A world cup in 2022 is every football player's dream, but injury lists continue to grow. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the greatest players of our generation, have their eyes set on the prize as it is the only competition they have not won. It is unfortunate that a few injured footballers will be unable to participate in this prestigious event because of their injuries. The occurrence of injuries in sports is a very common occurrence and prevents players from reaching their full potential. Reece James, N'golo Kante, and Paulo Dybala are among the renowned names set to miss the highly anticipated 2022 World Cup. Here is more information regarding the injured players who will not be able to participate in the World Cup.

Paul Pogba (France)

Paul Pogba ranks first on the list of injured football players in 2022. He has yet to make an appearance for Juventus since his move to the club did not go as planned. Pogba sustained an injury to his knee during preseason and underwent surgery in September to repair a damaged meniscus. On October 31, his agent informed him that the midfielder would not return to action for Juventus or the world champions before the World Cup.

Reece James (England)

Every football player dreams of representing their country at the World Cup. It was Reece James who made that dream a reality. A knee injury, however, has prevented him from participating. After winning against AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League, Reece James stayed in Milan for a day. It was then revealed to him by the surgeon that he would not be able to play for two months. Despite being just one month away from the World Cup, James has not given up on his dream. Gareth Southgate has sent his squad list to FIFA shopping mode but has not publicly disclosed anything. Two important right-backs will be absent from England due to the probable absence of Kyle Walker.

Alexander Isak (Sweden)

Real Sociedad and Newcastle United agreed to a deal worth up to $67 million for the Swedish forward. Because of a thigh injury, he has only made three appearances since then. It was an instant impact on Alexander Isak on his debut when he scored a goal against Liverpool. A second goal was also scored by the striker against Bournemouth. While on international duty, he sustained an injury. Isak sustained a thigh injury on international duty, according to Newcastle manager Eddie Howe. He will be out of commission for the next two months as a result of the injury.

Timo Werner (Germany)

An ankle injury has forced Timo Werner to withdraw from the World Cup in Qatar. His left ankle has been injured due to a ruptured syndesmosis ligament. A knock to the foot forced the 26-year-old to leave Leipzig's 4-0 Champions League group-stage win against Shakhtar Donetsk in the 13th minute. He has scored 24 goals in 55 appearances for the national team. Germans have had difficulty scoring in the box in recent times as a result of his injury.

Diogo Jota (Portugal)

The contract of Jota was acquired by Liverpool following the observation of his talent and glamour. Over the course of the two seasons, the 25-year-old has scored a number of goals for Liverpool. Jota's night ended in a horrible manner following a very captivating victory over Manchester City at Anfield. Several weeks ago, the forward suffered a severe calf injury that prevented him from participating in the Qatar World Cup. For the first time in his career, Diogo Jota was scheduled to compete at the World Cup. Further, he would be expected to play a prominent role for Portugal alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, and others. Currently, the recovery process has begun but Diogo Jota will be unavailable for both Liverpool and Portugal until the end of the year.

Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)

His second stint Lukaku at Inter Milan has been severely affected by injuries, with only five games played and two goals scored. It is uncertain whether he will be called after suffering a thigh strain just a few days after recovering from the previous injury. It is of major concern for Belgium ahead of the World Cup that Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku has sustained another hamstring injury. The Belgian national team's number-one striker, Lukaku, has recently returned to action after missing two months due to a hamstring injury. During the Champions League match against Viktoria Plzen on Wednesday and the Italian league match against Sampdoria on Saturday, he was a substitute.

N'golo Kante (France)

It is clear that Kante is a different breed and a different type of player. As far as goals and assists are concerned, he does not contribute much, but he does manage the midfield on his own. Kante is an integral part of Chelsea FC as well as the France national team. During the 2018 World Cup, Kante performed well due to his seamless stamina. At the World Cup, he was a member of France's squad for all seven matches. N'golo played in the final against Croatia, which France won by a score of 4-2. Losing a player as important as Kante will certainly have a negative impact on France. Since Chelsea's draw with Tottenham on August 14, the midfielder has not played. N'golo has been sidelined for four months as a result of a hamstring injury.

