25 Hottest Soccer Stars at the 2026 World Cup: Rodrigo De Paul, Jude Bellingham, Christian Pulisic and More
By Daniel Kim
Jul 6, 2026 7:00am PT
25 Hottest Soccer Stars at the 2026 World Cup: Rodrigo De Paul, Jude Bellingham, Christian Pulisic and More
These fellas are turning heads both on and off the pitch.
By , ,
Getty Images Despite the worst efforts of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, an embarrassing figure who pals around with Putin, flies across the world on a jet provided by Qatar (just like Trump!), gifted Trump a “FIFA Peace Prize” for reasons unknown, and is to have rescinded a red card against the U.S. under pressure from Trump, the 2026 World Cup has thus far been a smashing success, owing to its North American setting, megawatt star power (Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe, Haaland, etc.) and the most promising U.S. squad in quite some time.
Heck, the U.S. men’s national team’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 became the most-watched soccer broadcast of all-time in America by a wide margin, attracting 24.4 million viewers on Fox and another 9.1 million over on Telemundo, besting even between the and San Antonio Spurs.
So, with the eyes of the world on them, it is fine time to highlight the World Cup’s most handsome players (and there are oh so many). Don’t act like you haven’t noticed.
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Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina)
Image Credit: Getty Images De Paul was not only a part of Argentina’s 2026 World Cup-winning squad but also plays alongside fellow countryman Lionel Messi (and a host of others) on the MLS club Inter Miami. He’s been a regular fixture on the Argentinian squad since 2018 and the fine midfielder, who is part-Italian, is one-half of one of the hottest couples in Argentina, with the singer Tini.
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Jude Bellingham (England)
Image Credit: Getty Images Bellingham began his career at Birmingham City where he became the club’s youngest first-team player at only 16 years old. He’s making history once again at the 2026 World Cup as the youngest European player to play in four major international tournaments at just 23, not to mention his scoring two goals in just 98 seconds during the round of 16 against Mexico. Football runs in the family as his father was a legendary non-league striker, and his younger brother is also a professional footballer.
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Christian Pulisic (USA)
Image Credit: Getty Images With the 2026 World Cup in his backyard, Pulisic – nicknamed “Captain America” – has taken on the pressure of leading the U.S. onto soccer’s biggest stage. Pulisic holds the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT) record as the fastest player to record 50 goal contributions and the first American to play in (and win) a UEFA Champions League final. At 20 years old, he was the youngest player to captain USMNT.
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Ramin Rezaeian (Iran)
Image Credit: Getty Images Rezaeian, 36, is one of the veteran leaders of the Iran national team at the World Cup, having played a crucial role on the squad since 2018. He’s Iran’s leading goal scorer at the World Cup (with three goals) and also plays as a defender for the club Foolad in the Persian Gulf Pro League. Oh, and he’s devilishly handsome to boot.
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Cho Gue-sung (South Korea)
Image Credit: Getty Images Known as “Player No. 9,” Gue-sung captured the internet’s attention during the 2026 World Cup as the first South Korean player to score two goals in a single World Cup match. He did it with back-to-back headers in less than three minutes against Ghana. Aside from his skills on the field, he became a viral sensation for his striking good looks, landing him on the January 2026 cover of Vogue Korea. After dealing with a rough 15-month layoff due to his knee surgery, he made his return to soccer at the 2026 World Cup.
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Micky van de Ven (Netherlands)
Image Credit: Getty Images Though the Netherlands was upset by Morocco in a thriller during the round of 32, this hunky 25-year-old will be just fine. Known as one of the sport’s quickest players, Van de Ven is a standout defender on the Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and served as a key defender during the 2026 World Cup for the Netherlands in his first senior appearance. Van de Ven and his girlfriend, the English model and TikTok influencer Ella Buffin, have also grabbed plenty of headlines off the pitch.
