The stars of each national team at the 2022 World Cup

It is not really right to single out a player from his team, but some stars are so good that it just has to be done,. Many times, a team need a leader on the field of play who not just inspires players with his comments, but also with the ball. 

It is vital to be able to have these spectacular players on show in the competition. For this reason, the top leagues fight to get the biggest names. They do not normally all end up at the same team except in Ligue 1 where Neymar, Messi and Mbappe are all at the same club. 

The World Cup is always an opportunity to redeem oneself and, even though not all countries are able to make their tournament, there are always top players there. This is especially because it is only held every four years. 

We bring you a list of the best 32 players from the 32 competing nations in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Each country has one player mentioned. 

The best player by country at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

1. Qatar: Akram Afif

Praised by Xavi during his time as a coach in Qatar, Akram Afif is a striker for Al Sadd and he has scored 16 goals and 20 assists. He is the main man for the hosts. 

2. Ecuador: Moises Caicedo

The versatile Brighton midfielder has consolidated himself in the Premier League and he is having quite an acceptable season. He is the best player for Ecuador together with Jose Cifuentes. 

3. Netherlands: Frenkie de Jong

The Barcelona player has started this season late, but it seems like he is finding his place under Xavi. The World Cup is the great opportunity for him to show his potential and lead the Dutch side. 

4. Senegal: Kalidou Koulibaly

The Chelsea central defender leads a team which is without Mane. Edouard Mendy and Boulaye Dia are other top players in their ranks.

5. USA: Christian Pulisic

The Chelsea striker is willingto lead a team which also includes Aaronson and Carter-Vickers.

6. Wales: Gareth Bale

It is undoubtable that the Wales star, who is also the captain, has a golden opportunity to show his skills in his first World Cup. The perfect way to round off his career.

7. England: Harry Kane

The English striker keeps on scoring goals. This term, he has scored 15 goals and provided three assists for Tottenham. Kane is always a man to look out for. 

8. Iran: Mehdi Taremi

The Porto striker has netted 13 goals and got seven assists this season. He is Iran's main man. 

9. Saudi Arabia: Salem Al-Dawsari

A winger for Al Hilal who can make the difference. He had a spell at Villarreal when La Liga reached an agreement with the Saudi Arabian league for some players to play in Spain. 

10. Argentina: Lionel Messi

There is no doubt who the standout player is. Lionel Messi leads and is the star of an Argentina side who have other key players such as Lautaro Martinez and Lisandro Martinez. 

11. Mexico: Hirving Lozano

The player from Napoli, who are unstoppable this term, is in fine form and he is set to deliver for Mexico. The national team also features veteran footballers Guardado and Ochoa. 

12. Poland: Robert Lewandowski

The Barcelona striker arrives at the World Cup as the top scorer in La Liga with 12 goals. An undisputed leader for the Poles, this will be his probably be Lewandowski's last World Cup.

13. Australia: Jackson Irvine

Irvine helped Australia qualify for the tournament and he looks promising. He is one of the stars together with Ryan and Boyle. 

14. France: Karim Benzema

The recent Ballon d'Or winner returns to the French side after missing the 2018 World Cup. Despite having a knock, everything suggests that if he is fit in time, he will be key to France's progress at the tournament.

15. Denmark: Christian Eriksen

After the major scare at Euro 2020, Eriksen returns to captain a team who have other top players like Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

16: Tunisia: Ellyes Skhiri

The attacking midfielder starts for Bundesliga side Cologne. He has lots of experience and is Tunisia's main player. 

17. Germany: Joshua Kimmich

The Bayern Munich midfielder is the main man in the Bundesliga. In addition, his performances in the Champions League have also been very good. 

18: Spain: Pedri

The Barcelona player is one of Spain's key players because of the great Euro 2020 he had when he shone at the age of just 18. 

19. Costa Rica: Keylor Navas

The Costa Rica goalkeeper is going into his final World Cup and he hopes to be able to at least make the quarter-finals, like in the 2014 edition in Brazil. 

20. Japan: Daichi Kamada

The Japanese attacker is in great form for Eintracht Frankfurt. He has scored more than 10 goals and provided three assists.

21. Belgium: Kevin de Bruyne

The Belgian star is, currently, one of the best players in the world, both in his position as well as in general. He led the team to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia with Courtois. Belgium are one of the favourites with him in their ranks. 

22. Canada: Alphonso Davies

Even though he has been away out of action for Bayern Munich due to several injuries, everything suggests that he is ready to beat opponents on the left flank at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

23. Croatia: Luka Modric

The Croatian captain is playing what will be very probably his final World Cup with one target in mind: once again reach the final and go one better after finishing runners-up in 2018. 

24. Morocco: Achraf Hakimi

The Spanish full-back, of Moroccan origin, is a nailed on right-back for one of the best teams in Europe (PSG).

25. Brazil: Neymar

The Brazilian player is in arguably his best form after scoring 11 goals and assisting 11 times for PSG. He will star for a team which also includes Vinicius and Antony. 

26. Cameroon: Eric Choupo-Moting

The Cameroon star is Bayern Munich's main man in attack and, with 11 goals, he arrives in a great moment for Qatar. Napoli player Zambo Anguissa is also in their team. 

27. Serbia: Aleksandar Mitrovic

With nine goals to his name for Fulham in the Premier League, the Serbian striker joins Tadic and Vlahovic to form one of the most dangerous strike forces in Group G.

28. Switzerland: Granit Xhaka

He is a midfielder for Premier League leaders Arsenal and he is Switzerland's most important player together with the likes of Embolo and Sommer.

29. South Korea: Heung Min Son

The Tottenham striker is not having his best season, but you cannot take him lightly. 

30. Ghana: Thomas Partey

Another of the main men in Arteta's Arsenal. The midfielder also has La Liga experience given that he was at Atletico Madrid between 2015 and 2020. 

31. Uruguay: Fede Valverde

The Real Madrid man has had one of his best starts to the season for Real Madrid and he is becoming a fundamental part of his national team as well. Important players such as Luis Suarez and Diego Godin will no longer be around for the 2026 edition. 

32. Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo

Even though he is not in his best form, the Portuguese legend wants to take advantage of his final World Cup to show that he still has what is needed to play at the top level. Rafael Leao and Bernardo Silva are other stars to look out for.