Best players at the 2022 FIFA World Cup: Group E
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 E at the World Cup.
Spain
FIFA World Ranking: 7
Top players at the FIFA World Cup for Spain:
Rodri is arguably the world’s greatest defensive midfielder at the moment. Winning tons of silverware in the Premier League with Manchester City over the last couple of years. At age 26 Rodri has played in 34 games for Spain. It’s surprising Spain hasn’t utilized him more often considering his talent. However, he does play a very similar position to Spain’s captain Sergio Busquets. Rodri was named in the starting 11 of the Top World Football end of season all-star team.
Pedri will only be turning 20 during the opening round of the World Cup. He’s now regarded as Spain’s most valuable player according to Transfermarkt. Pedri has only played 14 matches for Spain, however, injuries kept him out of the squad over the last year. He’ll play an important role at the World Cup as an attacking midfielder. Pedri hopes to score his first-ever goal for Spain at the World Cup. He’s a huge contributor for Barcelona and could help them win La Liga this year.
Sergio Busquets is the last remaining player from Spain’s victorious World Cup winning squad in 2010. He played through the dynasty years that also saw Spain winning Euro 2012. Now 34 and captain of the team, Busquets is in his fourth and final World Cup. The Barcelona midfielder has won La Liga eight times, the UEFA Champions League 3 times and the FIFA Club World Cup three times. One of the nation’s all-time most decorated players, Busquets has played in 139 matches for Spain.
Germany
FIFA World Ranking: 11
Top players at the 2022 FIFA World Cup for Germany:
Joshua Kimmich age 27 is at the height of his career and has the highest market value of any German player according to Transfermarkt. Although his Bayern and German teammate Jamal Musiala age 19 should overtake Kimmich soon. Kimmich has won almost everything possible with Bayern Munich including seven Bundesliga titles and the UEFA Champions League. Since joining the German team in 2016 Kimmich has played in 70 matches, scoring five goals. Kimmich typically plays as a defensive midfielder and has captained Germany on occasion.
Thomas Muller age 33 will be playing in his fourth, and likely his final World Cup. Muller has scored 44 goals for Germany in 118 matches and was a key player in Germany’s 2014 World Cup victory. Muller usually plays as a second striker or an attacking midfielder. He’s won a ridiculous amount of trophies with Bayern Munich including 11 Bundesliga titles and the Champions League twice. Thomas Muller was the joint-highest goal scorer at the 2010 World Cup with five goals.
Manuel Neuer is one of Germany’s all-time greatest goalkeepers and typically captains the team. At age 36 he’s in his fourth and likely his final World Cup. He played every minute of Germany’s World Cup win in 2014. Neuer’s style of play brings a lot of excitement to the game. Often playing in an advanced position, with many labelling him as a sweeper-keeper. Neuer has won all the accolades that go along with playing for Bayern Munich since 2011.
Japan
FIFA World Ranking: 24
Top players at the 2022 FIFA World Cup for Japan:
Daichi Kamada is a vital player for Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Bundesliga, and one of their leading goal-scorers. Kamada is one of Japan’s most valuable players, scoring six goals in 21 games for the national team. Kamada is 26 and typically lines up as an attacking midfielder for Japan. He’s a regular starter in the UEFA Champions League and was a Europa League winner with Eintracht Frankfurt. Kamada played in all 120 minutes of their Europa League final victory in May.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is turning 24 just before the World Cup and is Japan’s best defensive player. Tomiyasu typically plays right-back with Arsenal in England, however, he’s often deployed as a centre-back for Japan. Tomiyasu has played in 29 games for Japan since joining them in 2018. Having experience in a Premier League-leading team is highly valuable for Japan. Tomiyasu is in his second season with Arsenal and is just starting to feature regularly in the starting 11. Tomiyasu has appeared in over 30 matches with Arsenal, one of the world’s top clubs.
Takumi Minamino age 27 is perhaps Japan’s most highly decorated player, in terms of championships won. With Red Bull Salzburg he won 6 Austrian Bundesliga titles and 5 Austrian Cups between 2015 and 2020. Minamino then made a move to Liverpool where he won the Premier League in 2020, however, he was rarely in the starting 11. In 2022 Minamino led Liverpool in goals in the League Cup and FA Cup competitions. Liverpool went on to win both trophies, however, Minamino didn’t play in either final. He’s since moved on to Monaco where the forward hopes to play a more prominent role.
Costa Rica
FIFA World Ranking: 31
Top players at the 2022 FIFA World Cup for Costa Rica:
Kaylor Navas has been Costa Rica’s goalkeeper since 2008 and is their greatest player of all time. Navas will likely retire from international duty after the World Cup when he turns 36. In his illustrious career, he won three UEFA Champions League finals and a La Liga title with Real Madrid. Now with Paris Saint-Germain, he’s won two French Ligue 1 championships. In his first World Cup in 2014, Navas led Costa Rica to the quarter-finals. Navas should captain Costa Rica in his third and final World Cup.
Joel Campbell age 30 is a well-travelled journeyman forward of world football. Campbell has played for clubs in England, France, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Italy and Mexico. He’s picked up his share of silverware along the way including the Mexican Apertura for his current club Leon in 2020/21. In 2014, Campbell scored a goal in his first-ever World Cup match. Campbell scored the only goal of the match in Costa Rica’s World Cup qualification playoff against New Zealand. That qualified Costa Rica for Campbell’s third World Cup. Campbell has played 117 matches for Costa Rica, scoring 25 goals.
Francisco Calva has played in 74 matches for Costa Rica scoring eight goals. Costa Rica’s veteran centre-back will be playing in his second FIFA World Cup. Currently, with Konyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig, Calva previously played in the United States in Major League Soccer. Before joining MLS, Calva won two Costa Rican Invierno Championships with Deportivo Saprissa. Calva played a huge role in Costa Rica’s World Cup qualifying campaign, playing the full 90 in all but one of their matches.
