Best players at the 2022 FIFA World Cup: Group B
Who are the best players at the 2022 FIFA World Cup? Top World Football looks at the top-three star players on each team in group B at the World Cup.
England
FIFA World Ranking: 5
Best players at the 2022 FIFA World Cup for England:
Harry Kane should captain the English squad again in November for what could be his final World Cup. In his illustrious career, the Tottenham striker sits at third all-time in Premier League goals scored. Kane has played in a UEFA Champions League final and Euro Cup final and lost them both. Although Kane won three golden boot awards as the Premier League’s top scorer, he’s never won a major trophy for club or country. He’s only three goals shy of being England’s all-time top goal scorer.
Raheem Sterling age 27 has been capped 77 times for England and has played in more games for them than any other active player. Typically deployed as an attacking winger, Sterling has scored 19 goals for England. He joined Chelsea this season following years of success at Manchester City. Sterling won the Premier League four times with Man City. Raheem Sterling will be playing in his third World Cup.
Trent Alexander Arnold is one of England’s most exciting defensive players, and perhaps the world’s best right-back. He’s the only English player to feature in Top World Football’s end-of-season all-star team. Due to unfortunate injuries, Alexander-Arnold has only featured in 17 matches for England throughout his career. Alexander Arnold will be 24 years old at the start of the World Cup. Alexander-Arnold has won the Champions League and the Premier League with Liverpool. He could be one of England’s best players at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
USA
FIFA World Ranking: 16
Best players at the 2022 FIFA World Cup for the USA:
Christian Pulisic leads the way for the USA and should be their captain in Qatar. He’ll be 24 years old at the World Cup and has scored 21 goals in 51 games for his country. Pulisic won the Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup with Chelsea in 2021, which is an extremely valuable experience for the Americans. Pulisic is utilized in almost every position in the attack. However, he’s more recently been deployed as a left-winger for the US. He should start every match for the Americans.
Weston McKennie has been considered by some to be the best American soccer player in recent years. The 24-year-old central midfielder has played in 35 matches for the USA scoring nine goals. McKennie plays with Juventus in Italy, where he’s gained valuable experience winning competitions like the Coppa Italia. Look for McKennie to start every match for the Americans.
Giovanni Reyna is the future of American soccer. Despite his young age he’s already playing for one of the most prestigious clubs in Europe. The Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder turns 20 a week before the World Cup. He’s featured as a right-wing in his previous matches with the national team. However, he’s only been capped 12 times due to injuries, yet has four goals already. With the excellent form he’s in for Dortmund, he should be in the American starting 11.
Wales
FIFA World Ranking: 19
Best players at the 2022 FIFA World Cup for Wales:
Gareth Bale is Wales captain and all-time leading goal scorer with 39 goals in 106 matches. He’s not at the level where he’s scoring game-winning goals in the UEFA Champions League finals with Real Madrid anymore. However, he’s still a dominant force for LAFC in Major League Soccer, and capable of explosive goals. At age 33, Bale is still Wales’ best player at the FIFA World Cup and could continue leading his country for a few more seasons if he stays in shape.
Ben Davies of Tottenham Hotspur is playing at the highest level of anyone in the Welsh squad. The centre-back has been capped 74 times for Wales and his experience playing big matches for Tottenham is invaluable. Wales typically deploys Davies as a left-centre-back. The 29-year-old has played in the Premier League since 2012, the same year he joined Wales’s senior squad.
Aaron Ramsey has a ton of experience playing at the highest levels of football, for Arsenal in England and then Juventus in Italy. At age 31 he’s now with Nice in France; not quite at the level he was previously. Ramsey has 75 appearances with 20 goals for Wales. Ramsey is typically deployed as a central-attacking- midfielder. He won the Italian Serie A with Juventus in 2020 and is a three-time winner of the FA Cup with Arsenal.
Iran
FIFA World Ranking: 20
Best players at the 2022 FIFA World Cup for Iran:
Sardar Azmoun is Iran’s leading goal scorer, having netted 40 in 62 matches according to Transfermarkt. Azmoun moved to Bayer Leverkusen early this year after a successful stint in Russia, last playing for Zenit St. Petersburg. He was named the 2020/21 footballer of the year in the Russian Premier League. Azmoun also helped Zenit win the Premier League three times. He’s playing regularly for Leverkusen including in the UEFA Champions League. The 27-year-old striker could play in every minute of Iran’s World Cup.
Mehdi Taremi has scored 27 goals in 57 matches for Iran. He typically plays as a centre-forward or on the left side of the attack for Iran. He’s a star with FC Porto in Liga Portugal where Taremi is one of their top goal-scorers. He won the Liga Portugal and the Portuguese Cup earlier this year with Porto. His success at a high level is extremely valuable for Iran, as they lack the depth of talent many of the other countries have.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh played a ton of minutes in Iran’s Word Cup qualifying campaign notching five goals in 11 matches played. That should earn him a lot of playing time for Iran at the World Cup. He’s currently playing for Feyenoord in the Netherlands as a right-winger. Jahanbakhsh has English Premier League experience, having played with Brighton & Hove Albion for three seasons. The 29-year-old has scored 13 goals over 62 matches for Iran.
