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Viviana Reyes

The One Who Wouldn't Stay Off The List: Sir Harry Kane, England's Greatest, and the World Cup That Completes the Story

The One Who Wouldn't Stay Off The List: Sir Harry Kane, England's Greatest, and the World Cup That Completes the Story

We tried. We genuinely tried to leave him out. The list was done. Ten players. Mbappé at one, Yamal at two, the arguments made and the verdicts delivered. And then we looked at the numbers again. 36 Bundesliga goals in 2025/26. 58 in all competitions. Back to back German

Viva's Power Rankings — No.1: Brazil, five stars, twenty-four years of waiting, and the squad that ends it in 2026

Viva's Power Rankings — No.1: Brazil, five stars, twenty-four years of waiting, and the squad that ends it in 2026

Brazil are Viva's pick to win World Cup 2026. Vinícius, Raphinha, Endrick. A squad built for this tournament despite three significant injuries. Twenty-four years since the last star. The wait ends here.

Top 10 World Cup 2026 Stars — No.1: Kylian Mbappé, France's captain, the tournament favourite, and the player this summer belongs to

Top 10 World Cup 2026 Stars — No.1: Kylian Mbappé, France's captain, the tournament favourite, and the player this summer belongs to

Kylian Mbappé is 27 years old, has scored 56 goals in two La Liga seasons, leads France into this World Cup as captain, and is the tournament favourite. There is no version of this list where he is not number one.

Viva's Power Rankings — No.2: France, the defending champions, the deepest squad in the tournament, and Mbappé four goals from history

Viva's Power Rankings — No.2: France, the defending champions, the deepest squad in the tournament, and Mbappé four goals from history

France are the defending World Cup champions. They have the deepest squad at the tournament. Mbappé is 27 and four goals from the all-time scoring record. They are number two on this list. The gap to number one is Brazil — and it is narrow.

Top 10 World Cup 2026 Stars — No.2: Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old who arrived before the world was ready

Top 10 World Cup 2026 Stars — No.2: Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old who arrived before the world was ready

Lamine Yamal is 18 years old and the most exciting player at World Cup 2026. Spain are the tournament favourites. He is the reason. A hamstring concern is the only thing standing between him and defining the entire summer.

Top 10 World Cup 2026 Stars — No.3: Cristiano Ronaldo, the sixth World Cup, the final chapter, and the refusal to go quietly

Top 10 World Cup 2026 Stars — No.3: Cristiano Ronaldo, the sixth World Cup, the final chapter, and the refusal to go quietly

Cristiano Ronaldo is at his sixth World Cup. No outfield player in history has appeared at more. He is 41 years old. Portugal have a squad good enough to win this tournament. The question is whether he helps or hinders — and the honest answer is both.

Viva's Power Rankings — No.3: Spain, the European champions, the youngest great team in football, and Yamal fit or unfit

Viva's Power Rankings — No.3: Spain, the European champions, the youngest great team in football, and Yamal fit or unfit

Spain are the reigning European champions with the youngest average squad age at this tournament. Lamine Yamal is 18 and arguably the best player in the world. A hamstring concern is the only thing keeping them from number one on this list.

Viva's Power Rankings — No.4: Germany, Musiala returning, a system finally built for the modern game, and twelve years of waiting

Viva's Power Rankings — No.4: Germany, Musiala returning, a system finally built for the modern game, and twelve years of waiting

Germany have not won a World Cup since 2014. Musiala is back from injury. Wirtz is at his peak. Nagelsmann has finally built a system that matches the talent available. Fourth on this list — and Viva's dark horse for the final.

Viva's Power Rankings — No.5: Argentina, the defending champions, the wounded squad, and Messi's final chapter

Viva's Power Rankings — No.5: Argentina, the defending champions, the wounded squad, and Messi's final chapter

Argentina are the defending World Cup champions. They have lost Foyth and potentially Romero to injury. Messi turns 39 during the tournament. They are fifth on this list — and still capable of winning the whole thing.

Top 10 World Cup 2026 Stars — No.4: Lionel Messi, 38 years old, defending champions, one last time

Top 10 World Cup 2026 Stars — No.4: Lionel Messi, 38 years old, defending champions, one last time

Lionel Messi turns 39 three days before Argentina's first group match. He is the defending World Cup champion. He is almost certainly playing his last tournament. None of that context is necessary to explain why he is here — the football does that.

Under-21 Players to Watch — No.1: Lamine Yamal, 18 years old, arguably the best player in the world, and just getting started

Under-21 Players to Watch — No.1: Lamine Yamal, 18 years old, arguably the best player in the world, and just getting started

Lamine Yamal is 18 years old. He is arguably the best player in the world right now, regardless of age. Spain are the tournament favourites and he is the reason. This is not hyperbole — it is the assessment of everyone watching closely enough to know.

