The 2026 FIFA World Cup is now in the history books, and it was an excellent tournament for many reasons. But just as we saw a new generation of elite young players make big strides in the tournament’s immense global spotlight, we also saw what is likely the curtain call for some of the greatest and most beloved players of all time.
Nothing is ever known until a player formally retires, and even then we have seen some players come out of international retirement when asked. But with a very high degree of likelihood, this tournament will be the World Cup goodbye for four of the greatest players of all time and several others who were among the best of their generation.
There were many “passing of the torch” moments.
The final left us with Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal embracing after Spain’s win, leaving many fans hopeful that Yamal and teenage teammate (for both club and country) Pau Cubarsí can help fill the void of greatness left by the near-retirement of Messi and his generation.
(Photo by Hector Vivas – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
There was also Gilberto Mora and Guillermo Ochoa both playing for Mexico against Czechia at Mexico City Stadium.
Both Messi and Yamal were pictured in a now-famous photo together when Yamal was a baby. Similarly, Mora was the youngest player at the 2026 World Cup, and during the tournament he shared a childhood picture of him with Ochoa, his idol growing up.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s team was led by its legendary 40-year-old captain Edin Dzeko, who was born in Yugoslavia, grew up through the war, and survived the 1992-1995 Siege of Sarajevo. Many of the young Bosnian players on the team, including teenage star Karim Alajbegović, were born abroad after being displaced by the war. Now they are returning to play for the national team. For them, Dzeko is an important figure and playing with him at this tournament was heavily symbolic of the country’s brutal past and hopeful future.
“I am happy because I am the captain of this great generation,” Dzeko said in the lead-up to the tournament.
(Photo by Alex Livesey – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
