The World Cup is only a few days away, and we are previewing each group from pillar to goalpost in the run-up to the biggest competition on the planet.
As we continue ranking the best players in each opening quartet, we head to Group H, where the Spaniards bring one of the most loaded lineups we’ve ever seen at the World Cup.
And although if I made a top-10 list, Spain might have nine of the 10 spots, there’s one man that not only breaks into that group but is firmly in the top three.
Sorry to Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde, but Uruguay is the team with the special player that breaks up the Spain stranglehold.
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3. Federico Valverde (Uruguay, Real Madrid)
It was a tough choice between Valverde and Spain’s Rodri for the third spot, but I gave the advantage to Real Madrid’s talisman in the middle of the field that is the heart, soul, spine, and everything in between for his home country. Valverde sometimes makes up for three or four players by himself on a good but not great Uruguay side that will need their leader at his best to make it deep in this tournament.
In an alternate universe where Lamine Yamal doesn’t exist, Pedri might be talked about as Barcelona’s ace and the best young player of his generation. Although Lamal has stolen much of the spotlight from the generational talent that is Pedri, it hasn’t stopped the 23-year-old from dominating the sport alongside his young teammate. On Tuesday, without Yamal, the Puebla, Mexico crowd chanted Pedri’s name in unison and he met their love with a goal against Peru in their final warm-up game before the World Cup.
1. Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
What is there more to say about Yamal? He turns 19 in a month and has already won the Euros and La Liga, now heading to North America to try and become a legend before he even turns 20 by hoisting the World Cup. After losing out on the Ballon d’Or last year in second place to France’s Ousmane Dembélé, a championship this summer might be the final piece needed to take him from supernova to conqueror.
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