Under-21 Players to Watch — No.2: Jamal Musiala, the player Germany built their World Cup around — and the injury comeback that makes him more dangerous

Under-21 Players to Watch — No.2: Jamal Musiala, the player Germany built their World Cup around — and the injury comeback that makes him more dangerous

Jamal Musiala is 22 years old and the best player Germany have had in a generation. He missed significant time through injury. He is back. Players who return from injury with a point to prove at a World Cup tend to produce the tournament's most memorable moments.

Top 10 World Cup 2026 Stars — No.5: Vinícius Júnior, the most dangerous attacker in world football on his day

Top 10 World Cup 2026 Stars — No.5: Vinícius Júnior, the most dangerous attacker in world football on his day

Vinícius Júnior is the most dangerous attacker in world football when everything clicks. Brazil have lost three key players to injury. The pressure on him is enormous. He has been here before.

Under-21 Players to Watch — No.3: João Neves, the PSG midfielder who has already won everything — except a World Cup

Under-21 Players to Watch — No.3: João Neves, the PSG midfielder who has already won everything — except a World Cup

João Neves is 21 years old and has already won back-to-back Champions League titles with PSG. He is Portugal's most important midfielder. The list of things he hasn't won is getting shorter. A World Cup is next on it.

Viva's Power Rankings — No.6: England, sixty years of hurt, Bellingham at his peak, and the squad that has no more excuses

Viva's Power Rankings — No.6: England, sixty years of hurt, Bellingham at his peak, and the squad that has no more excuses

England have not won the World Cup since 1966. In 2026 they have Bellingham at 22, a deep and talented squad, and no more reasons to fail. The defensive injuries are a concern. The attacking quality is not.

Top 10 World Cup 2026 Stars — No.6: Jude Bellingham, the weight of England and the quality to carry it

Top 10 World Cup 2026 Stars — No.6: Jude Bellingham, the weight of England and the quality to carry it

Jude Bellingham is 22 years old and the most important player England have had since the 1990s. Real Madrid built their system around him. England have done the same. In 2026 the weight of a nation arrives alongside the talent to handle it.

Paraguay — the Guaraní, first World Cup since 2010, and the nation that always finds a way to make the knockout rounds

Paraguay are at their first World Cup since 2010. Los Guaraní reached the quarter-finals that year. In 2026 they are in Group D with USA, Australia and Turkey. The tournament has unfinished business with them.

Qatar — the 2022 hosts, the most controversial World Cup in history, and now just another team fighting to prove they belong

Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup and went out in the group stage. In 2026 they qualify on merit through the AFC. Group B with Canada, Switzerland and Bosnia-Herzegovina is their chance to show the world they are more than hosts.

Iraq — the Lions of Mesopotamia, a nation rebuilt through football, and a World Cup that means everything

Iraq are at their first World Cup since 1986. Forty years. The Lions of Mesopotamia qualified through the AFC intercontinental pathway. Group I with France, Norway and Senegal awaits.

Czechia — the Group A dark horse, South Korea's opening match opponents, and the most underrated side at World Cup 2026

Czechia are in Group A with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. They are the most underrated side at World Cup 2026. Patrik Schick leads them. They are quietly capable of the quarter-finals.

Uzbekistan — Central Asia's finest, a first World Cup, and the quiet revolution that football missed

Uzbekistan have never been to a World Cup. In 2026 they face Portugal, Colombia and DR Congo in Group K. Central Asia's most exciting football story arrives on the biggest stage.

Jordan — the first World Cup in history, Group J with Argentina, and the story the tournament needed

Jordan have never played at a World Cup. In 2026 they face Argentina, Algeria and Austria in Group J. The Nashama make history on June 17. The whole of the Arab world is watching.

Sweden — Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres, and the post-Zlatan generation that finally gets its World Cup

Sweden missed the 2022 World Cup. They spent four years making sure it would not happen again. Isak and Gyökeres lead the most complete Swedish squad in two decades.

Bosnia & Herzegovina — the nation that knocked out Italy, the golden generation's successors, and a second chapter that nobody expected

Bosnia & Herzegovina eliminated Italy from World Cup 2026 qualifying. Italy will watch from home. Bosnia will play. The story of how they got here is worth every word.

Haiti — fifty-two years, a nation that never stopped dreaming, and the most emotional return in World Cup 2026

Haiti last played at a World Cup in 1974. In 2026 they return to face Brazil, Morocco and Scotland in Group C. Fifty-two years of waiting. The dream never died.