The biggest World Cup snubs: A list of footballers left out of their countries’ World Cup squad

This year we are going to experience a number of great World Cup snubs. A number of the teams had some of the most talented players in the same position, while injuries sidelined others. Another group has been left because of their relationship with their international officials.

This year's World Cup is being held in Qatar, which is unfortunate for some of the greats who did not make the final list. Some of the snubs were caught off guard, while others were sceptical due to injuries or a personal relationship with the officials.

Players missing in the World Cup in 2022

Several outstanding players have been omitted from their international squad for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Listed below are several snubs who caught attention for the wrong reasons.

20. Anthony Martial | France

On the other hand, Martial also did not qualify for World Cup 2022. Despite having three goals and two assists in five games this season, the striker has missed the vast majority of the season due to three different injuries. He came off the bench again in the defeat to Villa on Sunday, but it was not enough to earn him a place.

19. Thiago Alcantara | Spain

Thiago Alcantara is widely regarded as Liverpool's best midfielder, and he is almost certain to start if he is fit and able. However, this is not Luis Enrique's opinion, as the midfielder was left out of Spain's World Cup squad and was never really in contention to be a part of it.

The No.6 has not played for his country in over a year, and it is clear he is out of the running for a spot in the first team unless injuries present an opportunity for him to play again. Sergio Busquets, Rodrigo Hernandez, Gavi, Carlos Soler, Mark Llorente, Pedri, and Koke will take his place.

18. Pedro Neto | Portugal

Pedro Neto of Wolves will miss the World Cup after club doctors confirmed he needs surgery after injuring his ankle against West Ham. The 22-year-old (2022) was forced off during the first half of the loss, and specialists confirmed that he would require surgery.

17. Timo Werner | Germany

Timo Werner of Germany has been ruled out of the World Cup in Qatar due to an ankle injury, according to his club RB Leipzig. The 26-year-old, who has 24 goals in 55 appearances for the national team, was substituted in the 13th minute of Leipzig's 4-0 Champions League group-stage win over Shakhtar Donetsk.

Werner returned to Leipzig from Chelsea this season in search of more playing time and a place on the World Cup squad. So far, he has scored four goals in the German Bundesliga and nine goals overall.

16. Phillipe Coutinho | Brazil

A thigh injury ended Philippe Coutinho's chances of competing in the 2022 World Cup. The Brazil international has a quadriceps injury and is expected to be out for seven weeks. Due to a loss of form and a lack of regular action, the Brazilian playmaker had already faced an uphill battle to make the squad, but injury has now ruled the 30-year-old fully out.

15. Diogo Jota | Portugal

Jota is expected to miss a significant amount of time due to a calf muscle injury suffered against Manchester City in mid-October. Despite the fact that the Portuguese continue to rely heavily on their talismanic but ageing captain Cristiano Ronaldo, Jota's absence will be a significant blow to their World Cup hopes. His talent is undeniable.

14. Giovani Lo Celso | Argentina

Lionel Messi will be without one of his best teammates as Argentina prepares to win the World Cup in Qatar. According to sources, Giovani Lo Celso will be left out of Argentina's squad.

The Villarreal playmaker suffered a minor muscle tear against Athletic Club, and it was hoped that he would be able to return with conservative treatment. However, he will not require surgery and will thus miss the tournament.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has been relying on Lo Celso as a starter in midfield. In World Cup qualification, he was Argentina's leading assist provider and was working well with Messi.

13. Mat Hummels | Germany

Hansi Flick decided to leave Mats Hummels out of his Germany squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a surprising decision. The Borussia Dortmund defender has been in incredible form this season, and some of his performances have taken him back in time. However, it appears that his performances were insufficient to earn him a ticket to Qatar.

12. Ben Chilwell | England

The Chelsea full-back will not be joining his teammates in Qatar. Chilwell suffered a hamstring injury in Chelsea's 2-1 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb. The 25-year-old had just returned from a long-term knee injury but will now miss more time due to a new injury.

He underwent scans immediately following the game and was later ruled out of the World Cup. Chilwell had put in an impressive performance for the Blues at left-back, buccaneering up and down the wing before his injury.

