🧨 5th World Cup: Neuer, Nagatomo and... some will make it 6️⃣! 🤯

An achievement reserved for very few men: let’s see who has managed it and who could reach (and surpass) 5 World Cup appearances in the next edition. Who will reach 5 appearances MANUEL NEUER As mentioned, at 40 Neuer will guard Germany’s goal (probably as a starter) again in 2026 after first doing so in 2010: the very year he won the World Cup at 24 years old . YUTO NAGATOMO The video of the former Inter and Cesena full-back (among others) crying after being called up for the World Cup at 39 went viral around the world.

And for good reason, because Nagatomo started every Japan match at the World Cup in the 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 editions. LUKA MODRIC Luka Modric could easily have reached 6 World Cups because the Croatian was already in the 2006 squad (as a substitute), when he was 21. However, Croatia did not qualify for the 2010 World Cup, so Modric will “only” reach 5 World Cup appearances in the next edition.

Who is unlikely to get there because of age THIAGO SILVA: unlikely Thiago Silva was included in Carlo Ancelotti’s preliminary squad list, but Brazil’s defense is unlikely to make room for the 41-year-old from Porto. It’s worth remembering that Thiago Silva was called up in 2010 but never took the field: so if he were to take part in the 2026 edition, that would make 5 call-ups, but his “editions with actual appearances” would still be 4. THOMAS MULLER: impossible Thomas Muller retired from the national team after Euro 2024 with Germany: technically he is still active (MLS with the Vancouver Whitecaps), but his chances of being called up are zero.

Also because Germany’s attack is not short of options. XHERDAN SHAQIRI: unlikely Another true World Cup man: Xherdan Shaqiri announced his retirement from the national team after Euro 2024. But what if the call came?