Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe ranked behind former Man City ace to light up the World Cup

A record 1,248 players are at the 2026 World Cup and talkSPORT has picked the five top stars ready to light up the tournament.

All carry the weight of their nations on their shoulders as they hope to lift the trophy on July 19 in the final in New York.

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They range from teenage sensations like Lamine Yamal to seasoned veterans in Lionel Messi.

Yamal is attending his first edition of the competition and hoping to build on his exploding reputation.

Messi will be hoping to defend Argentina’s world champions title as he turns 39 during the tournament.

Whoever lifts up the trophy at the end of the competition could label themselves a serious Ballon D’or contender, regardless of club form.

Former England international and talkSPORT host Gabby Agbonlahor has ranked his top five who will leave a mark on the upcoming tournament.

5. Lamine Yamal (Spain & Barcelona)

Is the sporting world moving into the Lamine Yamal era?

The 18-year-old is attempting to be fit for Spain’s opening game against Cape Verde on 15 June, after suffering with a hamstring injury since April.

The Barcelona playmaker has already won the European Championship with Spain, three LaLiga titles, and was second behind Ousmane Dembele in the 2025 Ballon d’Or.

He was recently named LaLiga player of the season, with his performances central to Barcelona becoming champions of Spain, as he produced 16 goals and provided 11 assists.

Yamal has been carefully monitored by his country and did not travel to Peru to feature in Spain’s final pre-tournament friendly.

Agbonlahor explained: “It will be his first World Cup. His only tournament with Spain was Euro 2024 and he was fantastic, providing four assists and one goal.

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“It was the most assists from a single player in one tournament in Spain’s history.

“A fantastic player, and what a fantastic season, he had a few injuries but he will be wanting to light up this World Cup.”

4. Harry Kane (England & Bayern Munich)

After winning his second Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich, it could be argued that England’s striker is currently the best in the world in his position.

He has finished as the German top-flight’s top scorer in consecutive campaigns and will lead the line for the Three Lions as they hope to end 60 years of hurt.

Additionally, the ex-Tottenham star has proven himself on the international stage at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where he secured the Golden Boot with six goals.

If he succeeds again this year, he will become the first player in history to win the prestigious award twice.

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He will be one of the favourites to do so after he surpassed the 60-goal mark this season for Bayern, courtesy of a hat-trick on the final day of the campaign.

Agbonlahor described how the striker can be more beneficial, in comparison to his previous tournaments: “Obviously, at the last World Cup, he was not at his best, but in 2018 he got the Golden Boot.

“He has eight goals, and three assists in World Cups so far. Could this be his last one?

“He will be 36 at the next tournament, he will be a player to put in one of the best performances. In Euro 2024, he was injured and he kept on playing.

“Gareth Southgate, for some reason, kept on playing him rather than giving other attackers a chance.

“I think the season he has had at Bayern Munich, 60 goals in all competitions, he needs to now turn up for his country and get it over the line and I think he’s in the form of his life.”

3. Kylian Mbappe (France & Real Madrid)

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been the two names on everyone’s lips for the past five World Cups, however, Mbappe is the next active legend to emerge.

The 27-year-old is the most accomplished player by goals and assists, next to the Argentine, with 17 goal contributions in only 14 appearances.

He became a World Cup winner at 19, four years later he won the Golden Boot at 23, and is just one goal shy of Olivier Giroud’s tally of 57 goals as France’s all-time leading scorer, as he heads into only his third World Cup.

Despite issues arising for the Frenchman at club level, he was still LaLiga’s top goalscorer, netting 25 while recording seven absences across the season.

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The talkSPORT presenter noted: “He’s already won the World Cup, scoring 12 goals and providing two assists in a  World Cup.

“He scored a hat-trick in extra time of the final and even though Real Madrid weren’t great last season, he was still banging in goals.

“I don’t know why the fans fell out with him but what a fantastic player. One of the ones that I love to watch as a player. Electric, he can finish, when he gets started, he is unstoppable.

“To think that the France team have got Mbappe, Dembele, Desire Doue, Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki.

“I still think Mbappe is still the best player in the world.”

2. Lionel Messi (Argentina & Inter Miami)

It’s a record-breaking sixth international tournament for the Inter Miami forward, after winning the last edition.

Messi already took the record for most appearances in World Cup matches back in Qatar, overtaking Germany‘s Lothar Matthaus, with a grand total of 26.

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One record that the Argentina forward is set to break is the highest goal contribution, currently having 21 and being tied with the great Pele.

The Barcelona legend has less pressure on his shoulders this year having already led his country to glory and he is returning to defend his world champion title.

Agbonlahor described the moment he celebrated inside a stadium alongside Argentinia fans and how it confirms Messi as the greatest footballer of all time.

He said: “As soon as England were knocked out in the last World Cup ,I wanted Argentina to win. I was there during the game against Mexico and the atmosphere was insane.

“When he scored that goal, it was like God was there. I have never felt anything like it in a stadium with fans celebrating.

“Messi and this Argentina squad will want to do it again for him. Last time it was like, ‘we have to win this for you’ so there would be no arguments that he was the best ever player so I wouldn’t put it past them to be up there again fighting for it.”

1. Julian Alvarez (Argentina & Atletico Madrid)

Well, he’s at Atleti for now…

For Atletico Madrid, the forward has 20 goals across all competitions and aided Argentina in qualifying for the tournament, registering four goals and three assists.

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The ex-Man City forward has gained attraction from Barcelona and Real Madrid after his impressive 2025 season.

Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, promised to make a €150million (£130m) bid on an unnamed galactico player, with it later being noted that Alvarez’s current club turned it down and cited his €500million (£431m) release clause.

Additionally, Atleti are asking Barcelona to pay more than when they signed Antoine Griezmann in 2019, which was approximately £104million.

The 26-year-old had a breakout performance in Qatar, helping his country lift the trophy, scoring four goals, including a brace in the semi-final against Croatia.

He formed a formidable partnership with Messi in 2022, with the pair combining for all three goals in their semi-final win over Croatia.

Agbonlahor boasted about Messi’s fellow countryman: “He scored four goals in the last World Cup. It’s frightening and he went under the radar because of Messi and Lautaro Martinez.“

“Watching him at Manchester City, he was outstanding but now at Atletico Madrid, some of the goals he has scored are unbelievable. Free-kicks, from outside the box, he’s so quick.

“There’s a reason why Barcelona have put a bid in for over 100million and Atletico have said no, they will want much more than that

“I think he’s going to be the main one to watch this tournament. I think he starts in front of Lautaro Martinez.”