The FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest competitions in football, but only a few players get the opportunity to compete in the tournament more than once.
As we approach the 2026 World Cup, some players are about to appear in their fourth World Cup for their countries, a rare achievement that many footballers only dream of.
This year’s World Cup edition kicks off on June 11 and will run to July 19 across three different countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States, featuring 48 teams.
Only a few players in history have appeared in four or more World Cups, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Andres Guardado, Rafael Marquez, and Antonio Carbajal.
Players Featuring in Their Fourth World Cup in 2026
1. Neymar (Brazil)
Brazilian winger Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior played his first World Cup in 2014, which was hosted in Brazil. He scored four goals but suffered a back injury in the quarterfinals, missing the rest of the tournament.
In the 2018 World Cup hosted in Russia, Neymar was again a key player for his Brazilian side, scoring 2 goals. Brazil was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Neymar played again in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He scored an important goal against Croatia, but his side was knocked out in the quarterfinals.
The 34-year-old, playing for Santos FC in Brazil, produced 15 goal contributions for the club and is hoping to feature for his country in the fourth World Cup in a row despite injuries.
Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)
Former Manchester united striker Romelu Lukaku is Belgium’s all-time top scorer. His World Cup appearances were in 2014 in Brazil, 2018 in Russia, and 2022 in Qatar.
His introduced himself into the World Cup stage in 2014 and built on his legacy in 2018 when he scored 4 goals and helped his team nicknamed “the golden generation” finish third.
The Napoli forward will be 33 years old in his fourth World Cup appearance.
Also Read: Countries With the Most FIFA World Cup Titles in the History of Football
Granit Xhaka (Switzerland)
Midfielder Granit Xhaka is the captain of Switzerland’s National team. The midfielder has appeared for his country in three different World Cups heading into the fourth.
Xhaka currently plays for Sunderland in the English Premier League, where he made 34 appearances last season.
Xhaka is the captain of Sunderland, and he is 33 years old.
José María Giménez (Uruguay)
José María Giménez has led the Uruguayan defense in three World Cups: Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, and Qatar 2022.
José María plays for Atlético Madrid, and this could be his last World Cup.
Ivan Perišić (Croatia)
Veteran winger Ivan Perišić has featured for Uruguay in three different World Cups. He currently plays at PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands.
The 37-year-old scored 10 goals and provided 14 assists in the concluded season and has made over 57 appearances.
Son Heung-min (South Korea)
Former Tottenham Captain Son Heung-min currently plays for Los Angeles FC in the USA. The South Korean forward is waiting to feature in his fourth World Cup, having played in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
Son is currently 33 years old, and his talent will be massive in South Korea’s run in the upcoming World Cup.
Mateo Kovačić (Croatia)
The Manchester City midfielder will also make his fourth World Cup appearance in this year’s edition when he is 32 years old. Kovačić will join Ivan Perisic in making history as the first Croatians to appear in four different World Cups.
Also Read: Top African Players to Watch at FIFA World Cup 2026 [LIST]
Other Players Who Have Played in Four World Cups or More
Other players who have played in four or more World Cups include Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luka Modrić, Thomas Müller, and Guillermo Ochoa.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who are legends of the game, will make their sixth World Cup appearances for their countries this year.
Messi is 38 years old, and Ronaldo is 41. They have been playing for over two decades to achieve this rare milestone.
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