The 2026 World Cup will be defined in large part by attacking players who arrive with clear form lines and specific questions to answer. Several forwards in North America carry momentum from strong club seasons, while others bring a mix of fitness concerns and huge potential.

Bukayo Saka notched a remarkable campaign as Arsenal claimed Premier League glory, but he enters the tournament in mediocre form. The Englishman produced 18 goal involvements in 2025–26 as injuries robbed him of momentum at key junctures. The 24-year-old has blistering speed, gazelle-like agility and a wondrous left boot. If England is going to win its first World Cup for 60 years, Saka must deliver on the right wing. Three goals and an assist in Qatar four years ago is an encouraging sign.

Luis Díaz has been integral to Colombia’s hopes. The Bayern Munich winger enjoyed a remarkable debut campaign in Bavaria that ended with a domestic treble, contributing 26 goals and 19 assists across all competitions. The tenacious 29-year-old missed the last World Cup through injury, so this will be his first tournament and he will be determined to lead his nation.

Raphinha’s 2024–25 breakthrough into Ballon d’Or contention gave way to a quieter 2025–26 at Barcelona because of fitness issues. Still, 28 goal involvements in 33 matches is an impressive return. The 29-year-old returned from injury in May and, after six weeks of action, could be a useful and versatile option for Brazil as Carlo Ancelotti’s side pursue a sixth title.

Ousmane Dembélé remains one of the most flexible forwards available. He beat Raphinha to the 2025 Ballon d’Or and, despite a slight dip in output, operated effectively as a false nine during a Champions League-winning campaign with Paris Saint-Germain. Dembélé is likely to resume a right-wing role for France, where his two-footedness and clean ball striking will be valued.

Vinicius Junior emerged with credit from a difficult season for Real Madrid, producing 21 goal involvements in 2026 and two goals in pre-tournament friendlies for Brazil. Michael Olise, a Bayern Munich standout, arrived in form after a pre-tournament hat-trick against Northern Ireland and a season of 25 goals and 28 assists in Germany.

Erling Haaland carried Norway back to the World Cup with 16 goals in eight qualifying matches. The Manchester City striker’s ruthless efficiency will determine how far Norway go. Kylian Mbappé, needing four goals to match Miroslav Klose’s record, arrives having produced consecutive 43-goal campaigns for Real Madrid and will remain France’s primary attacking threat, supported by Dembélé and Olise.

Michael Olise’s rise to a World Cup place is notable for how uneven his early pathway was. The London-born winger spent time in several top academies before finding a route to senior football via Reading, progressing through Crystal Palace and completing a 2024 move to Bayern.

Olise finished the 2025–26 season with 53 goals and assists in 52 appearances for Bayern and enters the tournament as a key player for pre-tournament favorite France. He signed off France’s final practice match against Northern Ireland with a hat-trick and has returned to his preferred right wing after spending much of 2025 and early 2026 in France’s No. 10 position. Olise’s relationship with Kylian Mbappé could be crucial.

The early stops on his journey were difficult. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City all had him in their systems at youth level, but he did not remain at those clubs and Reading ultimately offered him the platform to break through. José Gomes, who was Reading’s manager when Olise debuted, described the struggles that followed those early exits.

“Before he was 14, he was at Arsenal’s youth academy, but he didn’t adapt,” Gomes said. He added: “Chelsea kicked him out for the same reason some tried to do so at Reading: because he didn’t attend classes and didn’t pay attention to his studies.”

Gomes also recalled the Manchester City episode: “At [Manchester] City, it was because his teammates laughed at him. He had weak arms, and English boys were strong. When the fitness coach told them to do push ups, he struggled a lot, and his teammates mocked him. He felt humiliated and left.”

At Reading Gomes put Olise through a tough apprenticeship in training before handing him his debut. “I told my players not to hold back when it came to tackling him hard in training so he could learn what professional soccer is like. Michael complained and cried … he didn’t understand it at the time. I told him that if he could endure a week of his teammates’ defensive actions without crying, I’d call him up. In the end, it was two weeks, and when I thought he was ready, I called him up.” Olise made his Reading debut in March 2019 at 17.

That combination of resilience and subsequent form at Bayern has placed him among France’s influential options heading into the 2026/27 international season.

Goalkeepers are no longer only shot-stoppers. They are required to command their area, organise defence, save penalties and also initiate attacks with accurate passing. That combination of traditional and modern demands can make the difference between progress and early exit at a major tournament.

Bart Verbruggen retained the Netherlands’ No. 1 spot as they reached the Euro 2024 semifinals and is expected to keep that role at the World Cup. He conceded fewer than a goal per game for the Netherlands and recorded a 50% clean sheet rate. His distribution and sweeping ability stand out, drawing comparisons to Manuel Neuer and attracting interest from Europe’s elite.

Jordan Pickford is not the most glamorous name but remains crucial for England. The Everton shot-stopper celebrates saves with characteristic fervour, even screaming “Vamos!” in his distinctive Mackem voice. He often delivers in big moments, producing spectacular saves and performing in penalty shootouts; he might already be seen as a national hero had England’s attackers not faltered in the Euro 2020 final shootout.

Diogo Costa is a modern-day sweeper-keeper, comfortable with the ball at his feet and vital to Portugal’s possession style. He offers precise short and long passing and is an exceptional penalty specialist, saving over a quarter of spot-kicks he has faced for club and country (excluding shootouts). In Euro 2024 he repelled all three of Slovenia’s penalties in the round of 16, a feat not previously achieved at the European Championships.

Manuel Neuer, now in his forties, remains among the world’s best. As Bayern Munich stormed to another Bundesliga title in 2025–26, Neuer continued to excel with the aggressive sweeper-keeper game he helped pioneer. His reflexes may have dipped but his reading of the game, command of the penalty area and ability on the ball remain world class.

Switzerland moved on following Yann Sommer’s international retirement in 2024 and have Gregor Kobel as a capable successor. The 6’5″ Borussia Dortmund keeper conceded just two goals in five qualifying appearances and finished the club season with a Bundesliga-high 15 clean sheets, reinforcing his standing among Europe’s elite shot-stoppers.

Forget Lionel Messi—it was Emiliano Martínez who was truly Argentina’s hero in the 2022 World Cup final. He made a last-gasp added-time save to deny France a winner, got a glove to Kingsley Coman’s penalty in the shootout and used mind games ahead of Aurélien Tchouaméni’s miss. Martínez has continued to deliver for Aston Villa, helping them to a top-four Premier League finish and the Europa League title in 2025–26.

Alisson Becker remained reliable for Liverpool in an injury-disrupted campaign, excelling in one-on-one situations and offering pinpoint distribution. Heading into the tournament he has five clean sheets in nine World Cup appearances and 44 shutouts in 77 caps for Brazil.

Mike Maignan wears the No. 16 shirt for France but is his country’s first-choice keeper. Despite AC Milan’s torrid 2025–26 season, Maignan ranked among Serie A’s top performers for clean sheets, saves made and penalties saved. His reflexes mark him out as a truly elite shot-stopper and a strong World Cup could accelerate talk of a move away from San Siro.