Fantasy Football

THERE’S a reason the Lionel Messi/Cristiano Ronaldo debate has been flogged to death.Football fans will always be intensely invested in the world’s absolute best players and there can be doubt that the Argentine No10 and the Portuguese No7 will be remembered as two of the greatest to ever grace a pitch.
With both icons on the brink of their last World Cup, there has been a lot of talk in recent times about which players will rise to power in the next decade?
The names put forward most frequently are Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, with good reason.

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Dream Team World Cup’s most-popular playerCredit: getty/DREAM TEAM
Between them, the pair have scored 62 goals in 73 Champions League appearances and have quickly risen to become the primary goal threats for PSG and Manchester City respectively.
It already feels as if the two will forever be linked in the same manner as Messi and Ronaldo – it’s likely we’ll see them battle it out for the Ballon d’Or several times over in the coming years.
How conscious Mbappe and Haaland are of their rivalry is unclear but it would surprising if they hadn’t given it at least some thought – elite sportspeople tend to be ultra competitive.
So far this season, the Norwegian poacher has gained considerable ground in the culture war – which is not to say PSG’s No7 has underwhelmed, far from it.
Mbappe has 18 goals and five assists from 19 games this term but Haaland has dominated the spotlight having plundered 23 goals (and three assists) from just 16 outings.
2022 has been a huge year for Haaland so far
It’s generally accepted that the Premier League is the most competitive domestic league in the world which is why Man City’s new No9 has garnered such praise for making a mockery of its Golden Boot race – he’s seven goals clear of Harry Kane at this stage.
Haaland’s ruthless efficiency displayed on a new stage has been the overriding theme of the 2022/23 season for many – pretty much every supporter in Europe has guessed at how many goals he’ll score by the end of the campaign.
Couple this with Mbappe having to share the limelight with Neymar and Lionel Messi in the French capital, both in great form currently, and it’s no wonder the dynamic of the emerging duopoly has shifted.
But the Frenchman has the perfect opportunity to readdress the balance this winter.
Norway failed to qualify for the World Cup so Haaland will not have the chance to enhance his reputation at the planet’s most-watched sporting event.
In contrast, Mbappe represents the holders and, by extension, one of the favourites.
For the 23-year-old, it’s also a return to the stage on which his reputation ballooned in 2018.
Mbappe’s first World Cup couldn’t have gone any betterCredit: getty
He scored four goals as Les Bleus conquered all in Russia, including one in the final, and was named Best Young Player at the tournament.
An impressive and (most importantly) ultimately successful World Cup campaign goes a huge way to defining a player’s career- Diego Maradona and Pele’s legacies as all-time greats are shaped by their performances on the biggest international stage.
Mbappe ticking the achievement off his checklist in his teenage years formed the foundation of his reputation as heir to the throne – especially considering World Cup glory has evaded Messi and Ronaldo.
Another magnificent campaign in Qatar would cement his claim to the crown and may cause a few Haaland admirers to reconsider their allegiance.
The PSG forward may also feel he has some demons to exorcise after a disappointing showing personally, and from Didier Deschamps’ side collectively, at Euro 2020.
Mbappe has scored 28 goals in 59 France caps
As expected, Mbappe is proving to be a popular man among Dream Team World Cup gaffers.
He currently features in 39.7% of provisional teams created so far, making him the most-selected player in the game, narrowly ahead of Kevin De Bruyne.
France start the defence of their crown against Australia and will also face Tunisia and Denmark in Group D – the latter beat them home and away earlier this year so keep an eye on that match-up.
Needless to say, Mbappe will fancy his chances of cashing in against Australia and Tunisia – Dream Team World Cup bosses that proceed without him for those fixtures will be taking a risk.

