The 2026 FIFA World Cup is almost here, and there are plenty of unanswered questions as June 10th’s date with destiny draws ever closer. Can Lionel Messi roll back the years at the ripe old age of 39 and lead his beloved Argentina to back-to-back titles before sailing off into the sunset? Will a German be able to end 60 years of English hurt as Thomas Tuchel looks to lead the Three Lions to a first major trophy since 1966 after consecutive European Champions League final defeats?
Right now, the questions remain unanswered. One that isn’t, however, is that of the betting favorite heading into the North America-hosted showpiece. That, of course, is Spain, with the latest World Cup odds making the reigning European Champions a clear 9/2 favorite to leave MetLife Stadium with the title on July 17th. How will they handle the pressure of having that frontrunner tag on their shoulders? Only time will tell.
But Luis de la Fuente’s Spaniards aren’t the only ones who head to the World Cup under pressure to deliver. Here are three players who find themselves in a similar position.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The iconic Cristiano Ronaldo will step onto the storied World Cup stage for a record-breaking sixth – and at the age of 41 – final time. The Portuguese superstar will go down in history as one of the all-time greats, but if he wishes to be mentioned in the same breath as long-time rival Lionel Messi, then he will have to ensure his nation leaves the Land of the Free with the famous gold trophy for the first time this July.
The World Cup hasn’t historically been kind to CR7 over the years. His 2006 debut was impressive, with the former Manchester United man playing a starring role as Portugal reached the semifinal, beating the Netherlands and England in ill-tempered affairs along the way. However, Ronaldo hasn’t managed to lead his side to the final four in the four tournaments that have followed.
Most recently in Qatar, it seemed as though that route to the final four had opened up. All that stood between Ronaldo and the semis was underdogs Morocco, but the Atlas Lions managed to upset the odds to pick up a 1-0 win and become the first African semifinalist in history. To make matters worse, CR7 could only watch on as nemesis Messi went on to lead Argentina to the title for the first time since the days of Diego Maradona, cementing his legacy as the greatest player in history in the process.
Should the great Ronny wish to inherit that title for himself, the mandate is clear: win the World Cup. Anything less and he will forever be remembered as second to Messi, despite his storied career. However, if he can score the goals that propel Portugal to the crown at the age of 41, it will be hard to argue against the idea that the two icons stand together on Mount Rushmore side by side.
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Harry Kane
England’s World Cup history since that glorious summer of 1966 is littered with heartbreak. Gazza’s tears of 1990. David Beckham’s red card and subsequent penalty shootout defeat in 1998. Ronaldinho’s 40-yard stunner in 2002. Wayne Rooney’s Ronaldo-induced red in 2006. Frank Lampard’s ghost goal of 2010. And most recently, Harry Kane’s late missed penalty against France in the quarterfinals four years ago.
The list genuinely does go on and on. But the Three Lions have shown signs of roaring back to life in recent tournaments. Under Gareth Southgate, England reached back-to-back European Championship finals in 2021 and 2024, as well as reaching the World Cup semifinals in 2018. Captain and talisman Kane has been pivotal to all of those runs. However, the time is nigh for England’s all-time record goalscorer to do something no Englishman has managed to do in 60 years: win the World Cup.
After so many near misses in recent years, the pressure has been ramped up on Kane and England to finally deliver the trophy that Old Blighty desperately craves. German manager Thomas Tuchel has been brought in with that singular task. And if he is to succeed, he will need his captain firing on all cylinders. At the age of 32, Kane may never get another chance to lead his country on the grandest stage of them all. It’s now or never.
Christian Pulisic
The American media are already talking about the quarterfinals. Maybe even a maiden US World Cup crown? The rest of the world cannot believe what they’re hearing. And unfortunately for USMNT skipper Christian Pulisic, the pressure falls on his shoulders to be “the LeBron James of soccer.”
Pulisic himself knows that he isn’t that. He can’t be mentioned in the same breath as Messi, Ronaldo, and Kane. Hell, he can’t be mentioned in the same breath as Jack Grealish, and he likely won’t even be selected in England’s squad this summer. But that is the pressure of captaining a country with extremely high expectations.
Captain America, unfortunately, finds himself in a lose-lose position. Reaching the last 16 would be a stellar effort for the US. The quarterfinals would be a dream. Both will likely be seen as disappointments in the American sports media. Pulisic then must somehow find a way to perform out of his skin and lead this admittedly talented crop of American soccer stars toward the semifinals. Anything less, and he could be verbally crucified by the likes of Stephen A. Smith. No pressure, Christian.
