Maradona was not in the 1978 World Cup, Cruyff missed the 1982 World Cup, Pasarella missed the 1986 World Cup. Di Stéfano never played in a World Cup, nor did Weah, the 1995 Ballon d'Or. Throughout history many important players have not they could be in the event that paralyzes the world of soccer every four years. In Qatar there will also be notable absences, both individual and collective, among which are those of Karim Benzema, current Ballon d'Or, and Sadio Mané, Mo Salah and Erling Haaland, among the ten classified for the main individual award.
If someone will miss important players in Qatar it will be France. Deschamps will not be able to count on up to four players of the highest world level due to injury. To begin with, Benzema had to leave as soon as he arrived. The Ballon d'Or misses the tournament, an outstanding absence that leaves the World Cup a bit orphaned. Neither will Pogba and Kanté, the undisputed protagonists in the 2018 edition in which they were crowned champions in Russia. Nkuku, the Leipzig star who was injured by Camavinga, has also had to leave Doha.
When we look back in a few years, it will be very surprising that Erling Haaland did not participate in Qatar. This is the largest appearance in world football in recent years. He possibly he is already the most decisive striker. But his sin is to be part of a team like Norway's, with very little potential. The Manchester City forward, who had a huge start to the season, was injured for some time and missed several games in the qualifiers, something that hurt his team. He is young and will have more options.
He led Senegal to glory by winning the last Africa Cup of Nations, something that earned Sadio Mané second in voting for the Ballon d'Or. But an untimely knee injury against Werder Bremen, a few days before beginning of the World Cup, has separated him from his participation. He will not be able to lead a team with the maturity to be important in Qatar.
The absence of Liverpool's Egyptian star, Mo Salah, has to do with his team's defeat in the African Cup final against Senegal. One of the most dominating players in the world misses out on the World Cup because Egypt, and himself, failed to measure up in a dramatic penalty shootout.
The Atlético Madrid goalkeeper is, for many, the best in the world. But as he happens to so many, he was born in a country with little soccer tradition and does not usually participate in these events. In 2010 it was the last time for Slovenia in a World Cup and Oblak will have to wait until 2026.
A legend in Sweden and Italy. The extroverted striker will not be able to withdraw from a World Cup as he would have liked. A long time away from the National Team due to clashes with the coaches, he returned to go to the Euro Cup and to get the ticket to Qatar, but he did not succeed. He missed the Euro due to injury and he was barely able to help in the play-off for his Sweden against Poland.
The most significant collective absence is undoubtedly that of the Italian team. Four times champion and current winner in the Eurocup, Mancini's men are the only team that has lifted the World Cup that is not present in Qatar. This is the second time in a row. The illustrious Italian generation led by Donarumma, Verratti and Immobile will have to wait until 2026 for the weight of history to fall on their rivals again. Her last title was in 2006. She will be missed, but Italy always comes back.
In addition to those mentioned there will be as many absences as teams are not present at the World Cup. Sebastian Haller and David Alaba stand out, the stars of Austria; Riyad Mahrez, leader of Algeria, eliminated by Cameroon; Luis Díaz, the best Colombian player; o Victor Osimhen, Nigeria's star striker.
