By Idiss LAWAL
Out of seven hundred and six (736) players that played at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, only four are coming back to the 2026 World Cup.
Twenty years later, almost every journey has ended.
Some retired. Some faded away. Some became memories.
Only four are still active heading into the summer of 2026: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić, and Guillermo Ochoa.
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Different countries. Different stories. One generation. Still standing. Meanwhile, Ronaldo needs two more goals at the 2026 World Cup to become Portugal all time top scorer at the World Cup.
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