CORNERFLICK
World Cup 2026 looks set to be a turning point for a generation of football greats, with several of the game’s biggest names likely to bow out on the sport’s biggest stage.
The tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico could be the last World Cup for Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić and Neymar, all of whom have defined the modern era in different ways.
Messi will be 39 by the time the finals begin and returns as a world champion after Argentina’s triumph in 2022. Ronaldo, now 41, could make a sixth World Cup appearance if he is selected by Portugal, which would set a record for the competition.
Modrić, who led Croatia to the 2018 final, is expected to be 40, while Neymar may also be facing his final chance to win the trophy that has eluded Brazil.
Harry Kane and Kevin De Bruyne also fall into the same bracket, with both entering the latter stages of their international careers.
The next wave is already coming through, with names such as Endrick, Arda Güler and Lamine Yamal waiting to shape future tournaments. World Cup 2026 may end up being remembered as the moment the old guard gave way to the new.