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)

NEW YORK (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka came to the U.S. Open struggling and in danger of losing the No. 1 ranking.

She heads to the third round looking every bit ready for a three-peat.

The top-seeded Sabalenka overwhelmed Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1 in 53 minutes on Wednesday night, putting on a power-hitting display that made it seem her recent problems are in the past.

“Happy with the level I played today, happy with the focus and happy to be through this match,” Sabalenka said.

A number of players have only finished one match.

Another rainy afternoon in New York suspended play for a time on outside courts, allowing action only under the roofs in Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium to continue uninterrupted. So the players scheduled there avoided the starts and stops that others faced.

Jessica Pegula was one, needing only 56 minutes to defeat Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-1. Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, beat Venus Williams in her first match.

“To be out of there in under an hour, it doesn’t always happen,” Pegula said. “So I think I’m just going to take that one and run, I guess, until the next round.”

No. 8 seed Ben Shelton followed Pegula on Ashe and beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5, while No. 7 Daniil Medvedev raced past Sebastian Gorzny — except for a brief delay to protest the chair umpire’s decision to replay a point when two birds sat on the net — 6-3, 6-3, 7-5.

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz followed Sabalenka on Ashe.

Sabalenka is trying to become the first player to win three in a row in Flushing Meadows since Serena Williams from 2012-14, but arrived after losing in the fourth round of her past three tournaments. She needs help to stay atop the WTA rankings even if she wins the title.

She won 15 of 16 points on first serve in the first set and only dropped off a little in the second, finishing 21 for 28 in the match, against an opponent who is playing in her first Grand Slam tournament.

“I think I struggled a little bit in the middle of the season. Once again, I’m not going to defend myself or explain why, what happened, but I’m happy with my level,” Sabalenka said. “I can definitely say that mentally I’m way stronger than I was in the middle of the season, and physically I also feel stronger. So I feel like I’m on my level of play.”

When the U.S. Open switched to a Sunday start last year, it spread out the first round over the first three days, so Wednesday would have arrived with everyone playing in the second round had the weather cooperated.

It hadn't.

Alex de Minaur, the No. 6 seed from Australia, said with all the juggling his match was moved twice from the court where he was originally scheduled. He finally started his U.S. Open on Wednesday on Court 11 and beat Italy's Andrea Guerrieri 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.

“It’s been a couple tough days. But I mean, these tournaments, it's all about adapting and that’s the name of the game,” de Minaur said. “There’s too much to play for to let something like this affect you.”

Paula Badosa said she didn't even know how to prepare for the resumption of her match against Daria Kasatkina, which was halted Tuesday with her one game from winning to set up a second-round match against No. 4 Coco Gauff.

“I didn’t know if I was going to play just two points or six, or I don’t know how much, how many I play or one more set,” the Spaniard said Wednesday after finishing off her 6-1, 6-4 victory.

“So I knew that if I was winning this match, I’m playing the next day. So, yeah, it was everything a bit different. I was very nervous that I even couldn’t eat, so a lot of different stuff I did today, but sometimes it is how it is, and I tried to play with the things I had there.”

At least she got through. No. 12 Rafael Jodar, the 19-year-old from Spain who came in after a strong summer, was routed 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 by Bu Yunchaokete of China when his first-round match was finally completed.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be easy because I was waiting a lot yesterday and today as well, but it is what it is,” Jodar said. “We cannot control the rain, so it’s difficult for both players.”

The first round was finally completed late Wednesday, a day when 25 men’s singles matches were scheduled to get the tournament back on track.

Alex Michelsen pulled off an upset in one of them by ousting fellow American Brandon Nakashima, the No. 16 seed, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. No. 11 Frances Tiafoe beat Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto in straight sets, and Argentina's Mariano Navone backed up his upset of Novak Djokovic by beating Matteo Berrettini 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4).

No. 7 Karolina Muchova, the Wimbledon runner-up, beat Katie Boulter 6-1, 6-0 to reach the third round, while No. 11 Marta Kostyuk got past 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-1, 7-5. No. 31 seed Leylah Fernandez set up a matchup of past U.S. Open runners-up against Pegula, with the winner to meet either No. 16 Sorana Cirstea or No. 19 Jasmine Paolini.

See AP’s full tennis coverage here

Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, serves to Polina Iatcenko, of Russia, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, serves to Polina Iatcenko, of Russia, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Jessica Pegula, of the United States, greets Sofia Kenin, of the United States, left, after Pegula won their match during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, returns the ball to Sebastian Gorzny, of the United States, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Spectators are reflected in a puddle at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center during the U.S. Open tennis championships Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Ben Shelton, of the United States, celebrates during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships against Hubert Hurkacz, of Poland, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Jessica Pegula, of the United States, gestures after she won against Sofia Kenin, of the United States, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)