The number 10 shirt in the Argentina national team has never been merely a piece of cloth bearing a number. For decades it has been a symbol of genius, leadership and the making of glory, associated with names that carved out their place in football's memory, from Mario Kempes and Diego Maradona through to Lionel Messi, who turned it into an exceptional legacy that is hard to come close to.
Germany head coach Jurgen Klopp has explained the reasoning behind recalling Bundesliga top scorer Niclas Fullkrug while omitting Juventus loanee Nick Woltemade. Klopp pointed to Fullkrug's clinical goalscoring threat while reassuring Woltemade that his international career remains well on track.
The Barcelona midfielder has won each of the last three prizes - but the 2026 accolade will go to someone else at Monday's ceremony in London after Bonmati's injury-hit campaign
Teams have been busy booking their spots and preparing for the summer's tournament in Brazil - but who are the most likely contenders to claim the trophy?
Al-Dhafra
