Galatasaray-victor osimhen-45.webp
The Digest:

The 2026 World Cup will miss some of football's brightest talents after several top nations crashed out in qualifying, with Nigeria's Victor Osimhen headlining a list of global stars who fell short. The absence of these players reveals the fine margins in international football, where even golden generations can be left watching from the sidelines when collective effort falters.

Key Points:
  • Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) misses back-to-back World Cups after penalty-shootout loss to DR Congo.
  • Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia) couldn't carry his nation past Spain and Turkey in Group E.
  • Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon) retires without a World Cup appearance despite 7 qualifying goals.
  • Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary) was devastated after Ireland's last-minute winner ended their hopes.
  • Dusan Vlahovic (Serbia) failed to deliver as his nation finished behind Albania.
  • Benjamin Sesko (Slovenia) battled injury during a disappointing qualifying campaign.
  • Keylor Navas (Costa Rica) came out of retirement but couldn't prevent early elimination.
This collection of absent stars serves as a stark reminder that in international football, individual brilliance alone cannot guarantee a place on the world's biggest stage.

Sources: GOAL