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  • The 2022 World Cup is going to be a huge tournament for a lot of players.

  • For some, it'll be their first-ever appearance at the World Cup, and for some others, it'll be their last-ever.

  • We've already looked at some players who'll be playing in the World Cup for the first time this year,

  • so, this time around, we want to look at some players for whom Qatar would be their last dance.

  • Here are 10 football legends who'll be playing their last World Cup in 2022.

  • Number 1, Cristiano Ronaldo

  • CR7 will be 38 in 3 months, and as much as we hate to admit it, he no longer looks as good as he used to about a decade ago.

  • So, you get the feeling that after Qatar, he might just hang up his international boots.

  • By the time the next tournament comes around, Ronaldo will be 41.

  • And while we don't doubt that he might still be playing professionally by then,

  • it's a little unlikely that he'll be fit and willing to go for another World Cup.

  • So, take in every bit of CR7 at Qatar.

  • You may never see him play a World Cup game after this year's edition is over.

  • Number 2, Neymar Jr.

  • Now, while CR7's World Cup future is based on speculation, Neymar's is pretty certain.

  • The 30-year-old Brazilian has confirmed that the 2022 World Cup will be his last,

  • as he doesn't think he has the mental capacity to handle another tournament.

  • So, even though he'll be a decent age of 34 when the next tournament comes to his neighboring North America, he won't be taking part.

  • Number 3, Angel Di Maria

  • Di Maria is another who has confirmed that he will not be going for another World Cup after Qatar.

  • As a matter of fact, he said that he'll be retiring from international football once the World Cup is over in December.

  • So, Qatar will be the last time we see Di Maria in an Argentina shirt.

  • Will he be able to score another final winner, just like he did last year in the Copa America to bow out in style?

  • We'll just have to wait to find out.

  • Number 4, Thomasller

  • ller has had an amazing career, and he's actually a pretty underrated player.

  • But now in his mid-30s, he already looks like he's in the twilight of his career.

  • He's no longer a regular in the Bayern first team, and he also doesn't start many games for Germany, either.

  • He's very likely to be included in Flick's squad, though, because of his experience and the edge he gives Germany,

  • but this is most probably going to be the last World Cup for the 2010 Golden Boot winner.

  • Number 5, Sergio Ramos

  • If Ramos is called up for the 2022 World Cup, you expect that it'd be the last for the 36-year-old.

  • But of all the legends on this list, we have to say that he's the one with the least likelihood of flying out to Qatar.

  • Apart from his recent injury problems, Enrique seems to have moved on from the former Real Madrid captain,

  • now relying on the younger Eric Garcia and Pau Torres as well as the experienced Aymeric Laporte in the center-back positions.

  • But Ramos has been included in Enrique's 55-man provisional squad for the World Cup,

  • and if he makes the final cut, you could be sure it'd be his last-ever appearance at the World Cup.

  • If Sergio Ramos is going to make it to the 23-man list for Spain, he'll have his age-old rival and compatriot, Gerard Piqué, to contend with.

  • Yes, the former Barcelona man just retired from football and had retired from international football since 2018,

  • but he was included in the provisional list, so there's an outside chance he could be called up for one last dance with Spain.

  • Number 6, Luka Modric

  • Modric really overachieved when he led his Croatian teammates to the World Cup final last time around.

  • And still going on to win an extra Champions League as a major player for Real Madrid after that is nothing short of incredible.

  • But no matter how incredible he has proven to be as a player, the guy is still human.

  • The Ballon d'Or winner is now 37, and for sure, this will be his last World Cup outing.

  • He'll probably even just retire from international football after this.

  • Who knows?

  • Number 7, Luis Suárez

  • Suárez is already in the twilight of what has been an incredible career.

  • He is no doubt one of the greatest strikers of his generation, and has been very entertaining at the World Cup.

  • He had that bite in 2014, and that handball in the quarter final in 2010.

  • So, when he bows out after this year, we will all miss him for sure.

  • But hopefully, he can bow out with one last entertaining controversy in Qatar.

  • And with a replay of the 2010 quarter final between Uruguay and Ghana sure to happen at the World Cup this time around,

  • all eyes will be on Luis Suárez to pull off some farewell drama.

  • By the way, Suárez's strike partner, Edinson Cavani, will also be saying farewell to the World Cup this year.

  • That's if he's fit enough to make it.

  • He's currently nursing an ankle injury, but we expect that he'll be just fine to get on the plane to Qatar, even though he might not be a starter.

  • Number 8, Kevin De Bruyne

  • De Bruyne hasn't said for sure that he's retiring.

  • In fact, he said he doesn't know what will happen 4 years from now.

  • But he is one person that has always been vocal about how tight schedules have become for footballers because of more international games now being played.

  • So, at 31, you might expect him to be flirting with the idea of hanging up his international boots after this tournament,

  • and focusing on winning all he can win with that Manchester City super team.

  • He has also said that his entire family will be traveling to watch him at the World Cup for the first time this year,

  • because, according to him, this World Cup will be special and he won't like his kids to miss it.

  • Perhaps there's a message in there: He will no longer play on a stage this big, so he wants his entire family to come and watch his last dance.

  • Number 9, Eden Hazard

  • With the way Hazard's career has gone recently, he might just be retiring from football completely soon.

  • He has struggled for playing time since joining Real Madrid in 2019,

  • and with the former Chelsea man turning 32 in only a couple of months, you expect that the end is looming.

  • Even though he has hardly played for his club all season, Hazard will surely be called up to lead Belgium to the World Cup in a matter of days.

  • But from the look of things, that will be the last time he gets to do that.

  • Number 10, Lionel Messi

  • Here's another guy who will most likely be leading his national team for the last time in Qatar.

  • Lionel Messi's future is the hottest transfer topic in the world of football right now.

  • With his contract at PSG expiring at the end of the season, it's still unclear where Messi will be plying his trade next season.

  • France, Spain, England, Americawho knows?

  • Well, one thing we know for sure is that 2022 will be his last World Cup, as he revealed in a recent interview.

  • The former Barcelona captain has had his heart broken on the international stage several times,

  • but he finally had some joy wearing the blue and white of Argentina last year when he led them to Copa America success.

  • So, if he retires now, he retires a happy man.

  • But he has one more World Cup tournament in him, and he is determined to make it special.

  • He's taking an early leave from PSG to get himself ready for Qatar, and has been preserving himself all season.

  • This will be the first time in Messi's career that Argentina will be entering a World Cup as real favorites,

  • so, the 35-year-old is trying to make the best of Argentina's brilliant form and make his last dance the best dance ever.

  • Will he be able to do it?

  • Or will CR7 have something to say about it?

  • Maybe it will even be a different legend entirely that will have the perfect last dance.

  • What do you think?

  • Let us know in the comments.

  • Also, there are a lot more legends who might be going for their last World Cup this year.

  • Giroud, Pépé, Thiago Silva, Neuer, Lewandowski, Benzema... keep the list going in the comments.

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  • Also, turn on the bell notification so you never miss out on new content, and we'll catch you in the next one.

  • Bye-bye.

The 2022 World Cup is going to be a huge tournament for a lot of players.

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