(Football news) The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is just 3 days away. The tournament promises to be exciting as always even though it is in the middle of the season. While the tournament is about national teams trying to win the coveted trophy, individually for the players it is also pivotal. The World Cup is a brilliant platform for players to showcase their talent at the biggest stage. There are a lot of exciting young players who have the potential to light the tournament on fire. On the other hand there are players who are in their absolute prime and could put in the performance of a lifetime. The World Cup is also a platform for players to reignite their careers.
Here are 5 players who have a point to prove at the World Cup
5. Eden Hazard
The winger was one of the best in the world at Chelsea but since his move to Real Madrid, Hazard has been struggling with injuries. Now that he is fully fit, there are other players who the manager prefers. In the 2018 edition of the World Cup, Hazard won the silver ball when Belgium finished 3rd. This time around he will be looking to do well once again not only to help Belgium but also to catch Carlo Ancelotti's eye. If Hazard does have a good World Cup then it could force Ancelotti to trust him more which could then get his career back on track.
4. Marco Asensio
Marco Asensio is in a similar situation and even though he has recently been playing a lot more than he did at the start of the season it's still not as much as he would like. Asensio's contract runs out at the end of this season and a good World Cup will definitely help him earn an extension with Real Madrid. Luis Enrique has already confirmed that he intends to use him as a false 9 which many believe to be his best position. If he does have an impactful World Cup then he might get an extension and he could also feature more in the team.
3. Memphis Depay
Memphis Depay came to Barcelona during a crisis period and did decently. He then started having injury problems which slowed his progress. In the summer Barcelona signed Lewandowski and Depay failed to secure a move away after which the Dutchman has struggled to get game time. He is one of the most important players for the Netherlands and a lot of their progress will depend on Depay. If he does have a good tournament then he might find some buyers in January which will reignite his career.
2. Christian Pulisic
Pulisic's move to Chelsea has been a failure so far. He has had a few periods where he has been a starter but the consistency is just not there. He is likely to be the captain of the USA and there would be no better way to catch Graham Potter's eye than to perform against England in their group stage fixture. He might even attract attention from other clubs if he has a good World Cup.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo is often the most talked about player in football but this week he is the only one football fans are talking about. After trouble with Manchester United, the talisman gave an explosive interview which has rattled quite a few feathers before the full video has even been released. There is no way to take back or correct his off the pitch actions right now. The best way to respond to the criticism will be to perform at the World Cup. He has been out of form this season but he turns up for Portugal more times than not. Ronaldo won the golden boot at the Euro 2020 and the silver boot at the 2018 World Cup. The Portuguese forward is more than capable of producing something special at the World Cup which might help him secure a much needed move away from Manchester United in January.
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