The 2026 FIFA World Cup is now firmly on the horizon and fans across the globe are eagerly anticipating what the tournament has in store for them.
Much of the attention will be on attacking players, who will be tasked with being the difference-makers during the prestigious event.
Sports betting experts Spreadex rate Spain as the team most likely to top the scoring charts this summer, tipping them to hit 14 goals.
With that in mind, read on as we rank the top six forward lines at the World Cup this summer.
#6 – Portugal
Rafael Leao, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Despite scoring 12 goals in five games at Qatar 2022, Portugal made it no further than the quarter-finals on that occasion.
They will be desperate to set the record straight this time around, particularly as this will be the last time that Cristiano Ronaldo plays at the World Cup.
The 41-year-old has scored 143 goals in 226 appearances for Portugal, but his record of eight goals in 22 World Cup games is underwhelming by his standards.
If Portugal’s array of attacking talent weaves their magic behind Ronaldo, a run to the final in New Jersey on July 19 is not beyond them.
#5 – Germany
Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz.
Four-time winners Germany have failed to make it past the group stage at the last two editions, but should have no such problems this summer.
They have been drawn alongside Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E, which gives them every chance of racking up some meaty scorelines.
Injuries prevented Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz from making their mark during qualifying, and they will be keen to make up for lost time at the World Cup.
With Florian Wirtz also eager to shine after an underwhelming first season with Liverpool, Germany could be fun to watch in North America.
#4 – Norway
Erling Braut Haaland & Alexander Sorloth.
Norway were sensational during the European qualifiers, scoring 37 goals in eight games to finish top of Group I without dropping a point.
Manchester City star Erling Braut Haaland weighed in with 16 goals to highlight why many people rate him as the best striker in the world.
Alexander Sorloth bagged five goals to demonstrate that Norway will have more than one string to their attacking bow at the World Cup.
Norway face Iraq, Senegal and France during the group stage. None of that trio will relish facing the free-scoring Scandinavian side.
#3 – Brazil
Vinicius Jr, Matheus Cunha, Raphinha, Joao Pedro.
Brazil will head into the World Cup desperate to prove that they can live up to their reputation as one of the hottest tickets at the World Cup.
The five-time winners have not lifted the trophy since 2002 and are in danger of becoming an afterthought in conversations about title contenders.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti has a wealth of attacking options at his disposal, and Brazil could be extremely dangerous if they click into gear this summer.
While Brazil no longer have the global superstar players of yesteryear, they will fancy their chances of making a deep run in the tournament.
#2 – France
Desire Doue, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe.
France manager Didier Deschamps is spoilt for choice this summer – the only difficulty he faces is trying to keep everyone happy.
Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe are nailed on starters in attack, leaving Desire Doue, Rayan Cherki and Bradley Barcola to battle for the other spot.
It is fair to say that a strong argument could be made for suggesting that France have the top forward line at the World Cup this summer.
However, Spain were impressive winners of the 2024 European Championship and more fluent during World Cup qualifying, so they have the edge.
#1 – Spain
Nico Willians, Mikel Oyarzabal, Lamine Yamal.
Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal were a deadly double act at Euro 2024 and will be hoping to reprise their roles as Spain bid to follow up that success at the World Cup.
The former has struggled with an abdominal problem since the start of the season, but could be a potent weapon if he can overcome the issue.
Yamal is nailed on to start on the right flank, while in-form Mikel Oyarzabal may be a good outside bet to win the Golden Boot this summer.
If Spain’s attack clicks as it did at Euro 2024, the rest of the teams at the World Cup will be playing for second place.
This content is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. AFP editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.
Support AFP
Share