Kyle Walker (England)

Considering that England has a number of talented players, Gareth Southgate has the best choice of players. The major drawback is the absence of Reece James as a right-back. Kyle Walker's role for England became even more prominent and important since Reece James was ruled out of the World Cup. Walker is suffering from a groin injury at the present time, but his recovery process is likely to accelerate shortly. It is expected that Kieran Trippier will start at right-back, but if Walker reaches his match fitness level, Southgate may opt for him. Despite missing the opening match against Iran, Walker is likely to be included in the England squad by the manager.

Angel Di Maria (Argentina)

The Juventus and Argentina winger is expected to be out until the beginning of November. Throughout his career, Di Maria has played an important role in Argentina. The goal he scored in the Copa America final was a key factor in the final. During the UEFA Champions League match against Maccabi Haifa, Di Maria sustained a low-grade hamstring injury. Di Maria is expected to return to the squad in early November, which is good news for Argentina. Among the players of this generation, Angel Di Maria is quite underrated. Having played 125 games for the Albicelestes and scoring 25 goals, the winger is seeking to fulfill his dream of winning the World Cup.

Pedro Neto (Portugal)

It is no secret that the 22-year-old is a magician for Wolverhampton Wanderers. There have been numerous instances in which Pedro Neto has displayed his flair in the Premier League. During his first World Cup, Neto was expected to make a significant contribution. The player, however, sustained an injury in the first half of a match against West Ham. The injury to Neto's ankle will require surgery. It was announced that the 22-year-old had been ruled out by the Wolves. A total of three games have been played by Pedro for Portugal, in which he has scored one goal. In the same vein as Jota, Neto sought to make an impact on Portugal. Despite the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal has been unable to achieve much. A third-place finish in 1966 was their best World Cup performance. The Portuguese team reached the Round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup. The Portuguese team finally had many great players and a great team after years and years of struggle. It is expected, however, that the exclusion of Neto will have an adverse effect on the squad.

Kalvin Phillips (England)

It is a race against time for Kalvin to be in shape for the 2022 World Cup, just as it is for Paulo Dybala. Kalvin joined Manchester City from Leeds at the beginning of the season. Pep Guardiola has only used the 26-year-old player for a few minutes this season. Moreover, he has not yet made an appearance for Manchester City. Kalvin does have many options in the midfield position, but his dream has been shattered. Phillips has already been called up by Southgate in the past. A total of 23 appearances have been made for England by the midfielder. Currently, Kalvin is suffering from a shoulder injury, which means he must prove his health by November 20.

Paulo Dybala (Argentina)

The end of Dybala's final season at Juventus did not go as he had hoped. Over the course of his career at Juventus, his performance has continued to deteriorate. Nonetheless, AS Roma fans gave Dybala a warm welcome. Mourinho urged the club to sign the free agent on a three-year contract. Dybala is entering his prime as he returns to form. In eight appearances, he has scored five goals and provided two assists. In three Europa League appearances for AS Roma, he has also scored two goals. When Dybala returned to form and consistency, he was expected to partner up with Angel Di Maria and Lionel Messi at the World Cup. He Roma even won the game with a penalty against Leece. Despite winning three points for Roma, Dybala suffered an injury as a result of his penalty. Dybala is currently ruled out for four to eight weeks as a result of a tear in his quadriceps. It should be noted, however, that Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has not ruled him out completely. The World Cup is just around the corner, so Dybala is racing against time to get fit for the event.

Boubacar Kamara (France)

As a result of knee ligament damage, France midfielder Boubacar Kamara will not be able to compete in the World Cup. Aston Villa's Kamara sustained an injury during a 1-0 victory over Southampton. Despite being picked for France's Nations League games this month, Kamara was unable to play. Boubacar, who was signed by Marseille, sustained ligament damage that will require him to undergo extensive rehabilitation. The absence of Boubacar represents the latest blow to the defending champions, who have also been without key midfielders N'Golo Kante and Paul Pogba due to injuries.

