FIFA World Cup 2022: Top Soccer Superstars missing World Cup 2022

The World Cup is the ultimate display of the world's top players, and Qatar 2022 promises to be a unique challenge for all involved.

The fact that a tournament is being held in the Middle East during the European and North American winter has attracted a lot of interest, but the strain it will put on the European domestic season has sparked controversy.

Despite the spotlight on the countries and stars in the Qatar show, several major names will be absent. Some true global superstars will be unable to board the plane after failing to gain a spot with their national teams. Many superstars' fans who are prepared to place their 2022 World Cup odds may find this extremely disappointing.

Erling Haaland (Norway)

He has 20 goals in his first 12 Premier League and Champions League appearances for Manchester City and shows no signs of slowing down.

Haaland has scored five goals in six games in the qualifications for Norway, but he will not participate in Qatar 2022 despite his meteoric rise to fame in English football and his status as the first player people choose in Fantasy Premier League.

He makes football fans so happy that there is an online petition to let each team bring him on for 30 minutes once during the tournament. Although this is doubtful, think of the European defences when they return from Qatar and face a brighter, fresher, and fitter than ever with Erling Haaland, who will have rested for a month. Even though he's only 22, he's already as reliable as a robot and has a lot of potential to develop further.

Read Also: Watch: Pep Guardiola's epic reaction on petition to get Erling Haaland banned from Premier League

Zalatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden)

The great striker had thought about retiring from international football for a while, but he kept himself eligible to play as Sweden raced through the UEFA qualifying playoffs in search of a spot. Ultimately, Sweden lost to Poland 2-0 in the Path B final of the playoffs, sending Zlatan back home instead of going to Qatar for the finals. Ibrahimovic was substituted in with 10 minutes remaining in the championship game against Poland, after his side was already down two goals.

Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

Many of Africa's best teams and players, like the unfortunate Egyptian Salah, will not be able to play in Qatar because of the region's unfair qualification process. Senegal beat Egypt in a playoff shootout, as the key player for Liverpool missed a penalty. This kept him from showing off his great skills on the international stage. After an injury hampered his participation in 2018, Salah may have to wait another four years to compete properly, by which time he would be just shy of 34 years old.

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Luis Diaz (Colombia)

Despite making it through the group stages in the previous two championships, Colombia and Diaz will not travel to Qatar. They played in the CONMEBOL qualifying tournament and placed sixth. One point kept them from finishing in fifth place and advancing to the intercontinental play-in game against the United Arab Emirates or Australia. Colombia only won five of their 18 games, so they didn't make it due to them having too many games ending in a tie.

David Alaba (Austria)

Even though Austria hasn't been to the World Cup since 1988, the country has been improving a lot recently. This led to a close loss to Italy in the 16th round at Euro 2020, to which Italy went on to win the tournament. David Alaba, a well-liked defender for Real Madrid who used to play for Bayern Munich, has helped them grow.

ErPierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)

In September, Aubameyang was back in the news and in the Premier League after joining Chelsea from Barcelona after his high-profile exit from Arsenal. Gabon were edged out of a CAF play-off position by Egypts Mo Salah' despite his two key goals in qualification.