Last World Cup 2026 Footballers Who Could Retire After the Tournament

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is firing up, as the tournament will start on June 11, 2026, and last till July 19. The international men’s soccer championship takes place among the national teams of FIFA, this year hosted by 16 cities—11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada. 

However, this year is special, as the last World Cup 2026 footballers have some big and bold names who we will be seen on the football field for the last time. Some of the legends who would grace the game of football for the last time are gathered here. 

Who are the last World Cup 2026 footballers?

Lionel Messi from Argentina

At 39, Lionel Messi will tie up his laces for the last time in FIFA 2026. He helped secure Argentina’s third World Cup victory in 2022, making him undoubtedly one of the greatest players of all time. His dream of winning the World Cup for his country was fulfilled four years ago, with 13 goals across all World Cups. 

He is the first male player to participate in six different World Cups, having won 8 Ballon d’Or. He holds the record for maximum World Cup appearances, surpassing Lothar Matthäus. He is the key player who supports Argentina to become the first back-to-back champion since Brazil in 1962. 

Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal

Ronaldo, 41, confirmed last year that he would hang up his boots completely after the FIFA World Cup 2026, as per BBC. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner will suit up one last time for his team, who is the oldest member to have secured 8 goals in all of his World Cup appearances. 

He is a key holder to his team’s success and morale in FIFA 2026. He is known to be the first and only player in soccer history to score 100 competitive goals for four different clubs: Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al Nasser. It was his fame that made him the most expensive player to be signed by Manchester United in 2009.  

Luka Modric from Croatia

The long-time teammate of Ronaldo, Luka Modric, also joins the list of footballers who are playing for the last time this FIFA season. He led his team to the finals in the 2018 World Cup against France and was eventually named the Ballon d’Or winner. He became the first player to win this prestigious honor, other than Ronaldo and Messi. In 2022, Croatia was able to gain a third-place victory over Morocco because of Modric. 

The central midfielder is revered as one of the greatest playmakers for his team, as his incredible tactical intelligence, vision, and signature playstyle of kicking the ball with the outside of his foot set him apart from the rest. He was named Croatia’s Player of the Year 12 times. 

Guillermo Ochoa from Mexico

Ochoa is the goalkeeper belonging to the World Cup’s hosting city. The 40-year-old player will play an integral part in Mexico’s World Cup run, as he holds the record for his heroic performances in international tournaments. He is one of the first players to be selected for six FIFA World Cups. 

His breakout performance is the one where he earned a clean-sheet draw (a clean sheet is when the goalkeeper and his team prevent the opposing team from scoring any goals for the entire match) against Brazil in the 2014 World Cup, which made him an overnight sensation. Though he was initially a backup in 2006 and 2010, with his strength and shrewdness, he became an undisputed Mexican star in subsequent years. 

Manuel Neuer from Germany

At the age of 40, Neuer has proved himself competent with numerous goal saves, especially throughout his career for Germany and Bundesliga club Bayern Munich. He rightfully received one of the top-3 Ballon d’Or rankings as a goalkeeper. 

He is popular for his “sweeper-keeper” style, which he uses to swoosh like a flash in his penalty box to sense attacks from the opposing team and act defensively in his offensive plays. He holds the Bundesliga records for both most clean sheets in a single season (21) and the most career clean sheets in the competition’s history. Justly, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) named him the World’s Best Goalkeeper of the Decade for 2011-2020.    

Neymar Jr. from Brazil

The whole generation of young footballers idolizes Neymar Jr., who scored eight goals in his entire World Cup career. He is famed for his phenomenal dribbling, fancy tricks with precise playmaking, which have deservedly led him to become Brazil’s true icon.  He was the first Brazilian athlete ever to be featured on the cover of Time magazine in February 2013. 

He has had several setbacks, such as losing in the quarter-finals in 2022 to Croatia and 2018 to Belgium, along with losing in the infamous 7-1 semi-final game against Germany in 2014, which made him stronger. He surpassed Brazilian legend Pelé to become the all-time leading goal scorer for the Brazilian men’s team, netting over 79 international goals. He also holds the honor of captaining Brazil to their first-ever Olympic gold medal in men’s football at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.