Player Profile

The 10 players who'll determine Sunday's World Cup final

With over one billion people tuning in around the globe, Sunday's World Cup final represents the grandest stage in all of sports. For the players, it's a chance to touch immortality by joining the pantheon of winners.

Many on France's team already tasted glory in 2018, but now they're focused on becoming the first nation to successfully defend its crown since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.

After playing on both sides, American teen Yunus Musah looking forward to ‘special clash’ vs. England

AL RAYYAN, Qatar - A slightly different career path could have seen Yunus Musah lining up alongside fellow 19-year-old Jude Bellingham for England against the United States on Friday. He could even have been playing for Ghana against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal on Thursday.

Instead, the teenaged midfielder will pull on the United States shirt for the 20th time in Friday's World Cup Group B clash in Al Khor when his side will try to spring a major upset.

The making of Weston McKennie: How America's most unique talent reached the top — and the team behind the scenes who helped him along the way

Weston McKennie is one of soccer's most unique talents. Even on the world's biggest stage, the 24-year-old American stands out in the middle of the pitch with his all-action style, covering every blade of grass, arriving first to every contested ball and occasionally looking like a one-man midfield out there.

But Weston would be the first to admit that his meteoric rise to playing for Italy's biggest club and representing his country on the world’s stage is grounded in the help, commitment and sacrifice of teammates, family, friends, and coaches.

10 players who only appear every 4 years to dominate the World Cup

Every four years, an elite sect of footballers emerge from their cryotherapy chambers without having aged a day since the game's last showpiece event. They have heard the call of their nation and awoken from their slumber, ready to once again take their rightful place on our television sets and to lay waste to group stage opponents with a fraction of their veteran experience. 

We've spent more time with these guys over the last 15 years than many of our relatives, and we'll finally now get to spend Thanksgiving with them too. 

BREAKING: Gerard Piqué abruptly retires from football

BARCELONA - Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué called time on his glittering career on Thursday, saying he will retire from football when LaLiga breaks for the World Cup this month.

Piqué, 35, said in a video posted on social media that Saturday's league clash with Almería on Saturday will be his last at Barcelona's Camp Nou after 14 years with the Catalan giants following his return from Manchester United in 2008.

Barcelona will travel to Osasuna on Tuesday for their final fixture before the Nov. 20-Dec. 18 World Cup.

Lionel Messi says he's counting down the days until his final World Cup

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has said he is counting the days until the World Cup and believes his team have a good chance of winning the tournament.

Messi, who will be playing his fifth World Cup in Qatar, told Star+ he is feeling nervous ahead of the tournament but is in positive mood.

Argentina will arrive in Qatar with their confidence high after winning the 2021 Copa América final against hosts Brazil, which Messi believes was a turning-point for his team after several near misses.

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