A host of stars will be absent from the 2026 World Cup.

The biggest disappointment belongs to the Italian team . The four-time world champions are absent from the World Cup for the third consecutive time. This means goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has yet to play in a World Cup, despite being one of the best goalkeepers in the world. At 27 years old, Donnarumma will have to wait at least another four years to have any hope of realizing his dream.

Similarly, Robert Lewandowski also missed out on the World Cup after Poland 's failure in the European play-offs. The 37-year-old striker has only scored two goals in World Cup history and likely played his last international match.

Another star whose absence is disappointing is Victor Osimhen . The Galatasaray striker scored eight goals in the qualifiers but couldn't help Nigeria overcome the Democratic Republic of Congo. The "Super Eagles" continue their absence from the World Cup, while Osimhen's prime years risk passing by without him shining on the biggest stage.

In Africa, Pierre -Emerick Aubameyang's World Cup dream also ended. Despite scoring 7 goals in the qualifying campaign, the former Arsenal striker was unable to lead Gabon to their first-ever appearance in the finals. At 36 years old, Aubameyang's chances are almost over.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia shone at Euro 2024 but couldn't help Georgia achieve a miracle. The Eastern European team finished behind Spain and Turkey in the qualifying round. Not participating in the 2026 World Cup also diminishes the chances of the "Best Champions League Player of 2025/26" winning the 2026 Ballon d'Or.

Christian Eriksen is one of the unfortunate names missing from the 2026 World Cup . Denmark lost to the Czech Republic on penalties in the play-off round, meaning the 34-year-old midfielder missed the chance to participate in another World Cup in the twilight of his career.

Dominik Szoboszlai was also unable to represent Hungary in North America. The Hungarian captain played outstandingly in the qualifying rounds, but his team lost their ticket to the next round in the final moments, ending their dream of participating in the World Cup after a 44-year wait.

Dusan Vlahovic endured a forgettable qualifying campaign with Serbia . The Juventus striker only scored two goals and disappointed in crucial matches, as Serbia failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 2014.

Alexis Sanchez continues to miss out on the biggest stage in world football. Chile finished last in their South American qualifying group, and the 37-year-old striker no longer possesses the influence he had during his peak.

Bryan Mbeumo was a major disappointment for Cameroon . Despite having a quality squad, the "Indomitable Lions" were eliminated in the African play-off round. Mbeumo even missed a golden opportunity in the decisive play-off match.

Benjamin Sesko will miss the 2026 World Cup. The Manchester United striker was unable to help Slovenia improve their poor qualifying record, as the team lacked the squad depth to compete with stronger opponents.

Source: https://znews.vn/dan-ngoi-sao-vang-mat-o-world-cup-2026-post1656331.html