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DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP managers will obviously be desperate to include some big names in their XI this winter.However, the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Kevin De Bruyne are sure to break the bank once player prices are finalised next week.
That means gaffers will need to identify some cheaper, value-for-money options to balance the books – remember, teams with a total value over £50million won’t be eligible to score points.
With that in mind, we’ve picked out three affordable defenders capable of punching above their weight in Qatar.

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Netherlands will be confident of going deep in Qatar
Nathan Ake

Provisional price range: £3m – £3.5m
Country: Netherlands

Louis van Gaal has options aplenty at centre-back with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Stefan De Vrij, Matthijs de Ligt and 21-year-old Ajax prospect Jurrien Timber also at his disposal.
But what casual fans may not realise is that Ake is the leading candidate to start as the left-sided centre-back in the preferred 3-4-1-2 formation.
Factor in the Netherlands’ favourable group (Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal) and whether the Manchester City defender is confirmed at £3m or £3.5m, he will be reasonably priced.
Granted, the Oranje haven’t been as tight at the back as they would have liked in recent times but they’ve played some brilliant football and will be hopeful of clean sheets against Ecuador and the hosts – the AFCON champions will pose a greater threat.
Joachim Andersen
Great Dane!Credit: getty

Provisional price range: £3m – £3.5m
Country: Denmark

If the Crystal Palace centre-back is finalised at the top end of his provisional price range then ‘value for money’ might be pushing it but he would probably be worth a whirl at £3m.
Denmark are firmly in the territory of ‘Dark Horses’ having beaten France home and away this year.
No European nation boasted a better record than Kasper Hjulmand’s side in qualifying and, more relevant to this conversation, three goals conceded gave them the best defensive record.
Andersen has started every Denmark game this calendar year so there’s no need to worry about selection dilemmas.
Group D is intriguingly poised with the Danes set to meet Didier Deschamps’ mob again, as well as Tunisia and Australia.
Antonee Robinson
An outside-the-box option

Provisional price range: £1.5m – £2m
Country: USA

Now this is a genuinely dirt-cheap option.
The Fulham left-back is a key player for his country, potentially even more important than Barcelona/Milan’s Sergino Dest on the opposite flank.
Instinctively, Group B feels like a potentially cagey one, even group favourites England have prioritised control over attacking intent at major tournaments under Gareth Southgate.
USA have their limitations but they’re fit, strong and disciplined – they’ll probably be harder to beat than most casual fans think.
It certainly wouldn’t be a surprise to see them register a clean sheet against Wales and/or Iran and given that Robinson contributed two goals and three assists in qualifying, he’s got an outside chance of reaching double figures in terms of points before the end of the group stage.
Obviously this punt comes with risk but that’s what you get when you shop around the bargain aisle.

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DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP gaffers will mostly be selecting players who represent countries with a realistic chance of lifting the trophy in Qatar.So in the build-up to the opening game – which is now just 11 days away – we’re analysing the top eight favourites according to the bookmakers.
We’ve already dug deep into France and today it’s Spain’s turn under the spotlight.

