Why are some people complaining that, with just over a month to go before kick-off, there is relatively little hype around the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
This is not new to the tournament held every four years. I remember the negative talk about the 2022 Qatar World Cup, with the sceptics loudly wondering how such a tournament could be taken to such a tiny country with little football history. There was even talk by some nations of boycotting the tournament altogether.
To my mind, 2022 Qatar World Cup was one of the best-staged World Cups. I am certain the 2026 tournament will be another great celebration of the beautiful name. Already, it is set for the history books as the biggest World Cup ever with a record 48 nations participating.
History will also be written when the tournament is jointly hosted by three nations – USA, Canada and Mexico for the first time.
Hype or no hype, we are in for some great football with no less than six nations capable of winning football’s most coveted prize.
Spain, France, England, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Portugal and even dark horses Norway, with their respective coterie of star players, will fancy their chances.
Away from the obvious prize, there are other accolades you can only earn through longevity. Old is indeed gold, and I am getting excited over what football’s ageing stars could potentially accomplish in America.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has confirmed that the country’s jewel for almost two decades now, Cristiano Ronaldo, is very much part of his plans for this year’s tournament. At 41, Ronaldo, a winner of five Ballon d’Or awards, will be the ripe old age – pun intended -- to write more history. The Portuguese has played in a record equalling five World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022). Ronaldo is the first and only player to score at five different World Cup tournaments. A record extending sixth? That swansong would reverberate in the tapestry of World Cup folklore.
Portugal is considered one of the best football playing nations to have never won a World Cup title. What a swansong it would be for Ronaldo to end A Selecao's decades-long jinx. Incidentally, the oldest player to lift the World Cup trophy is goalkeeper Dino Zoff, who was 40 years and 133 days when he helped Italy beat Germany 3-1 in the 1982 final.
Another ageing star is also reeking of potential historical feats: Leonel Messi. A winner of a record eight Ballon d'Or awards, Messi has played the most World Cup matches, 26, and could extend that record. With Argentina among the favourites, Messi, who turns 39 next month, could be thinking of helping the Pumas to become only the third nation after Italy and Brazil to win back-to-back World Cup titles.
However, as of now, the little genius has not officially confirmed his participation in the world finals.
Luka Modric, at 40 years eight months, is a veteran of four World Cups and famously captained Croatia to a second-place finish in 2018. A fifth World Cup to say a final hurray would be apt.
German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has also participated in four World Cups. Injury seemed to have ended his international career, but an excellent outing this season has put him back in the frame. The 2014 World Cup winners could fancy another stab at glory at 40 years and three months. Give it to these old men. I have never forgotten how a 38-year-old Rodger Milla, of Cameroon, called to the national team via a presidential decree, dazzled the world in 1990 to power the Indomitable Lions to a historic quarter-final, the first one by an African nation.
Renowned Congolese singer Pepe Kalle even composed a song titled "Roger Milla" in honour of that magnificent Lions team of 1990.
