Stars to Watch at the 2025 Club World Cup – Messi, Mbappé, Haaland & More Shine on Global Stage

Global Superstars Converge: The Players Who Could Define the Club World Cup

One of the most thrilling aspects of the expanded Club World Cup is the concentration of superstar talent we’re about to witness. As a football fan, I often pinch myself looking at the rosters: it’s like a fantasy all-star tournament, but very real and competitive. Here are the players (both the household names and a few dark horses) who I believe will grab headlines and could shape their teams’ fortunes in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF) – The GOAT on Home Turf

It’s almost hard to fathom: Lionel Messi will be playing in a FIFA tournament for a club from Major League Soccer. Messi is no stranger to the Club World Cup – he’s won it multiple times with Barcelona (as seen in that 2015 photo above where he, Neymar, and Suárez were lifting the trophy). Now, he’s the marquee star of Inter Miami, the host nation’s club representative. At 38 years old (yes, Messi will be 38 by summer 2025), he may not have the same burst of pace, but his genius on the ball and playmaking is still sublime. We saw it in his first MLS season in 2023 and beyond – he can change a game with one pass or free-kick.

Messi’s presence is a huge draw for the tournament. He’s likely to get rockstar treatment at every stadium, especially since many matches are in cities with big Argentine or Latin American communities. On the pitch, what can we expect? Messi tends to thrive in big moments. Inter Miami will lean heavily on him to conjure magic against more traditionally powerful opponents. There’s a real chance Messi will face clubs he used to battle in Europe. For instance, Inter Miami’s group includes Porto – Messi has a history of scoring against Portuguese teams. If Miami somehow advance, a dream matchup could be Messi vs. Manchester City or Messi vs. Real Madrid in the knockouts. As a fan, I selfishly hope Inter Miami gets through just to prolong Messi’s presence in the tournament. It’s also an opportunity for Messi to add another unique accolade: winning a Club World Cup with two different clubs (and in doing so, give MLS a historic achievement).

Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) – Galáctico with a Point to Prove

The rumor mill became reality: by 2025, Kylian Mbappé now wears the famous white of Real Madrid. And what a stage for his debut in a Real Madrid shirt at a FIFA competition. Mbappé has already won a World Cup with France and scored in a World Cup final (actually, a hat-trick in 2022’s final) – he’s a man for the big stage. At Real, he’s joined by fellow star Vinícius Júnior to form a devastating attacking duo. They’ll be leading the line for one of the tournament favorites.

Mbappé’s sheer speed and goal-scoring prowess will be on display in Group H. I expect him to run at defenders from Al Hilal and Pachuca with that trademark burst. And he’s hungry – Mbappé has stated he wants to help make Real Madrid champions of everything. This Club World Cup offers him a chance at a title he hasn’t won yet (PSG never got to play a Club World Cup since they haven’t won the Champions League in his time there). One small storyline: in Real’s group, they face Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia. Mbappé very famously turned down an astronomical offer from a Saudi club in 2023 to stay in Europe. Now he might face a Saudi team – I’m sure the local fans (and defenders) will be motivated to test him. But I expect Mbappé to deliver – he usually does under pressure.

If Real goes deep, picture a possible semifinal or final like Real Madrid vs. Manchester City. That could pit Mbappé against Erling Haaland in a showdown of this generation’s two elite forwards. Speaking of which…

Erling Haaland (Manchester City) – The Goal Machine

Few players strike fear into defenses like Erling Braut Haaland. The big Norwegian striker has been breaking scoring records since he arrived in England. In 2023, he helped Manchester City win the UEFA Champions League and then the old-format Club World Cup (scoring in the final in 2023 when City beat Fluminense in Saudi Arabia). Now he’s back to try to claim the new expanded title.

Haaland is still in his mid-20s and at the peak of his powers. What’s scary is he seems to live for scoring big goals in big games. In the group stage, Man City will play Juventus, Wydad, and Al Ain. Haaland will be licking his chops – with service from Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and others, he could feast on those defenses. Juventus have top defenders like Bremer or Danilo, but Haaland’s combination of strength, speed, and positioning is hard to contain for 90 minutes. And for Wydad or Al Ain, facing someone like Haaland might be a once-in-a-lifetime challenge – they’ll try their best, but I wouldn’t bet against Haaland scoring a hat-trick or two in the group stage.

Pep Guardiola, City’s coach, will likely rotate some players in the group games given City’s depth, but Haaland as a competitor will want the Golden Boot (top scorer of the tournament). If City go to the final, I fully expect Haaland to be among the top scorers, if not number one. Keep an eye out for his post-goal meditation celebration possibly becoming a regular sight. Also, fun subplot: City could meet Bayern Munich later on, which would be Haaland vs. his old Bundesliga rival Harry Kane (now at Bayern). The two were often compared in their Bundesliga/Premier League days, and they might battle it out on American soil for a world title.