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Spain are among the favourites to taste World Cup glory in QatarCredit: getty/DREAM TEAM
BEST PLAYERS
Alvaro Morata has his detractors but while it’s true the 30-year-old is not the most clinical finisher around, Luis Enrique appreciates what the striker offers in other aspects of the game.
Excellent in the air and well-suited to La Roja’s possession-based approach, Morata has the benefit of being the focal point for a team full of creative talent.
If you back Spain to thrive in Group E (Costa Rica, Japan, Germany) then Morata, who scored the winner for Portugal in his last last international outing, should be a good selection from a Dream Team World Cup perspective even if you don’t see him as one of the team’s most-important players – remember, points are everything.
At 19 years old, Pedri is already one of the best midfielders in the world and his exemplary technique will be crucial in determining how slickly Spain go about their business.
However, Dream Team World Cup bosses should note that the Barcelona starlet is not one of those midfielders who deals in regular goal involvements.
His career is still in its infancy but he’s yet to score more than five goals in a season and he’s also still awaiting his first goal in international football.
Pedri is a generational talent but his style is not suited to Dream Team World Cup where goal involvements reign supreme – see also: Gavi.
Spain’s first-choice keeper
Unai Simon should be first-choice goalkeeper and with a provisional price range of £3.5m – £4m he may end up a fraction cheaper than his peers from the other favoured nations – helpful.
POTENTIAL FLOPS
These players are only potential ‘flops’ in the realm of Dream Team World Cup.
For example, Ansu Fati is an exciting talent and as an ambitious winger he fits the profile Dream Team World Cup managers should be seeking out.
However, the 20-year-old is likely to be used as second-half substitute – he can be effective against tiring legs – and will therefore be restricted in terms of point-scoring opportunities.
Rodri and Sergio Busquets are both pushing to start as the deepest of Spain’s three midfielders but, again, neither are attack-minded enough to rack up plentiful points.
An underrated gem?Credit: getty
BARGAIN OPTIONS
It’s rare to find a true bargain among the top teams as quality usually comes at a price but there is one relatively affordable option in Enrique’s ranks.
If Pablo Sarabia is priced at the lower end of his provisional range (£3.5m – £4m) then he could offer good value for money.
The PSG midfielder has scored nine goals and provided three assists in 24 caps since his senior debut in 2019.
That breaks down further to a goal involvement every 105.3 minutes for Spain!
The 30-year-old is one of the unsung heroes of his national side in recent years and he’s likely to be overlooked the vast majority of Dream Team World Cup managers in favour of more recognisable names.

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EVER since Lionel Messi was not much older than a toddler, when he jinked past his first opponent in a vaguely familiar style, the legacy of Diego Maradona has cast a shadow over him.As an Argentine footballer, living up to the nation’s most outrageous talent is a near impossible task.
And yet, in many ways, Messi has surpassed Maradona, scoring more goals, providing more assists, winning more trophies and doing it all with a stylistic panache at least equal to that of El Pibe de Oro.
However, only one No10 has delivered a World Cup for Argentina almost single-handedly (not a deliberate Hand of God reference).

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How will Messi perform at his last World Cup?Credit: getty/DREAM TEAM
Maradona’s campaign in Mexico in ’86 is the stuff of legends, remembered as the greatest ever showing from an individual on the biggest stage sport has to offer.
His mazy dribble against England in the quarter-finals is regularly cited as the best goal of all time and so when Messi scored an eerily similar goal for Barcelona against Getafe in 2007, the pressure on the latter to flourish into the second coming was cemented for eternity.
For a long while, Messi has known that no matter what he achieves at club level, he will not be as revered in his homeland as Maradona unless he delivers a World Cup.
He came ever so close in 2014, inspiring the Albiceleste to the final in Brazil where they were ultimately defeated by Germany through Mario Gotze’s extra-time strike.
Messi was named Player of the Tournament, just as Maradona was in ’86, but without the trophy the comparison was nothing.
Maradona’s 1986 World Cup campaign is the stuff of legendsCredit: getty
Barca’s all-time top scorer broke his international duck in 2021 when Argentina beat Brazil in the final of Copa America.
Messi finished as top scorer and top assist provider in the tournament, an effort wholly appreciated by his compatriots, but the standards expected of the all-time greats are stratospheric.
The Copa America triumph was one to celebrate but it did not exorcise the demons of 2014 – only victory in Qatar, Messi’s last World Cup, could do that.
So how likely is it that the 35-year-old will write a fairytale ending to his story, a triumph that would probably cement him as the outright greatest player in history, if he isn’t already?
Lionel Scaloni’s side are second-favourites to succeed in Qatar according to most bookmakers, and deservedly so.
By the time the tournament gets underway, Argentina will have gone almost three and a half years unbeaten in all competitions.
Argentina’s hopes rest on Messi’s shoulders once againCredit: getty
This is in stark contrast to several of the fancied European giants (France, Germany, England, Spain) who have all suffered more defeats than they would have liked in the last year or so.
Messi and company have been drawn in Group C alongside Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland – a reasonably favourable set of fixtures all things considered.
However, one factor to consider is that Argentina have played very few European teams in recent times because of Covid restrictions – although they did beat Italy 3-0 in the Finalissima, a meeting between the champions of South America and Europe.
And rather ominously, Messi scored all five goals in his side’s 5-0 win over Estonia earlier this year – something of a warning shot to every team set to frequent Qatar this winter.
Dream Team World Cup gaffers are seemingly confident that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will impress at his last World Cup – his ownership of 30.2% makes him the sixth-most popular player in the game at this stage.
Given a provisional price range of £7m – £7.5m, Messi could well be Dream Team World Cup’s most-expensive player when prices are finalised next week but his price tag evidently isn’t much of a deterrent.
The 2014 World Cup final still haunts Messi and ArgentinaCredit: getty
Dream Team World Cup managers should also note the legendary No10’s superb form for PSG this season – he’s scored 11 goals and provided 14 assists in just 17 appearances across Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
Messi is one of those players who could seriously hurt you if you leave him out of your XI, especially with Argentina set to take on Saudi Arabia in their first group game.

