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World Cup injury tracker: Full list of confirmed absentees and latest updates on Premier League stars including England quartet as Phillips and Walker called up while Chilwell and James miss out – Pogba and Jota absent
The World Cup is approaching fast and for some of the planet's best players, the race against time is on.
Every star dreams of competing in the biggest competition in the world and with the tournament only cropping up every four years, footballers have precious few opportunities to build their legacy.
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With Qatar readying itself for football fans all around the world, supporters are hoping that they'll still be able to see all of their favourites on show.
For some players, there's a big possibility that they may not be fit to feature in the World Cup as they tackle serious injuries in the weeks ahead.
However you can bet bottom dollar that they'll be doing everything possible to play on the biggest stage of all.
Premier League
Ben Chilwell - OUT
The Chelsea defender is going to miss the World Cup after his hamstring ‘popped’ last week.
Chilwell pulled up just seconds before the end of the Champions League victory over Dinamo Zagreb.
As he was helped off the pitch by the Chelsea medical staff, he appeared to say to teammate Mason Mount: ‘It’s popped’.
The 25-year-old was later seen leaving Stamford Bridge on crutches and a further scan revealed a 'significant injury' that will see him miss the World Cup.
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Diogo Jota - OUT
One player who will not be heading to Qatar is Liverpool star Jota, with Jurgen Klopp confirming that he was set to miss out.
The Portugal international was carried off on a stretcher late on in the 1-0 Premier League victory over Manchester City last month.
"Really not good news about Diogo. Yes, he will miss the World Cup," said manager Jurgen Klopp.
"A pretty serious injury in the calf muscle. And now the recovery starts, or the process starts."
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Kalvin Phillips - IN
After being the main man for Leeds United, Phillips has found it tough since moving to Man City this summer.
Having been limited to just 20 Premier League appearances last term due to injury, the midfielder has endured limited game time for Pep Guardiola's side due to fitness issues.
A dislocated shoulder back in September has extended this poor luck with injuries, with Phillips' place at the World Cup being thrown into doubt.
But Guardiola revealed that the midfielder is now back in full training and he featured against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup.
Gareth Southgate has now selected Phillips for the squad despite questions over his match fitness.
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Kyle Walker - IN
The Man City star has been selected for England's World Cup campaign after doubts over his fitness following an injury.
Walker underwent surgery on a groin which left him facing a six-week road to recovery.
The 32-year-old looks to have overcome an uphill task to be fit for Qatar after Walker indicated that he was confident of being on the plane.
Speaking on in mid-October, Walker said: "I'm confident. I've been through enough in my career to know my body.
"I'm well above what they thought I'd be able to do at this point.
"I just feel I can do this. I am going to have to be patient with it. There will be bumps in the road but hopefully, come the selection, I'm included."
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Reece James - OUT
The Chelsea full-back suffered a knee injury during a Champions League clash with AC Milan at the San Siro.
The Blues released a , subsequently ruling him out of the World Cup.
But while the odds were against the 22-year-old, James took to social media and suggested that he hasn't yet given up all hope of being on the plane to Qatar.
And the defender was been told in three weeks.
The defender took to social media in October and said: "The race against time is on… But we won’t give up.”
He since told : "I need to keep working hard over the next few weeks and see where I am on call-up day.
"I will try and not rule myself out. It is still slow and in the early stages.
"I have been in rehab for two weeks, so I am still taking it day-by-day.
“The Chelsea medical staff have not given me a percentage of my chance of being back for the World Cup.
"It is down to how I feel closer to the time and how stable it is."
James did not make the England squad for the World Cup after Southgate was unwilling to risk selecting the injured right back.
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Rest of the world
Argentina
- Paulo Dybala - IN
- Joaquin Correa - IN
- Angel Di Maria - IN
- Giovani Lo Celso - OUT
- Juan Foyth - IN
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Belgium
- Romelu Lukaku - IN
- Alexis Saelemaekers - OUT
Brazil
- Diego Carlos - OUT
- Arthur Melo - OUT
Canada
- Atiba Hutchinson - DOUBT
- Doneil Henry- OUT
Croatia
- Marcelo Brozovic - IN
Denmark
- Simon Kjaer - IN
- Andreas Christensen - IN
Ecuador
- Joao Rojas - OUT
- Robert Arboleda - DOUBT
England
- Ben Chilwell - OUT
- Reece James - OUT
- Emile Smith Rowe - OUT
France
- Paul Pogba - OUT
- N'Golo Kante - OUT
- Wesley Fofana - OUT
- Lucas Hernandez - IN
- Presnel Kimpembe - OUT
- Mike Maignan - OUT
- Jules Kounde - IN
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Germany
- Leroy Sane - IN
- Thomas Muller - IN
- Manuel Neuer - IN
- Florian Neuhaus - OUT
- Mahmoud Dahoud - OUT
- Timo Werner - OUT
- Marco Reus - OUT
- Florian Wirtz - OUT
Japan
- Ryo Miyaichi - OUT
Mexico
- Jesús Manuel Corona - OUT
- Raul Jimenez - DOUBT
Morocco
- Tarik Tissoudali - OUT
Netherlands
- Memphis Depay - IN
- Georginio Wijnaldum - OUT
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Portugal
- Diogo Jota - OUT
- Pedro Neto - OUT
- Ricardo Pereira - OUT
Poland
- Jakub Moder - OUT
Senegal
- Bouna Sarr - IN
- Sadio Mane - IN
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Spain
- Mikel Oyarzabal - OUT
- Gerard Moreno - OUT
- Sergio Reguilon - OUT
- Kepa Arrizabalaga - OUT
Uruguay
- Ronald Araujo - IN
- Mauro Arambarri - OUT
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USA
- Weston McKennie - IN
- Daryl Dike - OUT
- Chris Richards - OUT
- Miles Robinson - OUT
Wales
- Joe Allen – IN
- Tom Lawrence – OUT
- Rhys Norrington-Davies – OUT
- David Brooks - OUT
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