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List of players who won’t play in the 2022 FIFA World Cup due to injury.
Since the 2022 World Cup will be held in Qatar in the fall and winter rather than the summer, players from Europe and the majority of the rest of the world will have to interrupt their club seasons to travel to the Middle East to compete for their national teams.
Playing in the World Cup is probably every footballer’s dream and the pinnacle of their career, but the Qatar 2022 World Cup has had significant surprises, both good and bad, with one of the most unfortunate being the injury list from top-tier players such as Balon D’or winner Karim Benzema and runner-up Sadio Mane.
Here is the list of players who contributed to their teams’ qualification, and qualified for the squad, but were forced to miss the flight due to an unlucky injury.
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Karim Benzema (France)
Just hours before the first game was scheduled to begin, the football world was shocked by the absence of the current FIFA Player of the Year. Ahead of France’s opening match against Australia on Tuesday, Benzema suffered a thigh injury during training on Saturday night.
The Real Madrid attacker was not a member of the World Cup championship team in 2018. This was possibly his last opportunity to win a World Cup title at age 34.
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Sadio Mane (Senegal)
Senegal was a favourite dark-horse pick for a deep run at the World Cup. That was before Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mané picked up a leg injury less than a week before leaving for Qatar.
Mané, one of the world’s quickest players and a superb finisher and passer around the goal, underwent successful surgery requiring the reattachment of a tendon to his fibula, according to a statement from Bayern.
The Teranga Tigers’ success was dependent on Mane, therefore the news did not sit well with the Senegalese fans.
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Paul Pogba (France)
The most notable player on the list and a key member of the French team, Paul Pogba, who won the World Cup and the Euro with France, is not available this time as they attempt to defend their championship in Qatar.
Pogba underwent knee surgery in September, and he won’t be ready for France’s title defence opener against Australia.
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Christopher Nkunku (France)
The injury to RB Leipzig attacker Christopher Nkunku is yet another setback for the French offence. One of the young, talented talents, the 25-year-old would have made his World Cup debut for France. Before damaging a ligament in his knee, Nkunku was on fire in the German Bundesliga, scoring 12 goals in 15 games.
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Reece James (England)
Chelsea’s right back Reece James, one of the tournament’s top players at his position, suffered a knee injury against AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League on Oct. 11. Gareth Southgate, England’s coach, did not name James to the squad since he would not be ready until the round of 16 at the earliest.
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Timo Werner (Germany)
The Ex-Chelsea player and currently RB Leipzig attacker has battled an ankle ailment during the team’s Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk and that will keep him out of the World Cup.
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Diogo Jota (Portugal)
The forward for Liverpool has been at his best since joining Jurgen Klopp’s squad at Anfield, but a calf injury has kept him out of the World Cup. He sustained the injury toward the end of a victory over Manchester City. This would have been the 25-year-old’s first World Cup selection.
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Marcus Reus (Germany)
Marcus Reus has experienced some misfortune throughout the World Cup.
Due to an injury, the 33-year-old was absent from the 2014 competition, and his squad won the title. Reus was expected to return from injury and join Hansi Flick’s German team for the 2022 World Cup, but he instead reinjured his ankle and was forced to withdraw once more.
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Prensel Kimpembe (FRANCE)
The PSG player has a hamstring injury that is preventing him from performing.
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N’Golo Kanté (France)
Another Chelsea player will miss the World Cup, leaving a significant gap in France’s central midfield. N’Golo Kanté, who played every game for France at the 2018 World Cup, has a hamstring injury that will keep him out until February. Midfielder Paul Pogba, and defender Presnel Kimpembe — starters in 2018 — are also out of this World Cup.
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Nicolás González (Argentina)
In what is very certainly his final World Cup, Lionel Messi will be the centre of attention. Without Nicolás González, he will have one fewer attacking option to aid him in capturing a championship in the latter stages of his career.
The Fiorentina forward suffered an injury during training this week and was subsequently taken off the roster. During Argentina’s World Cup qualification campaign, he scored three goals.
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Georginio Wijnaldum (Netherlands)
The Dutch midfielder broke his leg back in August playing for Roma. Wijnaldum, 32, has 86 caps with the Netherlands including seven World Cup games in 2014. The Dutch failed to make the 2018 World Cup.
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Arthur Melo (Brazil):
The Brazilian midfielder suffered a left thigh injury while working out for his team Liverpool. It was one of those occasions where a player is hurt without even taking part in a game. Melo won’t be competing in the World Cup due to an injury that occurred in October.
The 22-year-old showed his despair in an Instagram post: “It comes just at a time when, after huge effort and lots of hard work, I was ready to establish myself in my new team and determined to fight for my dream of playing at the World Cup.”
With age on his side, Melo may still get another chance to play in a World Cup.
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Giovani Lo Celso (Argentina)
In Qatar, Argentina is among the favourites to win the title, and not just because of one Lionel Messi.
The 2014 finalists field a talented group of athletes and have won the Copa America. However, one of the key players from that title victory won’t be present in Qatar.
Giovani Lo Celso, an important member of the Argentine midfield, was sidelined last month after suffering a muscle rupture.
Amine Harit (Morocco)
When Amine Harit suffered an injury that would keep him out of the World Cup, the majority of his Moroccan teammates had already prepared in Qatar. The forward for Marseille injured his knee in his final club match before leaving for Doha.
A stretcher was used to remove the 25-year-old. Moroccan hearts were torn by the sights. His teammates swamped local media outlets with messages of encouragement, and it’s been claimed that Harit will fly to Qatar to see his squad compete there.