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DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP gaffers are busy selecting their provisional teams ahead of the official squad announcements.Unlimited transfers are available right up until the tournament gets underway which means you can tinker away to your heart’s content as there is plenty of time to correct any errors before scoring starts.
And one potential error worth flagging is the widespread selection of Diogo Dalot.

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A popular man among Dream Team World Cup gaffersCredit: getty/DREAM TEAM
The 23-year-old currently features in 15.9% of teams, making him the fifth-most popular defender in the game at this stage.
On the surface, it’s understandable why Dalot boasts such a big ownership.
With 79 points to his name, he’s the joint-third best asset in his position in Dream Team’s classic Season game right now.
After an initial wobble, Manchester United have been relatively disciplined at the back under Erik ten Hag and Dalot has been one of the Red Devils’ most-consistent performers.
The ex-Porto full-back is one of the first names on the team sheet at club level this term and having started the Season game at just £2.5m, he’s been one of the best bargain options of 2022/23.
However, all those who have picked him in Dream Team World Cup so far are overlooking one massive factor: Joao Cancelo.
Be aware of Portugal’s pecking order
Manchester City’s No7 may have played predominantly as a left-back under Pep Guardiola in recent times but his preferred position is right-back, a role he fulfils for Portugal.
Cancelo has been one of the best players in the world in his position in the last two or three years and while it could be argued he hasn’t always translated his club form to the international stage, it’s highly likely Fernando Santos will select him to start at right-back when his side embark on their campaign in Qatar.
That leaves Dalot as a back-up option, a very capable back-up option who offers Portugal helpful depth, but a back-up option nonetheless.
Some gaffers may think that Cancelo could play at left-back to accommodate Dalot on the right but that would be a new ploy for Santos, something he’s unlikely to try for the first time at a major tournament.
Besides, Portugal have PSG’s Nuno Mendes and Borussia Dortmund’s Raphael Guerreiro competing for the left-back spot, two talented options.
Essentially, while it’s not unthinkable that Dalot could start for Portugal at the World Cup, it’s unlikely – and gaffers should generally avoid benchwarmers.
Dalot scored a brace for Portugal earlier this yearCredit: getty
One potential spanner in the works is Dalot’s performance against Czech Republic in the Nations League in September, when he scored a brace as part of a superb all-round display.
Perhaps it’s this performance that Dream Team World Cup bosses have in mind when choosing their provisional teams – beware this bear trap.
If you want an alternative in the same price range then consider Nathan Ake, who will almost certainly start for an impressive Netherlands outfit gifted a favourable group.

