Five days to go: 🖐️ legends likely playing their last World Cup | OneFootball

Football’s biggest stage has been home to some top talent over the years but each World Cup is the final World Cup for some enormous names.

Here are five all but certainly entering their final ever finals.

Marta (Brazil)

Age: 37

Caps: 175

Year of Debut: 2002

World Cups played in: Five

Importance to Brazil: Where to start? Brazil’s no. 10 is widely considered the greatest to ever play the game. She holds the record for most World Cup goals, (men’s or women’s) and won five consecutive FIFA World Player of the Year awards from 2006-2010 before another in 2018. Manager Pia Sundhage admitted she might not play as many minutes this time around so embrace it when she is on the pitch.

Megan Rapinoe (USA)

Age: 38

Caps: 199

Year of Debut: 2006

World Cups played in: Three

Importance to the USA: Rapinoe’s influence for the USA cannot be played down. The OL Reign star has won the World Cup twice and ranks in the international side’s top 10 in both goals (63) and assists (73). Now the oldest member of the national team looking for a historic three-peat, her demeanour and authority are vital: off the pitch, the 2019 Ballon d’Or winner is a leader in the space of advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and equal pay.

Eugénie Le Sommer (France)

Age: 34

Caps: 178

Year of Debut: 2009

World Cups played in: Three

Importance to France: With Marie-Antoinette Katoto injured, the door is open for Le Sommer to have an impact Down Under. The striker had not been called up for two years prior to April but has 89 international goals and could yet add to her four strikes at World Cups this time around.

Caroline Seger (Sweden)

Age: 38

Caps: 235

Year of Debut: 2005

World Cups played in: Four

Importance to Sweden: Seger’s experience and calm presence in midfield is huge for Sweden. The metronomic midfielder has lost two World Cup semi-finals and two Olympic finals during her incredible international career and this summer offers one final chance at glory.

Christine Sinclair (Canada)

Age: 40

Caps: 323

Year of Debut: 2000

World Cups played in: Five

Importance to Canada: Or should we say importance to football? A beacon for her country and the game, she holds the record for most all-time goals at international level (190 goals) and is a relatively reserved individual who explodes against opponents when she crosses that white line. The natural goal scorers’ influence continues off the pitch, too, as Canada continues to push for equal pay from their federation. National team manager Bev Priestman recently dubbed her Canada’s Michael Jordan.

Who will you miss the most?