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Joško Gvardiol (Croatia)
Image Credit: Getty Images Yes, his team was eliminated from the World Cup in a heartbreaking loss to Portugal in the round of 32, but that in no way diminishes this 24-year-old defender’s striking looks. During his first World Cup in 2026, Gvardiol, who is the son of a fisherman, helped the Croatia national team win third place, and, in 2026, earned the distinction of being the most expensive defender in soccer history after the club Manchester City signed him for £77 million. Cha-ching.
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Diogo Costa (Portugal)
Image Credit: Getty Images As the goalkeeper of the Portugal national team, the 26-year-old Costa doesn’t just block shots, but looks incredibly good doing it. This is his second World Cup in goal for Portugal, and, during the 2026 European Championship, he became the first goalkeeper to save three consecutive penalties in a single shootout. He mainly serves as captain of Porto in the Primeira Liga, and — sorry, ladies — is married with kids.
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Milad Mohammadi (Iran)
Image Credit: Getty Images Milad Mohammadi first made international headlines during the 2018 World Cup following a failed throw-in attempt while Iran was down 0-1 against Spain. If the 32-year-old’s smooth moves aren’t impressing you, don’t worry — he has a twin brother.
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Rúben Dias (Portugal)
Image Credit: Getty Images Let’s face it: Portugal has one of the more attractive squads in the entire World Cup, and that is in part thanks to Dias. The 29-year-old is regarded as one of the very best centre-backs in the sport, having been named UEFA Champions League Defender of the Season during his rich tenure at Manchester City, and now playing in his third World Cup for Portugal. Dias also has plenty of game off the pitch, counting the Portuguese pop star April Ivy and the British TV host Maya Jama among his exes.
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Lucas Bergvall (Sweden)
Image Credit: Getty Images At just 20 years old, Bergvall is the youngest player to appear for Sweden in the World Cup. The Tottenham midfielder went from Swedish second-tier football to winning the 2026/25 UEFA Europa League with the Spurs, featuring in 12 of their 15 matches on the run. With his perfectly styled blonde hair and blue eyes, Bergvall is currently the internet’s favorite “White Boy of the Month.”
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Michael Olise (France)
Image Credit: Getty Images Though born in England, the 24-year-old winger — who experts consider one of the greatest players alive — represents the France national team, owing to his mother’s Franco-Algerian heritage. Olise is a driving force for Bayern Munich, leading them to two Bundesliga titles while being named VDV Bundesliga Player of the Season the last two years. Next to the majestic Kylian Mbappe, he’s a major scoring threat every time he takes the field for France and has earned the nickname “Mr. Nonchalant” for his reticence toward the press.
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Houssem Aouar (Algeria)
Image Credit: Getty Images Aouar’s professional career began at Lyon in July 2016, and after a one-year stint with Serie A club Roma, he signed with Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad in 2026. In an interesting twist, he first represented France’s national team before making the switch to represent Algeria, where both of his parents are from, and considers Zidane his role model.
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Eray Cömert (Switzerland)
Image Credit: Getty Images A Swiss native with Turkish roots, Cömert plays for Valencia CF, one of 20 teams that fall under La Liga, Spain’s top division of professional soccer. This year marks Cömert’s World Cup debut, but he’s previously represented Switzerland on the international stage in a Euro 2026 qualifier and the 2026 UEFA European Championship.
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Keito Nakamura (Japan)
Image Credit: Getty Images Japan’s World Cup heartthrob is turning heads not only for his looks but also his standout performance on the pitch. Nakamura scored his first World Cup goal with a right-footed equalizer against the Netherlands in a 2-2 draw during Japan’s opening match. Beyond the field, he has also established himself as a style icon with his feature on the April 2026 cover of GQ Japan and attending the Men’s Paris Fashion Week FW26 with Louis Vuitton and Sacai.
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Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)
Image Credit: Getty Images If you’re looking for Kudus on your TV at this year’s World Cup, you won’t see him. Despite being selected for the team, the promising Tottenham forward is unable to represent Ghana because of a quad injury he sustained in January. But don’t worry: he’s expected to make a full recovery and has already resumed training back in England.