11. N'Golo Kanté | France

Kante has risen to prominence quickly following his Premier League, Champions League and World Cup victory in a span of a few years. This season, the midfielder appeared in only two games for Chelsea before suffering a hamstring injury in August. He will be sorely missed by France in Qatar, as he is often the team's spine, holding it all together.

10. Marco Reus | Germany

According to sources, Reus has been dealing with ankle issues in recent months and will miss the World Cup in Qatar due to an injury setback. This is the second time Reus has been ruled out of the World Cup due to injury. He tore his syndesmosis ligament in Germany's final test match before leaving for Brazil in 2014.

9. Douglas Luiz | Brazil

Tite has left Aston Villa midfield schemer Douglas Luiz out of the squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Since joining Villans from Manchester City, the 24-year-old has made an impression in the Premier League.

Luiz has been in excellent form for his English club in 2022, and he was on the verge of joining Arsenal during the summer transfer window. This season, the defensive midfielder has appeared 14 times for Aston Villa in all competitions and scored two goals, both from direct corner kicks.

8. Jesús Manuel Corona | Mexico

The Sevilla forward did not recover from a serious ankle injury in time and will not be included in El Tri's final World Cup squad. Corona, who joined Sevilla from Portuguese champions Porto, in January, was injured during a training session with his new club in August.

7. Recce James | England

James was also omitted from the England squad. After injuring his knee during a Champions League match, the right-back will be out for at least eight weeks. Fortunately, England has depth at right-back in Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kieran Tripper, but the team would have been much better off if James had been available.

6. Gabriel Magalhães | Brazil

Gabriel Magalhaes, an Arsenal defender, has been one of his team's standout performers in the Premier League this season. The 24-year-old was left out of Brazil's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup despite his success at Arsenal.

At Arsenal, Magalhaes has formed an excellent defensive partnership with William Saliba. He has appeared 18 times in all competitions for his club, helping them to the top of the Premier League table and the UEFA Europa League knockouts. This season, the Brazilian defender has also scored two goals.

5. David de Gea | Spain

David de Gea will miss the World Cup this winter after failing to make Spain's 55-man provisional squad. According to a Spanish publication, Luis Enrique's current squad includes five goalkeepers, implying that the Manchester United stopper is potentially the sixth choice for his country.

4. Joel Matip | Cameroon

Cameroon qualified, but the centre-back has not played for them since a disagreement in 2015. The Cameroonian Football Federation sent a delegation to Liverpool two years ago, ahead of the 2019 Afcon, in an attempt to persuade the defender to end his self-imposed exile, but the mission failed.

However, seasons later, he eventually agreed to join his teammates. Due to his behaviour, the current president of the Cameroonian Football Federation, Samuel Eto'o, declined the request. The former Barcelona forward later stated:

3. Paul Pogba | France

Since returning to Juventus from Manchester United, the midfielder has yet to play a minute for the Old Lady in the leagues and is unlikely to do so until after the World Cup. Pogba has been sidelined by knee surgery this season, and his absence will severely hamper France's chances of reclaiming the World Cup.

2. Roberto Firmino | Brazil

Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino is likely the most surprising player to be left out of Brazil's World Cup squad. The 31-year-old forward has had a strong start to his English club's 2022-23 season.

Firmino, one of the biggest FIFA 2022 World Cup snubs, has re-established himself as a key player for Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool this season after falling out of favour for parts of the 2021-22 campaign. This season, the forward has six goals and three assists in 12 Premier League appearances for the Reds.

1. Sergio Ramos | Spain

Despite winning 180 caps for Spain and being the most capped player in the country's history, the Spanish manager did not select the PSG defender. Luis Enrique has left the defender out of the squad, instead selecting Eric Garcia, Hugo Guillamon, Pau Torres, and Aymeric Laporte for the competition in Qatar.

Ramos, a former Real Madrid defender, was a member of Spain's World Cup-winning squad in 2010. He had hoped to compete in his fifth tournament, but he did not make the trip to Qatar despite pleading with Enrique.

A number of great players are currently injured, but they will have recovered by the end of the World Cup group stage matches. Because they are so important to their teams, their coaches have decided to include them in the squad rather than leave them as snubs. According to reports, Aliou Cisse will call Sadio Mane even if he is only fit for the final group match against Ecuador.

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