10 players to watch at the World Cup

Two of soccer's all-time greats will likely make their final bows on the sport's biggest stage at the 2026 World Cup.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo can finally pass the baton on to a new generation including Spain's Lamine Yamal.

Kylian Mbappé — who was only 19 when he won the World Cup with France in 2018 — is still waiting to confirm his place as the heir-apparent to Messi and Ronaldo.

But there are others, too, aiming to make their mark in the United States, Canada and Mexico, from Norwegian goal machine Erling Haaland to Team USA's Christian Pulisic.

Here are 10 players to watch this year's World Cup.

The magnificent Messi finally achieved his career ambition in Qatar four years ago by leading Argentina to World Cup glory and emulating national icon Diego Maradona.

With it, Messi effectively completed soccer, winning the top titles for club, country and individually.

Since Qatar, he has moved to the United States to make Inter Miami the dominant force in MLS, winning the MLS Cup last year.

His status as the greatest player of all time is still debated, with Maradona and Pelé generally considered his main rivals for that title. But back-to-back World Cups — which Pelé achieved in 1958 and '62 —would further strengthen his case.

Messi, however, has given Argentina a scare just two weeks ahead of the World Cup. The 38-year-old was substituted in an Inter Miami game on Sunday and diagnosed with “an overload associated with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring.” No timeline was given for his recovery.

Ronaldo is still waiting for the one trophy that has eluded him in his glittering, record-breaking career.

The Portugal star heads to the World Cup after leading Saudi club Al Nassr to the domestic league title this season. That trophy adds to league titles with Manchester United in England, Real Madrid in Spain and Juventus in Italy, along with five Champions League trophies (four with Madrid, one with United).

He has also won the European Championship with Portugal and two UEFA Nations League titles. His 143 goals is a record in men’s international soccer and nobody has scored more than his 41 in World Cup qualifiers.

Even at the age of 41, his hunger for trophies and records shows no sign of relenting.

Mbappé has long been considered the player to take over the title as the best player on the planet after Messi and Ronaldo.

Some would say the Real Madrid striker has already done that as a World Cup and multiple title-winner, but the fact that he has yet to win the Champions League or Ballon d'Or leaves a big question hanging over his career.

He should have a good shot at this year's Ballon d'Or — awarded annually to the best player in the world — if he can lead France to another World Cup title after topping the scoring charts in Spain and leading the way in the Champions League.

Mbappé is often judged on what he hasn't won, rather than what he has. In two years at Madrid, he is still waiting for major titles in Spain.

The current Ballon d'Or holder could be a two-time Champions League winner by time the World Cup kicks off.

The France forward has reignited his career since joining Paris Saint-Germain three years ago, helping it secure its first Champions League title last season and reach back-to-back finals this year.

Having been touted as one of the brightest prospects in Europe earlier in his career, Barcelona bought Dembélé for $173 million in 2017. An underwhelming time in Spain led many to think he would never realize his potential.

No one is saying that now.

The Manchester City striker is playing in his first major international tournament after smashing records at club level.

Haaland, 25, is well on his way breaking scoring records in the Champions League and Premier League and has already surpassed benchmarks set by Messi in terms of the speed with which he’s amassing goals.

Norway is an outsider at this year’s World Cup, but in Haaland it has arguably the most lethal forward at the tournament.

Spain’s teenaged sensation was the star of its triumph at the European Championship in 2024 despite not turning 17 until the eve of the final. With mesmerizing speed and footwork, he became the youngest-ever scorer at a men's Euros.

Yamal is earning comparisons to Messi, who was once photographed with the Argentina star when he was still a baby.

Yamal has arguably overtaken Mbappé as the man most likely to fill void when Messi and Ronaldo retire and an impressive World Cup could strengthen that argument.

He’s the midfielder virtually every top team wanted when Real Madrid sealed his signature in 2023. He went on to lead the club to its 15th Champions League title and the Spanish title in his first season at the club before driving England to the final of the Euros with one of the goals of the tournament on the way.

Bellingham is a matchwinner capable of unforgettable moments on the biggest stage and despite an underwhelming season at Madrid, he will be one of England's biggest hopes as it aims to win a major title for the first time since 1966.

Brazil's all-time record goal-scorer has carried the weight of a nation on his shoulders throughout his career.

Despite winning the biggest honors as a player, he is yet to lead Brazil to a record-extending sixth World Cup title.

Neymar, now 34, has been called up by Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti for his fourth World Cup after enduring injuries and an underwhelming move to Saudi Arabia since the last edition in Qatar four years ago.

The Egyptian icon is leaving Liverpool after a disappointing campaign, but remains his country's talisman.

Egypt will just have to hope the 33-year-old striker has saved his best for the World Cup.

Salah scored 257 goals in 442 games and won a full set of trophies with Liverpool — including the Champions League and two Premier League titles.

With Egypt he has been runner up in two African Cup of Nations.

From an early age Pulisic was seen as capable of becoming American soccer's biggest overseas star.

He has gone on to play for some of Europe's biggest clubs in Germany, England and Italy, winning top honors along the way and none bigger than the Champions League with Chelsea.

Now at AC Milan the forward has discovered some of his most consistent form and will be an important part of Mauricio Pochettino's hopes to go far with the U.S. Men's National Team at a home World Cup.

