to North Macedonia. Calabri could have made his way into the squad if they had qualified for the FIFA World Cup.
Calabria could have taken a step-up if he had been successful in a major international competition. Regardless, he will now have to wait a couple of years to do the same.
CDM- Marco Verratti- €55 million
Marco Verratti is currently one of the best central midfielders in world football. His performances at Paris Saint-Germain are evidence of the same as is his role in the Italian national team.
However, for all his brilliance, Verratti could not do enough for his country against North Macedonia. The Azzurri were primed to go through against the minnows and several would have had them as favorites against Portugal or Turkey as well.
After all, this was a side that won the Euros eight months ago, with the PSG star being a key part of the squad. Verratti, who will turn 30 this year, might never get to play in another FIFA World Cup.
CM- Franck Kessie- €42 million
Franck Kessie has been instrumental for AC Milan over the last few years but has not been able to replicate those performances on the international stage.
Ivory Coast have had a largely unsettling six months. They lost their place at the 2022 World Cup after losing a vital qualification fixture against Cameroon in November. This was followed by a Round of 16 elimination in the AFCON Cup this year.
So while Kessie has produced classy moments in Italy and will join Barcelona in the summer, there will be no international glory for him this year.
CM- Nicolo Barella- €70 million
Nicolo Barella has been quite good for Inter Milan this season, as evidenced by his two goals and 10 assists in 27 Serie A appearances.
But like every other Italian player on this list, Barella too, shall miss out on this year's FIFA World Cup. He was part of the starting line-up that lost to North Macedonia recently in the qualifiers.
It was quite astounding to see the Inter Milan star doing very little to affect the game, especially after a splendid Euros. Barella will now have to wait a good while before Italy get a shot at qualifying for the next FIFA World Cup.
AM- Martin Odegaard- €42 million
One of the two Norwegian stars on this list, Martin Odegaard will not be a part of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar this year.
The attacking midfielder, who sealed a move to Arsenal last summer, has been terrific for the Gunners. He failed to produce the same scintallating performance for Norway when they needed it during the qualifiers.
In November 2021, their defeat to the Netherlands confirmed that they will not form part of the upcoming FIFA World Cup
ST- Erling Haaland- €150 million
By and far the most valuable player on this list, Erling Haaland will not be present at the FIFA World Cup in November 2022.
The Borussia Dortmund star has been scoring goals for fun for over two years now. To put his importance into context, he has 80 goals in 82 games for the German club.
To add to that, the 21-year-old ace also has 13 international goals in 16 games for Norway. But due to an injury in November last year, he could not do anything to affect his country's qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
While he is still very young, Haaland would have liked to make a mark at FIFA's premier sporting event this year.
ST- Patrik Schick- €40 million
Patrik Schick is one of the most in-form players in the Bundesliga at the moment. But the Bayer Leverkusen star will not be at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Czech Republic made their way to this month's qualifiers and had to defeat Sweden before playing Poland in the ultimate qualifier. However, they failed to do so.
Schick could also do very little about this as he was unavailable for the Sweden fixture as his national side went on to lose in extra time.
