Top 10 Players Who Did Not Make It to the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico will feature 48 nations and some of the finest footballers on the planet. But for every star who made the trip to North America, another was left behind — through injury, qualification failure, or squad selection decisions. Here are ten of the highest-profile absences from the tournament.
1. Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Perhaps the most painful absence of all. Robert Lewandowski left the pitch in tears after Poland's final World Cup qualifier on March 31, having narrowly missed out on qualification for the 2026 tournament. The 37-year-old Barcelona striker — Poland's all-time leading scorer with 89 international goals, nearly twice as many as any other Polish player — hinted at international retirement following the failure, though he has yet to formally confirm that decision.
Lewandowski has made 165 appearances for Poland, a national record, and featured at the World Cup twice. A last-16 finish in Qatar in 2022 remains his best result at the tournament. The 2026 edition was almost certainly his final opportunity to go further.
2. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia)
One of the most electrifying wingers in European football right now, Kvaratskhelia will not be heading to North America because Georgia failed to qualify for the 2026 finals. The Paris Saint-Germain forward was arguably the standout player in the Champions League this season — creative, unpredictable, and capable of changing a game in an instant.
Still yet to appear at a World Cup, Kvaratskhelia's last major tournament experience came at Euro 2024, where he helped Georgia reach the round of 16. His absence is one of the tournament's genuine losses for neutrals.
3. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)
Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time is one of the most remarkable collapses in international football history. The four-time world champions, who last appeared at the tournament in 2014, suffered a shock penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-offs — making them the first former champions to miss three consecutive World Cup finals.
Among the casualties is Gianluigi Donnarumma, widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Now at Manchester City, the Italian number one was denied what would have been his first World Cup appearance since 2022 by his nation's ongoing qualifying struggles.
4. Sandro Tonali (Italy)
Another victim of Italy's qualifying collapse, Sandro Tonali was developing into one of the most complete central midfielders in European football at Newcastle United before his move to Manchester City. Energetic, technically assured, and capable of dictating the tempo of a game, Tonali represented the future of Italian football — a future that will have to wait at least another four years for its World Cup moment.
5. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
After Italy, Nigeria are arguably the biggest footballing nation to miss out on the 2026 World Cup. The Super Eagles' qualifying campaign was a disaster, ending in a shock penalty shootout defeat to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the African play-offs — leaving Nigeria absent from successive World Cups for the first time in 36 years.
The biggest loss for Nigerian fans is Victor Osimhen, one of the most feared strikers in African football. Powerful, quick, and clinical in front of goal, Osimhen was the player Nigeria's World Cup hopes were built around. His absence from the tournament is a significant blow for the quality of the competition.
6. Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
Alongside Osimhen, Ademola Lookman misses out as a result of Nigeria's failed qualification. Arguably Nigeria's most influential player at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Lookman is a dynamic and creative attacker who has been in outstanding form at club level. Together, Lookman and Osimhen formed one of the most exciting attacking partnerships in African football — and both will be watching the World Cup from home.
7. Hugo Ekitike (France)
France will be without one of their most exciting forwards after Hugo Ekitike ruptured his Achilles tendon playing for Liverpool against PSG in a Champions League quarter-final second leg at Anfield in April. The 23-year-old left the pitch in tears on a stretcher, with the injury expected to keep him sidelined until January 2027.
It is a particularly cruel blow given the timing. Ekitike had started the season well down the pecking order for France, but an outstanding campaign at Liverpool — 17 goals in all competitions before his injury — had put him firmly in contention for Didier Deschamps' World Cup squad. He will have to wait for his chance.
8. Estevao (Brazil)
Described by many as one of the brightest young talents in world football, 19-year-old Estevao was set for his long-awaited World Cup debut until a grade four hamstring injury sustained while playing for Chelsea in April ended his hopes. The winger, who joined Chelsea from Palmeiras in 2024, had scored eight goals and registered four assists in his debut Premier League season — and had established himself as a regular in Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil squad before the setback.
9. Rodrygo (Brazil)
Brazil lose another wide attacker through injury, with Real Madrid's Rodrygo ruled out after suffering a torn meniscus and ACL in his right knee in March. The 25-year-old, who made five appearances for Brazil at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, is not expected to return to action until the end of 2026. It is a significant loss for Ancelotti, who now must reshape Brazil's attack without two of his most dynamic options.
10. Xavi Simons (Netherlands)
The Netherlands will be without one of their most technically gifted midfielders after Xavi Simons suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury playing for Tottenham Hotspur against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League. The 23-year-old had been expected to be a key figure in Ronald Koeman's squad — his creativity, directness, and ability to operate in tight spaces making him ideally suited to the demands of tournament football. With 34 caps already to his name, this would have been his second World Cup following his debut in Qatar.
Honourable Mentions
Several other notable players also failed to make the tournament for various reasons.
Bryan Mbeumo misses out after Cameroon — Africa's most frequent World Cup participant with eight appearances — were eliminated by DR Congo in the African play-offs. The Manchester United forward had scored 10 goals across all competitions this season.
Fermin Lopez of Spain requires surgery on a foot fracture, while Germany lose Serge Gnabry to a torn adductor muscle. England manager Thomas Tuchel omitted both Cole Palmer and Phil Foden following disappointing individual seasons. Japan are without Takumi Minamino (ACL) and Kaoru Mitoma (hamstring), while Brazil's squad also loses Eder Militao to injury. Hungary's failure to qualify means Dominik Szoboszlai misses out, and Slovenia's absence costs Jan Oblak his chance to appear on the world stage.
The 2026 World Cup will be a spectacular tournament — but for fans of the players above, it will carry the bittersweet feeling of watching from the sidelines while others get to compete on football's grandest stage.