Five Big Names To Miss FIFA Club World Cup Action

FIFA’s first-ever expanded Club World Cup, set to kick off in the United States this weekend, boasts a massive $1 billion prize pool—yet it will be without several of football’s biggest stars.

AFP Sport spotlights five high-profile players who will be absent from stadiums across the U.S. during the tournament:

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
After a demanding season that saw him fade during the final stretch, Mohamed Salah may be glad to have the summer off. The Egyptian star recently shared a photo of himself sunbathing on the beach via Instagram.

Still, his absence—along with teammates like captain Virgil van Dijk—denies fans a potential rematch against their Champions League rivals Paris Saint-Germain.

Liverpool transfer target Florian Wirtz will also be missing, as his club, Bayer Leverkusen, did not qualify.
That means Egyptian winger Salah, who broke the Premier League record for goal involvements with 29 strikes and 18 assists, misses out.

Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
Arguably the most exciting young talent in world football, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal lit up the pitch for Barcelona this season. The Spain international is even considered a Ballon d’Or contender.

Yamal’s flair for dazzling dribbles and spectacular plays has drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi. However, with Barcelona not qualifying, Yamal may have missed his only opportunity to face Messi—who will feature with Inter Miami.

Barcelona fans will also lament the absence of stars like Raphinha, midfield talent Pedri, and veteran forward Robert Lewandowski.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr)
The long-anticipated clash between Messi and his iconic rival Cristiano Ronaldo will not materialize in the U.S.

The 40-year-old Portuguese legend was reportedly exploring options to join a participating team. FIFA President Gianni Infantino even hinted at potential moves, stating that “discussions” were underway regarding Ronaldo’s possible involvement.

However, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who recently lifted the Nations League trophy with Portugal, appeared to end speculation.

“Some teams reached out to me,” Ronaldo said last Saturday.

“Some made sense and others did not, but you can’t try and do everything. You can’t catch every ball.”

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Arsenal, semi-finalists in the Champions League, will also miss out on the Club World Cup. The tournament could have offered a valuable shot at silverware following another season without trophies.

Saka, a key figure for the Gunners, has only one club title to his name—the FA Cup in 2020.

Mikel Arteta’s side had a promising campaign, notably eliminating Real Madrid from the Champions League, but ultimately fell short of major honors.

For a player of his caliber, who’s been competing at the top for six seasons, Saka could use more medals. Arsenal, too, will rue the missed opportunity for both sporting success and a share of the tournament’s lucrative prize money, as they look to keep pace with dominant sides like Liverpool and Manchester City.

Neymar (Santos)
Brazilian superstar Neymar has been sidelined by injuries during his time at Al-Hilal and made a return to Santos in January 2025, aiming to regain full fitness ahead of next year’s World Cup.

At 33, Neymar remains one of the most marketable players in world football. His absence is seen not only as a sporting loss but also as a commercial one.

“Neymar, what can I say about him? He’s an outstanding player who, for me, in my football cycle, is in the top three, with Cristiano and Messi,” said Brazil midfielder Casemiro.

With organizers reportedly facing challenges in selling tickets, Neymar’s participation could have been a major draw for fans.

— AFP