The global tournament gets underway in the United States this weekend, and a host of familiar faces will be showcasing their skills

The European football season has now ended, but there will still be a feast of big matches for fans to enjoy this summer as attention shifts to the expanded Club World Cup. Previously a seven-team competition, the new edition features 32 teams from football's six confederations split into eight groups of four, with the top two advancing to the last 16, which begins a straight knockout format through to the final.

To add even greater weight, the Club World Cup will now be played once every four years instead of annually, with the winners set to receive a staggering $125 million (?92m) cash prize. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has even claimed the event "will be the pinnacle of elite professional men?s club football", and with the United States serving as the first hosts of the rebooted tournament, it should be quite the spectacle.

There will certainly be no shortage of talent on show, with Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain competing for more glory alongside the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Inter and Juventus. Many former stars of European football will also be strutting their stuff, and GOAL has ranked the top 10 to watch ahead of kick-off on June 14...

1Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

This will be Inter Miami's first appearance on the world stage, and in Lionel Messi, they have the best possible leader for the occasion. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner will turn 38 during the tournament, but he remains a footballing alien who makes everything on the pitch look effortless, and Miami have become heavily reliant on his genius.

Indeed, Messi has racked up 15 goal involvements in just 13 MLS appearances during the 2025 season to date, with his latest masterclass coming in a 5-1 demolition of the Columbus Crew. "He is the best player to ever play this sport, we try to help in every way we can," Inter Miami boss Javier Mascherano, who played alongside Messi at Barcelona and with the Argentina national team, said after the game.

For all their faults as a collective, Miami have a chance in any game because of Messi's presence. His ability to elegantly dance around defenders, deliver a killer pass out of nowhere, or curl a long-range free-kick into the top corner hasn't dwindled, and he will be out to remind the world he's still very capable of making a decisive impact at the highest level.

2Luis Suarez (Inter Miami)

Messi is also fortunate enough to have the perfect partner in crime: former Barcelona and Liverpool sharpshooter Luis Suarez. The two men built up a telepathic understanding during their time together at Camp Nou and have rekindled that spark in Florida, despite Suarez's ongoing battle with osteoarthritis in his right knee.

That issue has adversely affected Suarez's mobility on the pitch, but his instincts in the final third are still as sharp as ever, as ilustrated by his 33 goals in 58 games for Miami. That being said, Suarez is not expected to be the the team's main source of goals; the 38-year-old is now more focused on bringing others into play and drawing defenders out of position than just finishing off chances.

His minutes will likely be managed carefully if Mascherano's side enjoy a run to the knockouts, but Suarez only needs one moment to make the difference. The Uruguayan can also bounce off Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who complete Miami's contingent of Barcelona legends.

2Luis Suarez (Inter Miami)

Messi is also fortunate enough to have the perfect partner in crime: former Barcelona and Liverpool sharpshooter Luis Suarez. The two men built up a telepathic understanding during their time together at Camp Nou and have rekindled that spark in Florida, despite Suarez's ongoing battle with osteoarthritis in his right knee.

That issue has adversely affected Suarez's mobility on the pitch, but his instincts in the final third are still as sharp as ever, as ilustrated by his 33 goals in 58 games for Miami. That being said, Suarez is not expected to be the the team's main source of goals; the 38-year-old is now more focused on bringing others into play and drawing defenders out of position than just finishing off chances.

His minutes will likely be managed carefully if Mascherano's side enjoy a run to the knockouts, but Suarez only needs one moment to make the difference. The Uruguayan can also bounce off Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who complete Miami's contingent of Barcelona legends.

4Sergio Ramos (Monterrey)

Sergio Ramos was a pivotal figure in the most successful period in Real Madrid's entire history, winning 22 trophies across 16 seasons. That incredible haul includes four Club World Cups, and the former Spain international will believe he can add another to his collection after signing for Mexican outfit Monterrey in February.

Nobody is expecting Monterrey to pull up any trees in the U.S. given they are currently seventh in the Liga MX table, but Ramos is one of the fiercest competitors the game has ever seen, and he will make sure to transfer that attitude to his new team-mates - including former Sevilla and Marseille forward Lucas Ocampos.

Monterrey have enough quality to spring one or two upsets with Ramos contributing at both ends of the pitch. The 39-year-old is still an elite goal-scoring defender, with three to his name in eight Liga MX appearances already, and will be a major threat from set-pieces as Monterrey come up against Inter, River Plate, and Urawa Reds in the group stage.

5Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Al-Hilal)

Clubs like AC Milan, Juventus, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal were all being linked with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic after his stellar 2022-23 season at Lazio, where he had established himself among Europe's top box-to-box midfielders over the previous seven years. It was a major surprise, then, when he opted to join Al-Hilal instead, with an ?80m salary package turning the Serbian's head at the peak of his career.

Milinkovic-Savic is now playing in a less competitive league, but his standards haven't dropped at all. The 28-year-old was the driving force behind Al-Hilal's unbeaten 2023-24 Saudi Pro League title triumph, and registered 21 goal contributions last term, while also leading by example with his ball-winning skills and forming a formidable partnership with ex-Wolves star Ruben Neves.

Al-Hilal could emerge as dark horses at the Club World Cup with Milinkovic-Savic bossing the middle of the park, especially if they hold their own against Real Madrid in their first game. The Serbia international is a workhorse who also has a penchant for making late runs into the box and is never afraid to let fly from long range, often finding the corners of the net through a combination of unerring accuracy and flawless technique, and he will take games by the scruff of the neck when Al-Hilal need inspiration.

5Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Al-Hilal)

Clubs like AC Milan, Juventus, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal were all being linked with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic after his stellar 2022-23 season at Lazio, where he had established himself among Europe's top box-to-box midfielders over the previous seven years. It was a major surprise, then, when he opted to join Al-Hilal instead, with an ?80m salary package turning the Serbian's head at the peak of his career.

Milinkovic-Savic is now playing in a less competitive league, but his standards haven't dropped at all. The 28-year-old was the driving force behind Al-Hilal's unbeaten 2023-24 Saudi Pro League title triumph, and registered 21 goal contributions last term, while also leading by example with his ball-winning skills and forming a formidable partnership with ex-Wolves star Ruben Neves.

Al-Hilal could emerge as dark horses at the Club World Cup with Milinkovic-Savic bossing the middle of the park, especially if they hold their own against Real Madrid in their first game. The Serbia international is a workhorse who also has a penchant for making late runs into the box and is never afraid to let fly from long range, often finding the corners of the net through a combination of unerring accuracy and flawless technique, and he will take games by the scruff of the neck when Al-Hilal need inspiration.

7Edinson Cavani (Boca Juniors)

A 38-year-old Edinson Cavani was one of the few bright spots for Boca Juniors in an otherwise disappointing 2024 campaign, as he hit 16 goals in 35 appearances across all competitions. The former Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain star has not been as prolific this term, but has lost none of his hunger for battle, and Boca will be counting on him to lead by example again at the Club World Cup.

Finishing above Benfica or Bayern Munich in Group C will be a tall order for Boca, but head coach Miguel Angel Russo will set them up to be defensively disciplined and ruthless on the counter. Cavani is still the perfect man for the second part of that job despite no longer possessing the athleticism of his prime years.

"We?ll give it our absolute all to try to go as far as we possibly can in the tournament and return the club to where it should be, which is fighting for silverware on the international stage," Cavani told FIFA when looking ahead to Boca's opening game against Benfica. That attitude is what made 'El Matador' a modern-day legend, and it would be foolish to bet against him writing a glorious final chapter in the U.S.

8Jorginho (Flamengo)

Jorginho didn't see as many minutes at Arsenal as he would have hoped for after moving to the Emirates from London rivals Chelsea in February 2023, largely due to the arrival of Declan Rice just a few months later. Mikel Arteta only started the Italy international 16 times across all competitions in 2024-25, with Thomas Partey often getting the nod over him at the base of midfield, and it was no surprise when Arsenal did not tie him down to a new contract.

There were no doubts over Jorginho's quality, but he'd become too slow in the transition to fit Arteta's high-octane system. That won't be an issue at Flamengo, though, which is where the 33-year-old has decided to embark on the final stage of his career.

Flamengo have signed Jorginho, who was born in Brazil, for his ability to control games, not his running power. The former Napoli regista is still a brilliant reader of the game who rarely misplaces a pass, and he will relish the chance to line up against Chelsea again in Flamengo's second Club World Cup game, having won the competition with the Blues in 2021.

9Olivier Giroud (LAFC)

An extra spot in the Club World Cup opened up after Mexican side Leon were removed for failing to meet tournament regulations on multi-club ownership, and 2024 MLS champions LAFC took it by beating Club America 2-1 after extra-time in a pulsating play-off. Olivier Giroud stepped off the bench to set up Denis Bouanga's winning goal, booking a group-stage reunion against his former club Chelsea in the process.

The Frenchman will likely be back among the substitutes when LAFC open their campaign against the Blues, because he hasn't started any of their last five MLS games either. With just four goals from 32 outings since moving to Los Angeles last year, it's fair to say that Giroud's best days are well and truly behind him, and he's not fit enough to play 90 minutes week in, week out anymore.

He's by no means an essential part of this LAFC side like his former France colleague Hugo Lloris is, but the cameo against Club America showed Giroud still has something to offer. The 38-year-old has always been a strong, clever target man who makes those around him better, and can add a different dimension upfront if LAFC find themselves chasing a game.

10Salomon Rondon (Pachuca)

A man who will need no introduction to Newcastle and West Brom supporters, Salomon Rondon is currently enjoying a superb career swansong in Mexico with Pachuca. Venezuela's all-time record goal-scorer joined Pachuca as a free agent in December 2023 and made a lasting impression in his maiden season, firing them to CONCACAF Champions Cup glory with nine goals, including two in their final victory over the Columbus Crew.

Rondon was also the joint-top scorer in the Liga MX Clausura, and added another 16 goals to his tally for Pachuca across all competitions in 2024-25, earning a surprise nomination for the FIFA Best Men's XI list in December. Pachuca are major underdogs in a daunting Group H line up at the Club World Cup, but they have a genuine wildcard in Rondon, who is always a handful in the air and an accomplished finisher with both feet.

He's done extremely well to mend his reputation after a dismal stint at Everton in 2021-22, rediscovering the form that saw him excel in struggling West Brom and Newcastle teams all those years ago while also serving as a mentor for Pachuca's younger players.

"Having him as a role model is important for us and for the kids just starting out," Pachuca president Armando Mart?nez has said. "He trains like he?s 25 years old ? he?s the first to arrive and the last to leave, he watches what he eats and gets plenty of rest. That?s enabled him to shine, and he suits the team down to the ground." (GOAL)

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