Every four years at the World Cup, the stars of the footballing world align to battle it out for the most prestigious trophy in world sport. And, every four years, that means that Barcelona’s great and good get a chance to impress on the world stage. Few teams in world football have more players going for glory in Russia, and the fourteen Barca talents will be hoping their form carries through to the La Liga season next year. But which players have dazzled, which have disappointed, and have any forced their way into consideration for the starting line-up at the Nou Camp?

The Greats

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lionel Messi by Jimmy Baikovicius via Flickr

Barcelona’s creme de la creme would hardly have needed a big performance in Russia to force their way into Ernesto Valverde’s plans – for players like Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets, it’s all been about cementing their status as footballing legends with a World Cup trophy. Messi has, inevitably, been the shining star even on an Argentina team packed with attacking talent. At times, the pressure on the captain has looked a bit too much – his stressed expression before Argentina’s loss to Croatia went around the world. But the greatest player of all time never stays quiet for long, and his performance against Nigeria to save his side was one for the record books. Still, playing on a disappointing team means Messi may have missed his last chance at World Cup glory, which he came so close to in 2014.

For Busquets and Andres Iniesta, it’s been more of the same – even a last-second firing of their coach hasn’t stopped the stars anchoring Spain’s midfield and allowing more attacking options like Real Madrid’s Isco to dazzle. They have the chance to go all the way with their country for the second time in three tournaments, too – Spain are on the easier side of the draw and the latest Betfair World Cup betting tips 2018 suggest a Spanish victory is a very reasonable bet indeed.

The Outsiders

 

 

 

 

 

 

Russia World Cup by oriana.italy via Flickr

The World Cup provides an ideal opportunity for players on the fringe of the squad to impress, and a handful have seized that chance. The standout, perhaps, has been Colombia’s Yerri Mina. The six-foot-five centre-back has formed a solid partnership with Davidson Sanchez which proved invaluable when the South Americans needed to preserve a clean sheet against Senegal to get through to the second round. He’s also chipped in with two goals from set-pieces, and looks like a weapon in the box – so it’s a safe bet that Valverde will be drawing up a few training ground routines for him should the 23-year-old see the field more next season.

Others, however, would have been hoping to make a bigger splash in Russia. Thomas Vermaelen hasn’t seen much of the field for Belgium and may have been surpassed as a backup defender by Mina, while Ousmane Dembélé’s solid end to the season has failed to carry through into France’s campaign, where he has seen limited opportunities. But with plenty of knockout football left, anyone can still shine – and the Barcelona coaching staff will surely be taking note.