Neymar (Al Hilal) – Samba Flair in Saudi Colors

It’s easy to forget with all the attention on Europe and Messi, but Neymar is also part of this Club World Cup – playing for Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal. Neymar moved to Al Hilal in 2023 in a blockbuster transfer. Unfortunately, his first season there was marred by a serious injury (ACL tear) in late 2023. But if his recovery stays on track, Neymar could be fit and firing by June 2025. And if he is, oh boy, Group H gets even more interesting.

Al Hilal reached the 2023 final and have a squad filled with talent: along with Neymar, they signed players like Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly, Aleksandar Mitrović – a mix of international stars. Neymar would be the creative hub. Imagine the scene: Neymar vs. Real Madrid in Miami, with Mbappé on the other side for Real. That could actually happen in their first group match (schedule depending). Neymar has a bit of history with Real from his Barcelona days, so I’m sure he’d love to show some magic. He’s also reunited (indirectly) with Messi in this tournament – except they’re on different teams. If Al Hilal and Inter Miami both somehow advanced and met, we’d have a Messi vs Neymar showdown, which would be nostalgic and delightful.

There’s also personal motivation: Neymar has never won a Club World Cup. He was injured when PSG lost the Champions League final in 2020 (thus missing the 2020 Club World Cup), and by the time PSG won the Champions League… well, they haven’t yet. With Barcelona, he did win in 2015 (scoring in the final, actually), so correction: Neymar has won it with Barca. But winning one leading Al Hilal would be a different legacy moment entirely – bringing a global trophy to an Asian club. It’s a long shot, but I expect Neymar, if healthy, to put on a show. Even if Al Hilal don’t go super far, Neymar’s tricks, dribbles, and free-kicks will add flair to the tournament.

Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) – England’s Finest Goes for Global Glory

Among the European stars, Harry Kane deserves a mention. He made a high-profile move to Bayern Munich in 2023 and has been scoring at will in Germany. Now he leads Bayern’s attack into Group C (Bayern’s group with Boca Juniors, Benfica, Auckland City). Kane is known for his clinical finishing and smart link-up play. He’s also England’s captain, but this is about club football – a realm where he’s eager to collect major trophies to match his individual accolades.

For Kane, this Club World Cup is a chance to win an international trophy with a club, something he couldn’t do at Tottenham. Bayern will count on his goals to avoid any slip-ups. I’m particularly intrigued by Bayern vs. Boca Juniors – South American defenses often play very physically, and Boca’s center-backs will surely try to rough Kane up. But Kane has handled physical battles in the Premier League for years. He could feast on service from Bayern’s wingers like Kingsley Coman or Leroy Sané. Also, if Bayern go deep, Kane might face off against Premier League opposition (say, Chelsea or Man City) in later rounds, which would bring his career full circle in an interesting way.

There’s also a sentimental note: English clubs have won Club World Cups before (Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea all did in past years), but an English player starring for a non-English club to win it would be unique. Kane could be that guy. He’s already one of the top scorers in Bayern’s season; I suspect he’ll be among top scorers in this tournament too.

Rising Talents and Other Notables

While the biggest stars draw attention, one thing I love about tournaments like this is discovering or appreciating rising talents from different regions:

• Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – Though Mbappé is the headliner, Viní Jr. is already a superstar in his own right. His partnership with Mbappé could be lethal. Viní’s dribbling and flair will torment defenders. I recall him destroying Al Ahly’s defense in the 2022 Club World Cup semi – he could do similar here.

• Julian Álvarez (Manchester City) – In Haaland’s shadow at City, but whenever Álvarez gets minutes he shines (he’s a World Cup winner with Argentina, after all). In a long tournament, Pep will rotate, so Álvarez might start some games and could be a game-changer off the bench.

• Enzo Fernández (Chelsea) – The Argentine midfield maestro, Enzo will be pulling strings for Chelsea. As a relatively young player who won the World Cup 2022 Best Young Player, this is his chance to boss the midfield against clubs like Flamengo or others. If Chelsea succeed, Enzo’s composure and passing will likely be a big reason.

• Marcus Thuram & Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan) – Inter Milan quietly have a strong squad, featuring Lautaro (who was top scorer in Serie A) and new addition Marcus Thuram. They’re in Group E with River Plate, Monterrey, Urawa. Lautaro vs. River Plate’s Argentine defenders should be a fiery duel, given Lautaro himself is Argentine facing a beloved Argentine club.

