The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will play host to a number of elite footballers this winter, as the best of the best go head-to-head in one of the most controversial editions of the tournament of all-time.
It may be the final World Cup for legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo but stars such as Italy’s veteran defender Giorgio Chiellini are set to miss out this year and may not get another opportunity in their career.
Some of the Premier League’s best players in Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah are also set to miss the competition but they will be hoping they can shine on the global stage in years to come.
Below, we take you through the best XI that will not be on the plane to Qatar this winter. You can find the latest fixed odds on the World Cup here.
Formation: 4-3-3
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)
Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar means that they will account for a surfeit of quality talent being absent this winter. That includes Euro 2020 Player of the Tournament Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The 23-year-old Paris Saint-Germain ‘keeper has established himself as one of the best in the business in recent years and his quality will be sorely missed in Qatar. The Azzurri will be desperate to qualify for the 2026 edition, having also failed to qualify for Russia 2018.
Right-back: Reece James (England)
Despite England having a plethora of right-backs, Reece James was looking like the favourite to win the starting spot in Gareth Southgate’s side. At the age of just 22, James will still feel he has plenty of time to represent his nation at the World Cup but it is a bitter blow for, not just himself, but the Three Lions.
He was in excellent form for Chelsea prior to the injury and would have provided an excellent attacking threat down the right flank for England.
Centre-back: Giorgio Chiellini (Italy)
Giorgio Chiellini will not be joining his Los Angeles FC teammate Gareth Bale at this year’s World Cup. Now at the age of 38, Italy’s shock playoff semi-final defeat against North Macedonia means that the former Juventus defender has likely missed out on his last chance to play at a World Cup.
It will cut even deeper for Chiellini since Italy did not appear at the last tournament either, with them last featuring at the 2014 competition in Brazil.
Even then, it’s been sheer disappointment since the Azzurri were crowned world champions in 2006; they failed to make it to the last 16 in both their 2010 and 2014 campaigns.
It has been a disappointing World Cup career for one of Italy’s all-time great defenders but Chiellini did manage to win Euro 2020 so there is some solace in that.
Centre-back: David Alaba (Austria)
David Alaba has established himself as one of the best defenders in the world over recent years, winning three UEFA Champions League’s during his time with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
However, the Austria captain will not be leading his side in Qatar. His nation has failed to qualify for the past six World Cups, with their last appearance being at France ‘98. Austria were unable to get past Wales in their World Cup playoff semi-final back in March, losing 2-1 in Cardiff.
Left-back: Leonardo Spinazzola (Italy)
Being a key man at Italy’s winning Euro 2020 campaign, Leonardo Spinazzola’s tournament was cut short after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in the Azzurri’s 2-1 quarter-final victory over Belgium.
The Roma wing-back was starting to establish himself as one of the breakout stars from the tournament before he suffered the injury and was also named in UEFA’s Euro 2020 Team of the Tournament.
Central Midfield: Jorginho (Italy)
Another Italian makes the XI and that man is Chelsea’s Jorginho. The midfielder was left in ruins after Italy failed to qualify for Qatar 2022 and even took on some of the blame himself, missing two vital penalty kicks against Switzerland in their qualifying campaign, which meant the Azzurri finished behind the Swiss in Group C.
The former Napoli man was impressive at Euro 2020 and had a fantastic 2021, also winning the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea. This led him to being crowned as UEFA’s Men’s Player of the Year for the 2020/21 season. His talents will be missed in the Middle East.
Central Midfield: N’Golo Kante (France)
Fellow Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante will also miss out on this year’s World Cup due to injury. Kante was a key man during France’s 2018 World Cup winning campaign but a hamstring issue has kept him out of the squad heading to Qatar.
The 31-year-old has been sorely missed by both club and country of late and with Kante reaching the age of 35 by the time the next World Cup comes around, he will feel he has missed out on a great opportunity here.
Central Midfield: Martin Ødegaard (Norway)
The Arsenal captain is having a stellar season with the Gunners but Martin Ødegaard is another big name that will not be at Qatar in 2022. Norway failed to qualify for the tournament after finishing in third place in Group G of the European qualifiers.
After being named Norway captain in 2021, Ødegaard will be hoping he can lead his side to international success in the near future. However, from an Arsenal viewpoint, it will be important for their title hopes that their star midfielder is able to stay fit over the winter.
Right-wing: Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
After failing to qualify at the hands of Sadio Mane’s Senegal, Mo Salah will be gutted not to be in Qatar, especially since he also missed the crucial penalty kick in the playoff final match in March earlier this year.
Liverpool will certainly be happy that their star man will be rested for the winter, but at the age of 30, Salah would have been desperate to play at a World Cup during his prime years.
Centre-forward: Erling Haaland (Norway)
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has electrified the Premier League so far this term, scoring 18 goals in just 13 appearances. City boss Pep Guardiola will be happy that his star forward will not be risking injury in the Middle East but he will also be worried about him losing some match fitness over the six-week break.
In an excellent marketing ploy by the club, non-league Ashton United recently put in a loan bid for the Norwegian. However, it would be extremely unlikely if Haaland featured in the National League North, even with City out of action until the end of December.
The 22-year-old will be gutted that he can’t portray his incredible talents at the World Cup but it will fuel him even more to carry his side to the 2026 tournament.
Left-wing: Kvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia)
Kvicha Kvaratskhelia took Europe by storm after a blinding performance against Liverpool in the Champions League back in September. He has also played a pivotal role in Napoli’s incredible run of form this season that has seen them sit top of Serie A at Christmas.
Georgia have never qualified for either the World Cup or the Euros so the time may never come for Kvaratskhelia to shine on the big stage. Unlike the man whose nickname he takes after in Diego Maradona, ‘Kvaradona’ may struggle to feature at a major tournament during his career.
