Real Madrid's English midfielder #05 Jude Bellingham runs for the ball during the UEFA Champions League football match between Atalanta and Real Madrid at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, on December 10, 2024. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)
Doha: For some of the players at the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2024, there will be an air of familiarity when they take the field at 974 Stadium and/or Lusail Stadium, as it marks a return to Qatar two years after the FIFA World Cup 2022. These are the 16 players who are returning to action in Qatar for the first time since their World Cup experience.
Pachuca: Angel Mena, Ecuador
The veteran midfielder was named to the Ecuador roster, but did not see any action in the team’s three group stage matches.
Botafogo: Thiago Almada, Argentina
Almada was a surprise inclusion on Lionel Scaloni’s final roster and ended up playing the final six minutes of Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Poland in their group finale.
Alex Telles, Brazil
Telles played in two group-stage matches for A Selecão in Qatar. He came off the bench for the final four minutes of the 1-0 win against Serbia and then started and played 54 minutes in the 1-0 defeat to Cameroon.
Al Ahly: Achraf Dari, Morocco
After failing to appear in Morocco’s first four matches, Dari got his first taste of the World Cup when he entered as a second half substitute in the 1-0 quarter-final win against Portugal. The defender then started the 2-0 semi-final loss to France, and started and scored in the 2-1 third place play-off defeat against Croatia.
Yahya Attiat Allah, Morocco
Attiat Allah played in six of Morocco’s seven matches, entering as a second-half substitute in two group-stage matches. He was also a substitute in the Round of 16. He also started the third-place play-off.
Ali Maaloul, Tunisia
Tunisia’s spell at Qatar 2022 was brief, lasting only in the group stage, but it ended on a positive note for Maaloul, who started and played the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 triumph over France in their finale.
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois, Belgium
Courtois started all three matches for Belgium and registered clean sheets in the 1-0 win against Canada and the scoreless draw with Croatia.
Jude Bellingham, England
Bellingham started all five matches for the Three Lions in Qatar, scoring in the 6-2 group-stage win versus Iran.
Eduardo Camavinga, France
Camavinga started in the 1-0 loss to Tunisia in their group finale before appearing for the final 19 minutes of extra time in the final against Argentina.
Vinicius Junior, Brazil
Vinicius started four of Brazil’s five matches and scored the opening goal in the 4-1 win against Korea Republic in the Round of 16.
Fede Valverde, Uruguay
Uruguay’s stay at the World Cup did not last past the group stage, but Valverde played every minute for his country and helped record two clean sheets.
Kylian Mbappe, France
Mbappe was breathtaking in every way at Qatar 2022. The Frenchman finished with the adidas Golden Boot after notching eight goals, including a hat trick in the final.
Luka Modric, Croatia
Real Madrid’s midfield wizard was at his brilliant best once again in Qatar, leading Croatia to a third-place finish. He started all seven matches for the 2018 runners-up.
Rodrygo, Brazil
Rodrygo appeared in all five of Brazil’s matches, including a start in the group finale against Cameroon.
Aurelien Tchouameni, France
Tchouameni started all seven matches for Les Bleus, scoring in the 2-1 quarter-final victory over England.
Antonio Rudiger, Germany
The centre-back played every minute of Germany’s campaign, which ended prematurely in the group stage. (FIFA)