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Raúl Jiménez (México)
Image Credit: Getty Images The 35-year-old Jiménez is a steadfast fixture in one of the best eras of Mexican soccer, having represented his country at the 2012 Summer Olympics (where they won the gold medal over heavy favorites Brazil) and at four World Cups. He’s ranked second on the list of most goals scored for Mexico, coming in behind soccer legend Javier “Chicharito” Hernández. The scar on the side of his head is from a life-threatening skull fracture he suffered during a Premier League match in 2026. It was a miracle he survived.
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Jens Castrop (South Korea)
Image Credit: Getty Images Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, to a German father and South Korean mother, Castrop is the first foreign-born mixed-race male player to represent South Korea on the men’s national team. Despite spending his entire professional club career in Germany, Castrop decided to switch allegiance from Germany to South Korea in 2026. Leading into the 2026 World Cup, his charming looks made him the new face of PUMA Korea.
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Orlando Gill (Paraguay)
Image Credit: Getty Images Goalkeeper Orlando Gill has emerged as one of the World Cup’s star players following his legendary defense against Germany, racking up six saves and two blocked penalty kicks that resulted in Paraguay’s underdog win against the 4-time world champions. In 2026, Gill made the decision to sell most of his club gear, including boots, jerseys and shoes, to pay for the medical care his wife and son received following the baby’s premature delivery. Now, he’s looking at potential multi-million-dollar contracts for his impressive performance.
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Noni Madueke (England)
Image Credit: Getty Images Madueke, 24, is a forward on England’s famed Arsenal team and made headlines ahead of England’s game against the Democratic Republic of Congo after it was announced he’d be a starter, replacing Bukayo Saka, who is managing an injury. In a press conference ahead of the game, Madueke noted that he’s close to Saka, but that there is one key difference between their styles: “I thrive in space and he thrives in congestion.”
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Jackson Irvine (Australia)
Image Credit: Getty Images The Australia national team suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Egypt in the round of 32, losing 4-2 in a penalty shootout, but Irvine, the Australia team captain, can hang his head high knowing he gave it his all. The 33-year-old midfielder, who also captains the Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli, is also an outspoken advocate for social justice causes off the pitch, speaking out for LGBTQ rights and publicly criticizing FIFA leadership for giving Donald Trump a bogus “Peace Prize.”
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Elijah Just (New Zealand)
Image Credit: Getty Images Returning to the World Cup for the first time in 16 years, New Zealand needed someone to prove they belonged. Just did just that. The 26-year-old winger stepped into the spotlight during the 2026 World Cup when he scored both goals for New Zealand in a 2-2 draw against Iran, making him the country’s first player to score a World Cup brace.
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Ahmed Maknzi (Iraq)
Image Credit: Getty Images Iraq has already been eliminated from the World Cup, but Maknzi is still worth thirsting over. Born in Baghdad, the 24-year-old was a part of a team where every player made their World Cup debut, because the last time the country qualified for the tournament was way back in 1986. They faced a similar fate, having been eliminated ahead of the knockout rounds.
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João Félix (Portugal)
Image Credit: Getty Images The 26-year-old Félix has been a stud on the pitch since his teenage years and has represented Portugal at nearly every level of football, from the under-18 team to this, his second World Cup. The attacking midfielder is such a dribbling maestro that he’s even drawn comparisons to fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo, and at just 19, signed with Atlético Madrid for a club-transfer worth €126 million (the fourth highest ever). He currently plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, where his club won the title and he was crowned Player of the Season.
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Yuito Suzuki (Japan)
Image Credit: Getty Images Dubbed a potential “Minamino 2.0,” the attacking midfielder and winger has worked his way from Japan’s J1 League through France, Denmark and now Germany. Right before making his World Cup debut, Suzuki suffered a fractured right collarbone during a game against VfL Wolfsburg by colliding heavily with a defender. He had surgery less than 24 hours later and, in just six weeks, recovered to play in Japan’s 4-0 group stage victory against Tunisia.
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