Arthur Melo (Brazil)

Arthur Melo, a midfielder for Liverpool and Brazil, has announced that he will not be attending the 2018 World Cup in Qatar. During training, the 26-year-old sustained an injury that will require time to recover. Arthur will not be able to return to work until the new year after having undergone surgery in London. A total of 22 caps have been won by Arthur for Brazil, and he has made two appearances in qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar. A 4-0 victory over Bolivia in March was his most recent appearance.

Scott Kennedy (Canada)

Currently, the 25-year-old has made eight international appearances. After injuring his shoulder in the seventh minute of Jahn Regensburg's 3-0 defeat to Hansa Rostock, the 25-year-old center-back will now miss Canada's first World Cup appearance since 1986. Neither Kennedy's club nor Canada Soccer has provided an update regarding the timeline for Kennedy's return.

Jesus Corona (Mexico)

The Sevilla winger suffered a fractured left ankle while training with the LaLiga club in August. He was named in Gerardo Martino's preliminary 31-man squad, but Sevilla manager Jorge Sampaoli said he could not return to training until December. With 71 caps for Mexico, Corona has scored 10 goals. According to Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli, Jesus Corona will not be able to play for Mexico at the World Cup due to an ankle injury.

Ben Chilwell (England)

England and Chelsea full-back Ben Chilwell is expected to miss the World Cup in Qatar after scans showed he had ‘significant’ damage to his hamstring, the Premier League club said on Saturday. Chilwell pulled up in stoppage time of Chelsea’s 2-1 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday. The 25-year-old grabbed the back of his left thigh after making a sprint, falling to the ground before being helped from the field by Chelsea’s medical staff, and was pictured leaving Stamford Bridge on crutches. The news comes as another blow to England with the team also set to miss the services of Chelsea’s Reece James, who was ruled out for eight weeks due to a knee injury he picked up in their game against AC Milan.

Son Heung-Min (South Korea)

Tottenham has confirmed South Korean star Son Heung-Min will require surgery on a fracture around his left eye in order to play at the World Cup later this month. Tottenham's 30-year-old suffered the injury against Marseille during the Champions League match. Son was injured when he challenged for a header with Chancel Mbemba. He was treated on the pitch during a lengthy delay.

Ronald Araujo (Uruguay)

After sustaining a thigh muscle tear in the first minute of Uruguay's friendly against Iran, Araujo will undergo surgery, which will keep him out for two to three months. Araujo is expected to recover from his surgery in approximately 10 weeks. During Araujo's recovery period, it would take him until one week before the tournament begins, but Alonso would not be able to name him in the squad while he was still recovering. It has been evident that Barcelona's defensive performance has been shaky since the international break as a consequence of losing Araujo.

Raphael Varane (France)

As Manchester United faced Chelsea FC in an important match, they performed well from the start. It was impressive to see the backline hold its own against the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mason Mount, and others. An apparent knee injury forced Raphael Varane to leave the field in tears on Saturday, endangering his chances of playing at the World Cup. As the 29-year-old attempted to win the ball from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, he appears to have injured either his knee or ankle. Following United's 1-1 draw at Chelsea in the Premier League, the France international was substituted after 60 minutes. Upon entering the locker room at Stamford Bridge, Varane was visibly distressed and had to wipe away tears from his eyes.

Gini Wijnaldum (Netherlands)

Georginio Wijnaldum suffered a devastating injury while training. The tibia of Gini Wijnaldum was fractured during Roma's training session ahead of their match against newly-promoted Cremonese. Having joined the Giallorossi on loan two weeks ago from Paris Saint-Germain, the former Liverpool midfielder made his debut last Sunday. Against Cremonese, the 31-year-old made a cameo appearance as Roma recorded a narrow victory over Salernitana. The injury setback has, however, prevented him from participating in the tie and has cast doubt on his participation in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar as well. As soon as the extent of the injury is determined, the player will undergo further testing to determine when he can return.

By Rashmi Goel