The 20 stars who will play their last World Cup in Qatar 2022

World Cups are events that take place every four years and, during this period of time, it is normal for many aspects of the tournament to change. The most relevant is the retirement of professionals. They used to play a maximum of four or five editions. We said goodbye four years ago at the 2018 World Cup in Russia to players such as Andres Iniesta, Javier Mascherano, Oliver Giroud and Sami Khedira. They are footbal stars who reach their mid-thirties and decide to cut their relationship with their national teams to live their last steps as professionals in a relaxed way.

The Qatar 2022 World Cup is also about farewells. The tournament will see the last plays of many international stars, who may break records in this edition. More than 10 national teams are saying goodbye to their stars.

The 20 players who will retire in Qatar 2022

Sergio Busquets (Spain)

The Spanish player looks to end his national career in the World Cup in Qatar, following his participation in the 2010, 2014 and 2018 editions. This will be his fourth World Cup.

Luka Modric (Croatia)

The Croatian captain is leaving the World Cup after playing four editions. Germany 2006, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 are the events that saw him.

Karim Benzema (France)

The last Ballon d'Or winner would leave the World Cup with his second participation. The Frenchman only played in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, as he was not called up for the edition in which France became two-time champions.

Luis Suarez (Uruguay)

The Uruguayan striker, who has been a trend at the World Cups, says goodbye to the event after four editions: 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.

Dani Alves (Brazil)

The Brazilian full-back bids farewell to the World Cup after participating in three editions of the tournament: 2010, 2014 and 2022. Without winning any trophy so far.

Edinson Cavani (Uruguay)

The other star striker also retires this year. With four World Cups from 2010 to 2022, the Uruguayan player has managed to reach the semi-finals of the tournament.

Pepe (Portugal)

The Portuguese centre-back is approaching his 40th birthday and with four World Cups behind him (2010 to 2022) he would like to say goodbye in style.

Andres Guardado (Mexico)

The Mexican becomes one of the players with more participations in World Cup editions, with his fifth participation (from 2006 to 2022) the Mexican player will go down in the history of football data.

Angel Di Maria (Argentina)

Angel Di María will retire from the national team and the World Cup after four appearances, from 2010 to 2022. The Argentinian footballer came within touching distance of the trophy at Brazil 2014.

Hugo Lloris (France)

France's goalkeeper says goodbye after winning a World Cup in four appearances so far: 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.

Kasper Schmeichel (Denmark)

The Danish goalkeeper will take part in his second World Cup, after 2018. Now in 2022, he will surpass his father Peter Schmeichel, who played in only one World Cup.

Diego Godin (Uruguay)

Uruguay bids farewell to another of his old glories who has also participated in the World Cups of South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.

Manuel Neuer (Germany)

Germany's first-choice goalkeeper, a World Cup winner, retires after taking part in what is his fourth World Cup tournament. From 2010 to 2022, the German has been a mainstay in the successful Germany of the 2010s.

Thiago Silva (Brazil)

The 38-year-old Brazilian defender will be going into his third World Cup (2014, 2018 and 2022) without having won the trophy.

Guillermo Ocho (Mexico)

Like Guardado, the Mexican goalkeeper is celebrating his fifth World Cup (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022) in a historic football milestone.

Thomas Muller (Germany)

The German striker is playing his fourth World Cup (from 2010 to 2022) having won the edition in Brazil.

Gareth Bale (Wales)

The captain faces his first World Cup in Qatar 2022, with this being the one that looks set to be his last, as he is 33 years old.

Robert Lewandowski (Poland)

The Polish striker plays his second World Cup as a professional and what seems to be his last. We'll see what the Barca striker does as he hopes to qualify for the knockout phase in Qatar 2022.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

One of the greatest players of his time is taking part in his fifth World Cup (from 2006 to Qatar 2022), breaking another of his career records. Although Portugal do not start as favourites, CR7 would like to win a World Cup to end his career on a high note at the age of 37.

Lionel Messi (Argentina)

He is considered as the greatest player of all time. Messi faces his fifth World Cup (from 2006 to Qatar 2022) in which many allude to Argentina's victory in Qatar 2022. Moreover, if he manages to reach the final of the tournament, he would become the player with the most games played in World Cups.