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CRISTIANO RONALDO has scored 117 goals in international football, more than any other player in the history of men’s football.Since his 30th birthday, he’s scored 66 goals in 73 appearances for Portugal.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s pedigree is well known, yet it’s worth repeating on the brink of the 2022 World Cup – and amid the launch of Dream Team World Cup! – as Qatar is likely to play host to his last dance at the most prestigious tournament of the lot.
Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of all time and victory at Euro 2016 ensured he ticked off an international trophy on his elite checklist (he also collected a Nations League medal in 2018/19) but the World Cup has rarely been a joyous stage for him.
Whereas Pele and Diego Maradona both defined their legacies with World Cup triumphs, the Portuguese No7 and his contemporary, Lionel Messi, have achieved greatness despite frustrations on the biggest stage of them all.

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Ready for the last danceCredit: getty/DREAM TEAM
In 2006, Ronaldo was one of the most promising young talents on display but he was developing as a more traditional winger, hence why he scored just the one goal as Portugal finished fourth in Germany.
In South Africa in 2010, his only goal came in a 7-0 thrashing of North Korea – a strike which ended a rare drought of 16 months in international football.
Four years later, he played through a injury and was noticeably hampered, not even his late winner against Ghana could drag Portugal to the knockout stages.
This was a case of terrible luck and timing for Ronaldo as the tournament in Brazil coincided most closely with his peak years – he scored 61 goals in all competitions for Real Madrid in the season that followed.
All this meant that by the time he was preparing for his fourth edition of the tournament in 2018, his record at the world’s most-watched sporting event read: three goals in 14 games.
Injuries hindered Ronaldo at the 2014 World Cup
Ronaldo set about realigning the numbers with a superb hat-trick against Spain in his first outing in Russia – his most memorable World Cup moment to date.
A goal against Morocco in the following group game bolstered his record further but defeat to Uruguay in the round of 16 meant Portuguese fans were once again left disappointed with their side’s efforts at the tournament that matters most.
Now 37 years old, Ronaldo is ready for one final throw of the dice in a World Cup setting and anyone who has observed his career even casually will know his mentality towards the task at hand, such is his relentless desire for accomplishments.
And it’s his state of mind that could be his greatest asset in Qatar now that his speed and physical sharpness have diminished with age.
Erik ten Hag has made sparing use of Ronaldo for Man United this season and, truth be told, the Red Devils have generally played better without their legendary No7 on the pitch.
Still Ronaldo possesses a sense of inevitability and hunger for goals that is unmatched in world football.
Fernando Santos, whose stint as Portugal coach has coincided with the best years of Ronaldo in international football, will hope to harness his captain’s main character energy in Qatar and may even be thankful that his workload at club level has been managed this term.
Ronaldo has conquered Europe but the World Cup has eluded himCredit: getty
And it wasn’t that long ago Ronaldo claimed the Golden Boot at Euro 2020, which is why it’s surprising how few Dream Team World Cup gaffers have included him in their provisional teams so far.
It’s early days but an ownership of 6.5% makes him just the 12th-most popular striker in the game.
Portugal have been drawn against Uruguay, Ghana and South Korea in Group H and while that promises to be one of the more competitive sets of fixtures, Santos’ side are favourites to come out on top.
Darwin Nunez and Aleksandar Mitrovic currently appear in more teams.
Ronaldo may be at the tail end of his career and his record of seven goals in 17 World Cup games might not align with his greatness in other competitions but at the end of the day he is still Ronaldo – betting against him in rarely profitable.
Dream Team World Cup managers are encouraged to select provisional teams now, prices and updated squads will be finalised next week – you can make as many changes to your XI as you like until the tournament gets underway.

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Can you be the last player standing? Longest survivors WIN 50% of the prize pool!Credit: DREAM TEAM
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In case you haven’t noticed, Dream Team World Cup is now live across all platforms!Gaffers are invited to select a provisional team now before player prices are finalised on November 14th.

