The 2026 World Cup is just over a month away, with the world’s best players contesting the biggest prize in football across the USA, Canada and Mexico from 11 June.
The 2026 edition sees a record 48 teams contest the World Cup across 104 matches, with final squad lists to be submitted in late May for each participating nation.
But while the build-up to the biggest event in sport is well underway, players must first navigate the final few weeks of the 2025/26 club season.
And the packed schedule has already proven too much for some players, with a number of stars from across Europe’s top leagues having suffered injuries to put their World Cup campaigns in jeopardy.
The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal and Luka Modric are all facing a race to be fit in time for the tournament, though some stars have already been ruled out as their seasons end in heartbreak.
Here, The Independent takes a look at which players are facing a late battle to be fit in time for the summer and which stars have been ruled out.
Kylian Mbappe
The France star is still the talisman for Les Blues but his World Cup campaign is now at risk after a hamstring injury suffered against Real Betis on 24 April.
A club statement from Real Madrid said the Frenchman suffered “an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left leg”, though no estimate was provided on the length of his lay-off. Depending on the severity of the injury, Mbappe could even be back for the end of Madrid’s league campaign, though a more serious injury could rule him out until next season.
Lamine Yamal
Spain starlet Lamine Yamal has emerged as the key man for both La Roja and Barcelona, though the 18-year-old is now at risk of missing the World Cup after suffering a hamstring injury against Celta Vigo on 22 April.
His club issued a statement confirming that Yamal would miss the rest of the club season, though it did add that “he is expected to be available for the World Cup.”
Estevao
Chelsea youngster Estevao is another notable player to have suffered a hamstring injury late into the season, with the Brazilian forced off in his side’s loss to Manchester United on 18 April.
Interim Chelsea manager Calum McFarlane has confirmed the 18-year-old won’t play for the club again this season, and though sources claim he will be fit to make up part of the Brazil squad this summer, some reports suggest he might have suffered the most serious grade of hamstring injury, which could keep him out well into next season.
Luka Modric
Croatia legend Luka Modric sustained an injury to his left cheekbone in AC Milan’s draw with Juventus on 26 April, and the midfielder has now undergone surgery for the issue.
He is not expected to feature again for the Italian giants this season, though Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic said that he is “confident that the recovery will go according to plan and that Luka will lead us at another major competition this summer”.
Mo Salah
Egypt captain Mo Salah could be one of the most high-profile absentees for this summer’s tournament, with the Liverpool legend having been forced off during his side’s win over Crystal Palace with an apparent hamstring injury.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot said he was unsure if Salah will be back before the end of the campaign, and the Egyptian will now face a scan in the week leading up to the Reds’ Premier League clash against Man Utd on 3 May.
Achraf Hakimi
PSG defender Acharaf Hakimi was a key man in Morocco’s historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, but his participation in the 2026 edition is in doubt after he suffered a suspected hamstring injury in the enthralling 5-4 win over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
Hakimi pulled up late on into a frantic game at the Parc des Princes, and PSG boss Luis Enrique could not give an update when speaking after full-time.
Cristian Romero
Tottenham captain Cristian Romero was ruled out for the rest of the season after being forced off in the loss to Sunderland on 12 April with a leg injury.
Subsequent scans revealed a partial tear of his medial cruciate ligament, and the Argentina international now faces a race against time to be back for the defending champions this summer.
World Cup injuries: Who will miss the tournament?
Several high-profile stars have already been ruled out of this summer’s World Cup, with a number of nations now missing crucial players.
France and Liverpool star Hugo Ekitike will be perhaps the most notable absentee this summer, with the 22-year-old having suffered an Achilles injury in the defeat to PSG in the Champions League.
Real Madrid winger Rodrygo is one of several players who has been ruled out this summer after sustaining an ACL injury, with the Brazilian having been ruled out since March. His Madrid teammate and compatriot Eder Militao will also miss the World Cup after he required surgery on a hamstring tear.
Elsewhere, Xavi Simons is the latest Tottenham player to suffer a long-term injury – with the Dutchman ruled out until next season with an ACL injury – while Bayern Munich’s Serge Gnabry has been ruled out after sustaining a tear in his adductor muscle.
