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By Martin Graham | 9th Mar 2022

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luka Modric and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are the biggest names in football in modern times and all of these superstars are preparing for a swansong at the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

In this list, we name five more players who could be turning up for the last time for their nations at the global showpiece, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.

Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez is famous for two of the World Cup’s most controversial moments which include stopping a clear goal with his hand to prevent Ghana from progressing into the semi-finals in 2010 and biting Giorgio Chiellini in 2014.

Depending on how things go in the CONCACAF qualifiers, will be appearing for the last time in the tournament, and Uruguay will surely miss one of their most prolific strikers in recent times when he does.

Giorgio Chiellini 

One of the best defenders of his generation will also call time on a storied international career where he became Italy’s sixth most-capped international.

The Euro 2020 winner will be hoping to first help Italy get past their playoffs and, depending on the outcome, hope for another upset just like they pulled on all of Europe in the Euro 2020 tournament.

Manuel Neuer 

Despite stating that he would continue to play for as long as he can, the Qatar 2022 World Cup may well be his last.

The pioneer of the “sweeper-keeper” role in modern football is already a World Cup winner and is a record breaker with the German side.

Qatar 2022 could be the perfect ending to an outstanding career for Neuer.

Thomas Muller

Record breaker and record setter Muller is already a World Cup icon. He is in the top 10 of most goals scored at the tournament and the youngest debutant to finish as World Cup top scorer.

He is a multiple title winner but he is still, for some reason, outside the consideration as one of the game’s greats.

He is currently the face of a resurgent German national team and a good run at this World Cup could finally earn him the plaudits he deserves, and seal his legend in history.

Thiago Silva

The veteran defender Thiago Silva has always been a class above many but his new lease of life at Chelsea makes it look like he can keep going for longer.

He is in the top five of caps achieved for the Brazilian national team and is also part of a dying breed of defenders for whom the World Cup could be their last.

Martin Graham is an MFF sports writer