Best players at the 2022 FIFA World Cup: Group C
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 C at the World Cup.
Argentina
FIFA World Ranking: 3
Best players at the 2022 FIFA World Cup for Argentina:
Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest footballer of all time. Many of his records could stand the test of time forever. Like scoring 91 goals in a calendar year in 2012. However, the 35-year-old seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s peak years are well behind him. Messi is Argentina’s most-capped player and all-time leading goal scorer with 86 goals in 162 matches. This will be Messi’s fifth and likely his final World Cup. If he leads Argentina to victory he will cement his status as the greatest player of all time.
Lautaro Martinez will be in Argentina’s starting 11 leading the attack with Messi. The 25-year-old striker helped Argentina win the Copa America last summer over Brazil. In June, Martinez scored to help Argentina defeat Italy in the CONMEBOL vs UEFA Champions Cup. Martinez has won the Italian Serie A and Italian Cup with Inter Milan. With 20 goals for Argentina in 38 matches, Martinez has become a vital part of Argentina’s team.
Cristian Romero is the most valuable centre-back Argentina has on their squad. The 24-year-old was in Argentina’s starting 11 for last year’s Copa America final win and in the Finalissima against Italy in June. Although Romero has only played in 11 matches for Argentina, he’s already a key contributor. Romero is a regular starter for Tottenham in the English Premier League and in the UEFA Champions League.
Mexico
FIFA World Ranking: 13
Best players at the 2022 FIFA World Cup for Mexico:
Raul Jimenez, age 31 will be playing in his third World Cup for Mexico. Although, he spent more time on the bench than on the pitch in the last two tournaments. Jimenez should get more playing time in this World Cup now that Carlos Vela has stepped back from the national team. Jimenez has been with the Mexican national team since 2013 earning 93 caps with 29 goals. The Wolverhampton Wanderers centre-forward has been the clubs’ top scorer in the English Premier League over the last few seasons.
Hirving Lozano has experienced success with Pachuca in Mexico, winning the CONCACAF Champions League in 2017. He then moved to PSV Eindhoven, winning the Dutch Championship in 2018. In 2020 Lozano won the Copa Italia with Napoli, where he still plays. The 27-year-old winger has been capped 56 times for Mexico, scoring 15 goals. Lozano is going to be playing in his second World Cup.
Edson Alvarez will be competing in his second World Cup since joining the Mexican national team in 2017. The defensive-midfielder already has 55 caps at only 24 years of age, although he’ll be 25 at the World Cup. Alvarez plays his club football for Ajax where he’s helped them win two Dutch championships. Newcastle United want him in the Premier League, however, Ajax reportedly rejected their offer. If Alvarez plays well at the Word Cup his value could rise sharply.
Poland
FIFA World Ranking: 26
Best players at the 2022 FIFA World Cup for Poland:
Robert Lewandowski has been named the Best FIFA Men’s Player for the last two years. Scoring 76 goals for Poland in 132 matches, he is their all-time greatest footballer. Lewandowski is a 10-time German Bundesliga champion and a UEFA Champions League winner with Bayern Munich. Lewandowski moved to Barcelona this summer where the 34-year-old continues to play at the highest level. He was named to the Top World Football all-star team as top striker.
Piotr Zielinski has played 72 games for Poland since joining the national team in 2013. Zielinski is playing in his second World Cup and is typically deployed as an attacking midfielder. He plays his club football for Napoli where he helped them win the Copa Italia in 2020. The 28-year-old was Napoli’s man of the match, scoring two goals in their Champions League win over Liverpool on September 7. If he can play at that level in the World Cup Poland will be dangerous.
Wojciech Szczesny is Poland’s second most accomplished player having won the Italian Championship three times with Juventus. Szczesny also won the Coppa Italia twice with Juventus and won two FA cups with Arsenal in England. The 32-year-old has played in 64 games for Poland and has played at the highest level professionally for over a decade. His experience will be vital if Poland hopes to advance at the World Cup.
Saudi Arabia
FIFA World Ranking: 51
Best players at the 2022 FIFA World Cup for Saudi Arabia:
Salman Al-Faraj often wears the captain’s armband for Saudi Arabia. Al-Faraj age 33, has been capped 56 times according to Transfermarkt, and typically plays as a central midfielder. Al-Faraj twice won the AFC Champions League with Al-Hilal Saudi FC, where he’s won seven Saudi Arabian Championships. This is Al-Faraj’s second World Cup; having played every minute of Saudi Arabia’s 2018 tournament in Russia.
Sultan Al-Ghannam should start every match at right-back for Saudi Arabia. He played nearly every game for Saudi Arabia in the qualifying campaign. He plays his club football for Al-Nassr, where he won the Saudi Arabian Championship in 2019 with. He’s listed as the most valuable player on the Saudi Arabian squad according to Transfermarkt.
Salem Al-Dawsari has been very successful in club football with Al-Hilal where he’s won five Saudi Arabian Championships as well as two AFC Champions League titles. The 31-year-old left-winger has 53 caps for Saudi Arabia and will appear in his second World Cup. He scored Saudi Arabia’s game-winning goal against Egypt in the 90th minute of their 2018 World Cup match.
