'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The World Cup is almost here and the players have all jetted off to train with their national squads and away from the buzz of the European leagues. Manchester City were in staggering form this season and were nearly unstoppable in Pep Guardiola's sophomore outing.
All of Pep's most important players stepped up to the plate and delivered as they eased past one opponent after the other. Kevin De Bruyne, Leroy Sane, David Silva and Raheem Sterling occupy the first four places on the Premier League assist chart.
On top of that, they've had Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero enjoying great goalscoring form and with Ederson being a confident presence between the sticks, things have been quite rosy in the Blue side of Manchester.
Some Manchester City players are playing in the form of their lives and their national teams will be happy to welcome them into their ranks.
On that note, let's take a look at the top Manchester City players who could return from Russia as World Champions.
#3 Kevin De Bruyne- Belgium
Kevin De Bruyne has undoubtedly been Manchester City's best player this campaign. He has been an absolute monster in the midfield and often leaves us picking up our jaws from the floor with his inimitable distribution skills.
He does not shy away from smacking thunderbolts into the back of the net and there is also the fact that he can strike the ball with his left foot just as well with his right. De Bruyne has single-handedly dismantled oppositions with unequalled playmaking skills.
De Bruyne is blessed with just as talented, though a bit inexperienced, Belgian side. But he has Dries Mertens, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku to provide service for at the World Cup and that is exactly why Belgium are expected to go great guns this year.
De Bruyne scored 8 goals and provided 16 assists for the Cityzens in the Premier League in the 2017/18 campaign and was easily the league's best midfielder. Belgium's chances of winning the World Cup will rest heavily on whether or not De Bruyne can replicate that form in Russia.
#2 Leroy Sane (Germany) and David Silva (Spain)
Two gifted left-footed players who have furthered City's versatility in the final third will be starters for their respective national teams. Leroy Sane has been quite a revelation this season. His marauding runs down the left flank are the stuff of nightmares for defenders.
David Silva, on the other hand, has shown no signs of slowing down despite being in his early thirties. He has been immense alongside Kevin De Bruyne and Spain will expect nothing less from him at Russia. In a midfield that has Thiago Alcantara, Sergio Busquets and Isco, Silva will be expected to deliver gold and nothing less.
Sane scores goals and provides just as well. He scored 10 goals and laid out 15 assists in the Premier League. David Silva, who has had personal tragedies to negotiate over the course of the season, still had a stellar season where he notched up 9 goals and provided 11 assists.
Nobody would be surprised if either of them come back to Etihad as a World Cup winner.
#1 Ederson, Fernandinho, Danilo and Gabriel Jesus- Brazil
Manchester City have a proper contingent of Samba dancing Brazilians who are going to light up the World Cup in Russia. Ederson could very well be their first choice goalkeeper but there's AS Roma's Allison Becker giving him tough competitions.
Brazil could greatly benefit from Ederson's distribution skills which are immaculate, to say the least. Fernandinho has been one of City's most influential figures and his presence in defensive midfield has been invaluable as far as the Cityzens are concerned. He has been a proper destroyer and has been reliable when it comes to breaking up the oppositions' play.
Danilo might not feature for Brazil in Russia but there's little doubt that he is a worthy backup. Gabriel Jesus will be sharing striking duties with Roberto Firmino and the Brazilians and fans from across the world will be hoping to see more of the Alo Mae celebrations from the youngster.
Brazil are hot favourites to win the World Cup this term and with the likes of world beaters like Neymar, Coutinho and Marcelo in their team, I don't see why they wouldn't go the distance.
You can let us know what you think about the list in the comments section below.
