The Absent Elite
The World Cup remains the pinnacle of international football, yet several high-profile stars will be forced to watch this summer's competition from the sidelines after their nations failed to secure a spot.
Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
There is a growing concern that we may have witnessed Robert Lewandowski’s final World Cup appearance. The prolific striker’s dream of another tournament run was dashed following Poland’s narrow 3-2 defeat to Sweden in the qualification play-offs.
Regarded as one of the most lethal strikers in history, Lewandowski holds an incredible record for his country with 89 goals in 165 caps. The emotional scenes in Stockholm at the final whistle highlighted the gravity of the loss, potentially marking the end of the 37-year-old's international journey on the world stage.
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)
In a shocking turn of events, Italy will miss their third consecutive World Cup. The Azzurri were eliminated in a dramatic play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina, falling 4-1 in a penalty shootout. Despite his status as the current Yashin Trophy holder, Donnarumma could not prevent the defeat, extending the nation’s absence from the tournament's knockout stages since their 2006 title win.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary)
Dominik Szoboszlai has been a standout performer for Liverpool this season and carried the weight of Hungarian expectations during the qualifying campaign. While he contributed significantly—scoring one goal and providing four assists in six matches—Marco Rossi’s squad suffered a heartbreak. A late-game collapse against Ireland in their final fixture ultimately cost them a place in the play-offs.
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
Nigeria, often viewed as a powerhouse of African football, will be notably absent from the tournament. The Super Eagles struggled through a difficult qualification period marked by a string of draws, eventually succumbing to DR Congo in a penalty shootout during the play-off round.
Osimhen, currently enjoying a stellar season with seven goals in ten Champions League appearances for Galatasaray, remains without a World Cup appearance. Given his current age, he will be 31 by the time the next tournament arrives.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia)
After inspiring Georgia to their first-ever major tournament appearance at Euro 2024—where they defied expectations to reach the knockout rounds—Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was unable to replicate that magic in the World Cup qualifiers. The Paris Saint-Germain star saw his team struggle throughout the group stages, managing only a single victory in six matches.