The World Cup is a stage where, sometimes, a team's finest player has to put his country on his back. Four years ago, that man was Lionel Messi. His beloved Argentina stood on the brink of a shock early elimination after being stunned by Saudi Arabia in their opening game, only for their iconic captain to stand up and deliver when the pressure was truly on.
The little magician delivered a blockbuster strike in Argentina's second game against Mexico, giving his side the lead deep into the second half when nothing less than a win would do. He would then score in each of the knockout rounds, culminating in a brace in the final against France, to lift the World Cup for the first time and cement his legacy as the greatest player ever to live.
Four years on, and online betting sites make the Albiceleste a contender to defend their crown. The latest odds from 5Gringos online sportsbook currently make the reigning champions the 8/1 fourth favourite to claim a second successive World Cup. Only Spain (9/2), France (5/1), and England (6/1) are considered more likely champions.
But while Messi was certainly the star of the show for Argentina in Qatar, it was far from a one-man show. He received regular assistance from striker Julian Alvarez and midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez, while fellow veteran winger Angel Di Maria would also net in the final. Some teams, however, head to North America this summer with their hopes and dreams pinned on one man's shoulders. Here are three of them.
New Zealand - Chris Wood
New Zealand last qualified for the World Cup back in 2010, and the All Whites surprised everybody. The Oceania outfit was the only team to go unbeaten in South Africa, drawing all three of their games - including a spirited 1-1 stalemate with defending champions Italy - but unfortunately finished behind both Slovakia and Paraguay in Group F.
Back then, striker Chris Wood was an 18-year-old who had just completed his first full season in senior football with English side West Bromwich Albion. Fast forward to 2026, and he is now the most decorated footballer in New Zealand football history. His 45 goals make him the country's leading all-time top scorer, while his 88 appearances are the joint highest alongside Ivan Vicelich, a record he will likely break in the run-up to the World Cup.
Wood was in scintillating form in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest last season, netting 20 goals in 36 appearances, a number only bettered by Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, and Alexander Isak. This season, his output has slowed somewhat, with injuries restricting him to just 12 starts. Still, however, he remains unquestionably New Zealand's main man, and if his side is to somehow find a way out of Group G - which consists of Belgium, Egypt, and Iran - he will need to be at his brilliant best.
Uzbekistan - Abdukodir Khusanov
Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov has been an absolute revelation at Manchester City this season. The 22-year-old joined the club for €40m last January and endured a disaster of a debut as he gifted Chelsea a goal and was booked inside four minutes. Throughout his first six months with the club, fans might have been wondering exactly why the English giants had signed this unheard-of defender, but he has well and truly proved the doubters wrong.
Khusanov has locked down a starting berth in the heart of the Blues' defence this season, forcing the experienced John Stones down the pecking order, while both Ruben Dias and Marc Guehi regularly compete against each other for the opportunity to start alongside the Uzbek star. But while there are massive names all around him at the Etihad Stadium, it's a different story with the national team.
Uzbekistan qualified for the World Cup for the first time in the most recent qualifying cycle. Much of their success was built on the brilliance of Khusanov, with the White Wolves conceding just 11 goals in 16 qualifiers. He will have to shoulder much of the load at the World Cup this summer as he looks to lead an unheralded squad through the group stages.
Captain Eldor Shomurodov is the only other member of the squad to have ever played in one of Europe's top five leagues, having had stints in Italy with Roma and Genoa. However, it's Khusanov who will have to keep the back door slammed shut in North America if the Uzbeks are to have any success at all.
Canada - Jonathan David
Canada will play at their second straight World Cup after qualifying automatically as co-hosts alongside neighbours the United States and Mexico. The Great White North will host 13 games at the upcoming tournament, including all three of the Maple Leafs' group games. And if they are to progress from their group, then all hopes will be pinned on Juventus striker Jonathan David.
The Canadians weren't always a one-man team. Their captain, Alphonso Davies, is usually the starting left back for German heavyweights Bayern Munich. However, a miserable run with injuries has seen him miss the vast majority of the 2025/26 season. He recently injured his ACL in the Champions League semifinal defeat against Paris Saint-Germain, and there is now a very real chance that Davies misses the World Cup altogether.
If that is the case, then that would be a bitter blow to the Maple Leafs, leaving David exposed as their sole leader. And to make matters worse, the former Lille striker has endured a disastrous debut campaign with Italian giants Juventus, netting just eight goals in 45 appearances. He will need to rediscover his shooting boots quickly should his beloved Canada have any chance of finishing ahead of Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Qatar in Group B.
