World Cup 2026: the legends playing their Final Tournament

A chapter in football history is about to close for good. The 2026 World Cup will be the last great international stage for some of the sport's most iconic figures.

From Lionel Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo, from Luka Modrić to Kevin De Bruyne — a golden generation is preparing to take its final bow on the world's biggest stage.

Heritage, pressure and raw emotion: this edition promises to be unlike any other. Because beyond the trophy, it marks the end of an era. Golden Vegas, one of the best online sports betting destinations available, brings you the stars set to play their last dance on the global stage.

Lionel Messi (Argentina): one last challenge for the greatest

Since 18 December 2022, nothing can be taken away from Leo Messi. In Qatar, La Pulga lifted the Jules Rimet Trophy — a lifelong dream he had been chasing since 2006.

It was in Germany that the Argentine played his very first World Cup. Twenty years on, he lines up for his sixth and final edition, having experienced everything the tournament has to offer.

Although he has kept people guessing — saying he takes things "day by day" and that his participation depends entirely on his physical condition — everyone knows the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner will be there to defend his title.

He also knows the host stadiums better than most, having spent two years playing in MLS. A detail that could prove a decisive edge in the hunt for a second world title.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): one last shot at greatness

He too will be appearing at the world's greatest football event for a sixth time — a historic achievement when you consider that a player like Gianluigi Donnarumma, at 27, has never played a single World Cup match, with Italy eliminated in the play-offs by Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Now plying his trade at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo was named by Bloomberg as the first billionaire footballer in history, with estimated annual earnings of $280 million.

But beyond the fortune, it is the World Cup that remains the one glaring gap in a remarkable trophy cabinet — five Champions League titles, Euro 2016 and two Nations League crowns notwithstanding.

At 41, with 143 international goals — an outright world record — Ronaldo arrives at this tournament with a single obsession: finally claiming the one prize that would make an already legendary career complete.

Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium): the Red Devil chasing redemption

Make the most of it, Belgian fans in Seattle, the Red Devils' base camp. If you want a photograph with Kevin De Bruyne, this is your last chance to see him pull on the national shirt.

At 34, the Napoli midfielder has never hidden the fact that this World Cup will be his final major international tournament with the national side.

With 115 caps, 36 goals and 53 assists, De Bruyne is statistically among the finest players ever to represent Belgium.

Yet one thing remains painfully absent from his CV: an international title. Believing in him means believing Belgium can win the tournament and shock the world — because the bookmakers certainly are not backing a Belgian triumph.

Luka Modrić (Croatia): five World Cups and still standing

His fractured left cheekbone had everyone fearing the worst. Would Luka Modrić end up joining the list of notable absentees for the next World Cup?

At 40, the Croatian midfielder is set to compete at his fifth consecutive World Cup — a feat that precious few players in football history can claim.

With Croatia, he steered his country to the final in 2018 and third place in 2022. For this final tournament, his ambition is straightforward: give his teammates a send-off worthy of everything they have built together.

Neymar: the farewell that never was

Football runs in cycles. Every generation eventually passes the baton to the next. But some generations leave such a profound mark that imagining the game without them feels almost impossible.

Messi and Ronaldo dominated their sport for two decades, constantly redefining what was achievable. Modrić proved you can still be among the very best past the age of 40. De Bruyne has embodied Belgian brilliance across every major European stage.

You could also add N'Golo Kanté with France to this list, or Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa — who had a spell in the Jupiler Pro League at Standard de Liège — but not Neymar.

Barring a late twist, the Brazilian legend will not be called up by manager Carlo Ancelotti, who does not consider him match-fit — a decision that has left an entire nation heartbroken.

Despite the absence of the former wonderkid, the 2026 World Cup — with its expanded 48-team format and three host nations — is shaping up to be the greatest football tournament ever staged. This is one you simply cannot afford to miss.