• Edinson Cavani (Boca Juniors) – Speaking of Uruguayans, Cavani now plays for Boca Juniors. He’s a veteran and maybe not as quick as in his prime, but imagine his hunger in a Boca shirt on a world stage. He’ll want to prove himself, and a Boca vs. Bayern game could see Cavani trying to outscore Kane – a battle of veteran strikers.

• Mohamed El-Shenawy (Al Ahly) – A goalkeeper shout-out! Al Ahly’s captain and goalkeeper, El-Shenawy, has been a hero in many African Champions League nights. Facing the likes of Palmeiras or Messi’s shots from Inter Miami, his saves could be highlight-reel material. Often an underdog’s best weapon in these tournaments is a hot goalkeeper.

• Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad) – Wait, Real Sociedad isn’t in this tournament, scratch that. Perhaps Takumi Minamino or Marquinhos? Actually, let’s highlight someone from Asia/Africa: Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly) – a solid midfielder who might catch eyes. Or Salem Al-Dawsari (Al Hilal) – he scored against European opposition in the past (goal vs Real Madrid in 2023 final, and famously vs Argentina in the World Cup 2022). Al-Dawsari is a winger with a knack for big goals.

• Santiago Giménez (Pachuca) – The Mexican striker on loan at Pachuca (or perhaps transferred by then) is one to watch. Actually, as per squad list, I see Sergio Canales and Lucas Ocampos in Monterrey’s squadaljazeera.com – Canales is a Spanish playmaker, Ocampos an Argentine winger. They add star quality to Monterrey. Keep an eye on João Félix – oh wait, he’s not listed; perhaps he didn’t make a move.

And of course, there’s always a chance a lesser-known player becomes a breakout star. Maybe someone from Auckland City scores a wonder goal against Benfica, or an African forward like Percy Tau (Al Ahly) dazzles. That unpredictability is part of the charm.

A Clash of Styles and Celebrations

Seeing all these stars in one tournament is like a celebration of the world’s best footballers, but what’s cool is the mix of styles they bring:

You have the South American flair – Messi’s dribbles, Neymar’s tricks, Vinícius’s samba steps, combined with the grit of players like Enzo or Cavani. Then the European efficiency and power – Haaland’s athleticism, Kane’s clinical finishing, Mbappé’s speed, De Bruyne’s precise passing (let’s not forget midfield stars like De Bruyne, Modrić, Toni Kroos, etc., who are all present with their clubs). From Africa, players like Al Ahly’s wingers or Sundowns’ attackers bring pace and directness. Asia’s stars like Urawa’s Japanese internationals or Al Hilal’s mixture of local and international stars bring tactical discipline and creativity.

Even North America has its icons here: apart from Messi in MLS, you have seasoned pros like André-Pierre Gignac – actually, Tigres isn’t in this, scratch that. But Sergio Busquets in Inter Miami midfield (how did I not mention him? The Barcelona legend is Messi’s teammate in Miami, anchoring the midfield with his experience – he’s another one to watch, as he’s won the Club World Cup multiple times with Barca). Griezmann with Atlético, Ousmane Dembélé with PSG, Pedri and Gavi – oh wait, Barcelona’s not in it, scrap Pedri/Gavi.

And of course, the tournament might give us a nostalgic farewell vibe for some legends: For example, Luka Modrić at Real Madrid is nearing 40; this could be one of his last big outings. Same for Andrés Iniesta – not present. Perhaps Jordi Alba (Inter Miami) – he’ll be there alongside Messi and Busquets, bringing a trio of former Barca legends to the Club World Cup with an MLS team, which is just surreal.

Final Thoughts: Star Performers Will Decide the Champion

In the end, while football is a team sport, big games are often decided by big players stepping up. I expect the usual suspects to rise to the occasion. The team that wins this Club World Cup will likely have had one of its stars in peak form. Will it be Messi weaving his magic one more time? Mbappé blazing a trail of goals? Haaland bulldozing through everyone? Or perhaps someone like Neymar or Vinícius taking the spotlight?

As a fan, I’m just thrilled at the prospect of seeing all these talents in matches that matter. It’s a rare convergence – normally, to see these players in the same competition, you watch the World Cup (nations) or Champions League (only Europeans). Here, we have an intersection of all continents. So get ready to enjoy the show – the skills, the goals, the celebrations (I foresee plenty of iconic celebrations: Messi pointing to the sky, Mbappé’s crossed arms, Haaland’s meditation, maybe a little samba dance from a Brazilian or two).

No matter who you support, take a moment to appreciate the sheer quality on display. Tournaments like this don’t come around often, and they might just create new unforgettable moments courtesy of these superstar players. I’ve got my popcorn (and my jersey) ready – let the stars shine!