The FIFA World Cup nears the end as the semi-finals commence tonight with European Champions Spain taking on the best-performing team, France. This was a World Cup for the ages, with many legends battling to claim the biggest prize in world football. I want to highlight some legends in particular, players like:
The Greatest What If, Once Called The Heir To Ronaldinho, Neymar
Neymar Jr, one of the best and most entertaining footballers of the past decade and beyond. You see him, and you immediately think, that is what Joga Bonito (play beautifully) means, that is the embodiment of playing beautifully. He overcame many hurdles to make the Brazilian squad for this World Cup, with injuries holding him back again and again, to the point that some fans said he should not be called up because he would only hold the team back, with all eyes on him rather than on the team.
A lot of other fans just wanted him there because he brings the X-factor, the unpredictability in his style of play, which can change the game in an instant. That is the ideal scenario, except it wasn’t.
He was called up to the Brazil squad and got injured just a few days later. Luckily, it didn’t end his World Cup journey, but it might as well have. Because he played less than 90 minutes in 4 games, and spent the rest of the time trying to get fit, his last contribution being a consolation penalty in the last seconds of the match against Norway, and so Neymar Jr.’s World Cup dream ended, and it didn’t end honourably, was it worth it? Sadly, it was not.
The Egyptian King, Mohamed Salah
Fresh after his departure from Liverpool FC, it was a summer of firsts for Salah and Egypt. he led Egypt as captain into another World Cup Campaign. They took on New Zealand, beating them 3-1, ending a 92-year wait for their first World Cup Win. They drew 1-1 with Belgium and with Iran, confirming that they had made it to the knockout stages for the first time in their history. Then they faced Australia in the round of 32, with the match ending 1-1; Egypt beat them 4-2 on penalties.
They made even more history by reaching the round of 16 and by winning and being part of a World Cup penalty shootout for the first time. Salah played all 120 minutes against Australia with a hamstring injury; his performances solidified the love from Egypt and fans from around the world. They were incredibly close to beating World Cup Champions Argentina, leading 2-0 at one point before Argentina mounted a record-breaking comeback and won 3-2. The match may have been controversial, but was this World Cup Campaign Worth it for Mohamed Salah? Yes, it was.
From a Young Colombian Star In Europe to a Leader For His Country, James Rodriguez
James went into his 3rd World Cup with 8 appearances. They played 4 matches, not conceding a single goal. He made 3 more appearances, bringing his total to 11 World Cup appearances, the most by any Colombian Player. Creating 11 chances, the most of any Colombian player in this World Cup, he did his best as Colombia were eliminated by Switzerland in the Round of 16 on penalties.
It may not have been flashy or spectacular, but was this World Cup Campaign worth it for James Rodriguez? I would say yes, he went out trying, which is more than what some players in their prime can say.
A Footballing All-timer, Cristiano Ronaldo
At 41 years of age, choosing to play in the World Cup and the manager choosing to accept that can go one of two ways. First one, it’s worth it, and it pays off with Ronaldo scoring and his teammates playing well with him. The second one is that he’s a hindrance, invisible, and like the Neymar situation, he may hold them back. What actually transpired?
According to data provided by OptaJoe, Ronaldo is the only forward to play 500+ minutes across the 2022 and 2026 World Cup tournaments without successfully dribbling past an opponent. Ronaldo has 17 shots and zero chances created in this World Cup. That would be the most shots by a player without a single chance created in a World Cup over the last 60 years. The most shots taken without a chance created on record (since 1966). They were eliminated from the World Cup by Spain. Was it worth it for Ronaldo? It most certainly was not.