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The next generation of midfielders are set to flourish in Qatar
One aspect to consider when selecting your XI is the array of young midfield talent that will be on display in Qatar.
As the most-watched sporting event in the world, the World Cup has long been the platform from which youngsters can launch themselves to superstardom.
This year’s tournament will be no different with several notable young midfielders seemingly on the cusp of greatness already.
We make no apologies for the England-centric view by highlighting Jude Bellingham first of all.
Still just 19 years old, Borussia Dortmund’s No22 is earning huge plaudits in Germany for his all-round performances and a sense of maturity beyond beyond his years.
A diligent worker in defence, Bellingham is also blessed with a deftness of touch and natural technique that makes him effective in tight areas.
And this season the former Birmingham midfielder has shown a sharper eye goal – he’s scored nine goals for Dortmund in all competitions already.
Such has been the impressive nature of his development in recent months, it now seems likely that Bellingham will be a starter for England at the World Cup.
Kalvin Phillips has struggled with injury setbacks recently and Bellingham’s added edge going forward makes him a superb candidate for a spot alongside Declan Rice whether Gareth Southgate opts for a 3-4-3 or 4-3-3 formation.
Barcelona and Spain’s futureCredit: getty
Never to be outdone where technically gifted midfielders are concerned, Spain boast two teenage talents likely to win swathes of admirers in Qatar.
Pedri is arguably among the world’s best players in his position already and previously flaunted his ability on the international stage to considerable degree at Euro 2020.
Recently he’s been joined at club and country level by Gavi, a La Masia graduate who shares many of the same attributes.
Naturally there are whispered hopes from fans of Barcelona and La Roja that Pedri, 19, and Gavi, 18, can emulate Xavi and Andres Iniesta’s partnership that formed the foundation of some of the greatest triumphs of the modern era.
It’s a similar situation in France where Didier Deschamps may call upon Real Madrid pair Eduardo Camavinga, 19, and Aurelien Tchouameni, 22, as Les Bleus seek to defend their crown this winter.
The latter is virtually guaranteed a spot in the squad and he may be joined by his younger team-mate because of N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba’s absences through injury.
France have injuries in midfield and so Deschamps may turn to youth
Both starlets blend athleticism and physicality with a certain poise in possession, making them very modern midfielders.
More casual fans will remember Camavinga’s match-shaping performances off the bench during Real Madrid’s latest Champions League glory.
Germany have Jamal Musiala, the most attack-minded of the lot.
Once a England youth representative and Chelsea academy player, the 19-year-old has become hugely important to Bayern Munich – he’s scored nine goals and provided six assists for the Bundesliga champions already this term.
Die Mannschaft are hardly lacking in midfield options but there is an increasingly loud clamour for the national team to be built around Musiala’s blooming talent.
If Hansi Flick concurs then Musiala may be the pick of the lot in terms of Dream Team World Cup viability, purely because he’s the most likely of the players mentioned to contribute goals and assists.
More broadly, all the youngsters listed have shown enough in the early stages of their careers to suggest they could become world-class midfielders – some may have already reached that level – and there’s no better stage than the World Cup for a player to stamp their authority on the game.
Musiala has rapidly become a key player for club and countryCredit: getty
And the tournament comes at a fitting time too with several leading midfield lights at the back end of their careers.
Qatar will surely be Luka Modric’s last World Cup at 37 years old, Toni Kroos is 32 and already retired from international football, Angel Di Maria is 34 and currently sweating on an injury ahead of the World Cup.
Casemiro, Ilkay Gundogan and Sergio Busquets are all in the 30s, as is Kevin De Bruyne.
These experienced names still have plenty to offer of course, many are still at the top of their game, but every player succumbs to the passing of time eventually.
The 2022 World Cup could act as a passing of the torch from one crop of decorated midfielders to an exciting host of youngsters hoping to emulate their heroes.

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