World Cup 2022: The World Cup is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world. The event run by global football regulator FIFA, creates the opportunity for thirty-two nations to fight for the prestigious cup. However, some of the football stars will not be able to play at the World Cup in Qatar:
Sadio Mane
Senegal suffered a huge blow as Sadio Mane was ruled out of World Cup, after suffering a right fibula injury playing for Bayern earlier this month but was named in the World Cup squad in the hope he could regain fitness. But a further MRI scan showed that surgical intervention was needed ruling out the teams talisman.
Mane, who is the reigning African Footballer of the Year, also came in second for the Ballon d’Or. He scored 23 goals in his final season as a Liverpool player while helping Senegal win their maiden Africa Cup of Nations title. Six weeks later he secured the World Cup qualification.
Karim Benzema
The Real Madrid Forward is the latest winner of the Ballon D’or. Benzema was part of the France squad in this year’s World Cup, but has been forced to pull out of the tournament after suffering an injury a day before the game starts. During a training session on Saturday, he sustained an injury to his left thigh immediately ruling him out of France’s opening game against Australia. Scans later confirmed the damage was severe.
N’golo Kante
Another France International ruled out of the World Cup is N’golo Kante. In October this year, Kante underwent an operation on a hamstring injury. The midfielder suffered a setback in the final stages of his recovery last week and has now been ruled out for four months after the surgery.
Kante has only made two Premier League appearances, playing a total of 175 minutes this season.
Paul Pogba
Due to a continuous knee problem, France midfielder Paul Pogba will also miss the World Cup. Following surgery on his right knee in September, Pogba returned to training with Juventus this month. He has not played since returning to Juventus from Manchester United due to a new injury.
Christopher Nkunku
Christopher Nkunku sustained an injury during a training session for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The forward is one of 26 players to have been called up by Didier Deschamps, having shone for Die Roten Bullen over the past 15 months.
Nkunku and France took part in their final pre-flight training session at Clairefontaine on Tuesday, during which the 25-year-old was involved in a collision with Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga.
Other stars who are out of the World cup are Diogo Jota of Liverpool, Marco Reus of Germany.
Timo Werner
Germany forward Timo Werner was ruled out of the World Cup in Qatar due to an ankle injury. Announcement of his injury was made public by his club, RB Leipzig, a week before the national squad was announced. In an effort to get more playing time to secure his spot on the World Cup squad, Werner left Chelsea and moved back to Leipzig.
The 26-year-old has scored 24 goals in 55 appearances for the national team.
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Source: Standard