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

FILE - United States Christian Pulisic (10) during the second half of an international friendly soccer match against Ecuador in Austin, Texas, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

FILE - England's Jude Bellingham during a World Cup qualifier group K soccer match between Serbia and England in London, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

FILE - Ousmane Dembele of France scores during a penalty shootout against Portugal during a quarter final match at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, July 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)

FILE - AC Milan's Christian Pulisic controls the ball during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Torino, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, file)

FILE - Egypt's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Egypt and Benin in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy, File)

FILE- Brazil's Neymar controls the ball during a World Cup qualifying soccer match against Peru at National stadium in Lima, Peru, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia, File)

FILE - Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Alaves in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file)

FILE - Spain's Lamine Yamal attempts a shot on goal during a World Cup qualifying round Group E soccer match between Turkey and Spain at Konya Buyuksehir stadium, in Konya, Turkey, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra, File)

FILE - Norway's Erling Haaland controls the ball during a Group I, World Cup qualifier soccer match between Moldova and Norway at the Zimbru stadium in Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja, File)

FILE - PSG's Ousmane Dembele runs for the ball during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Brest in Paris, France, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, file)

FILE - France's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after winning a World Cup 2026 group D qualifying soccer match against Ukraine in Paris, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

FILE - Argentina's Lionel Messi runs with the ball during a friendly soccer match against Mauritania in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans on the House Budget Committee advanced a $95 billion package Thursday for the Iran war, farm aid and President Donald Trump's push for strict new voter ID requirements, moving forward on a party-line vote despite trouble in the full House — and the Senate.

Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington framed the proposal as one last push to deliver for voters ahead of the midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. It advanced on a vote of 20-14.

"We are rallying to finish what we started when the American people sent us here,” said Arrington, R-Texas.

With Iran war funding making up the bulk of the package, some $60 billion, Arrington acknowledged that people can debate “why we're there” in the overseas conflict. But he said the money is needed for basic supplies — "just the bombs, bullets and battlefield readiness for our men and women in uniform to finish the fight successfully and return home safely — that’s it."

The resolution, which sets out instructions for the various congressional committees to draw up proposals, also calls for $13 billion for Intelligence, $12 billion for Agriculture, and $10 billion for Administration, which handles voting and elections.

The proposal is the third budget reconciliation package Republicans in control of Congress have put forward this session to steamroll Trump's priorities past Democratic objections using a legislative procedure that allows for simple majority votes for passage.

It's the same process House Speaker Mike Johnson used to pass Trump's big tax cuts bill last year and to advance Homeland Security money after Democrats refused to fund the department following the deaths of Americans protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions earlier this year.

Johnson is pushing the effort almost single-handedly, without full backing from his slim House Republican majority or the Senate. He held lengthy meetings with Trump this week at the White House and hosted a private session for Republicans at the president's Camp David retreat to hash out details.

But the 47-page package remains a long-shot effort — too meager for some, too costly for others — ahead of voting in the full House expected next week.

Key Republican Rep. Chip Roy, an influential member of the Freedom Caucus who has expressed reservations about the package, did not vote at the Budget Committee session, as his home state of Texas deals with flooding.

Democrats are ready to vote against the proposal, as they did Thursday during committee action.

Rep. Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania, the ranking Democrat on the Budget Committee, said the document, some 6,500 words, never once mentions the issue that's top of mind for many Americans: affordability.

“People know this is a failed presidency, and a failed Republican majority,” Boyle said.

Democrats offered more than a dozen amendments to the package during the hourslong Budget Committee session and raised questions about how the new spending will ultimately be paid for — either via budget cuts to other programs or by piling onto the nation's debt.

Boyle offered an amendment to reverse healthcare cuts from the Republicans' big tax breaks bill. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., sought to reinstate funding for food stamps under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., suggested funding for immigration enforcement at Department of Homeland Security could be used to offset costs elsewhere.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, blamed the high costs of living on the Iran war and said every time Americans open their refrigerators or go to the gas pump they are “paying for a war that should never have been started.”

Next steps are highly volatile, as the House holds a rare Saturday pro forma session, which is a largely administrative meeting that will allow the resolution to be filed in time for consideration next week.

Johnson can only lose a few detractors on his side of the aisle as he relies on Republicans only, without Democrats, for passage.

But the resolution would also have to be agreed on by the Senate, and Republican senators have largely panned the House effort, waiting to see if Johnson can heave it to passage.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said senators have “a lot of questions” about it – from defense hawks concerned about the military to deficit hawks who want to offset costs.

“It’s a very uneven path,” he said. “We’ll see what the House can execute on,” he said, but “I can’t make any guarantees over here.”

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., who is expected to take over the Senate Budget Committee after the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, has been a leading budget hawk concerned about the nation's rising deficits.

The House plans to have its committees work on bill text over the August recess and bring the whole package back to the floor for a final vote in the fall.

Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.

House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, right, speaks with Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., the ranking member, during a markup on the Fiscal Year 2027 spending plan, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., center, joined by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, left, listens during a markup on the Fiscal Year 2027 spending plan, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, center, speaks with an aide during a markup on the Fiscal Year 2027 spending plan, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)