Alongside Bayern’s attacking trio of Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Luis Diaz, several top Bundesliga players are in the spotlight at the World Cup.
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Harry Kane was in outstanding form throughout the recently completed Bundesliga season. The Englishman finished with 36 goals in 31 games, sealing his second golden boot. The England captain and all-time leading scorer heads into the World Cup hoping to finally win a title with the national team after losing two European Championship finals.
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The 20-year-old (right) made a name for himself at Leverkusen in his very first Bundesliga season. The Berlin born attacker, who joined from second-division side Hertha Berlin, played well for Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations in January. At the World Cup, he aims to lead his team, in a group with Argentina, Austria, and Jordan, to at least the first round of the knockouts.
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For the past two years, the Frenchman has lit up the Bundesliga with his technical skill, creativity, and intelligence. The Bayern Munich player was named Bundesliga Player of the Year at the end of the season, mostly thanks to a remarkable haul of 22 assists and 17 goals. At the World Cup, he could also become the X factor for title favorites France.
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Alongside Kane and Olise, the Colombian (left) is the third pillar of Bayern’s seemingly unbeatable attacking trio. He contributed 15 goals and 17 assists to the club’s dominant Bundesliga title run. At the World Cup, Diaz’s Colombia’s team will face Uzbekistan, DR Congo and then Portugal in Miami, where many Colombians living abroad reside.
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RB Leipzig hit the jackpot by signing the Ivorian (second from right) in the summer of 2025. The now 19-year-old has enjoyed a spectacular debut season. The fast and technically gifted winger scored 12 goals and delivered eight assists. Germany need to be on guard when they face Diomande and the Ivory Coast in their second group stage match at the World Cup.
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The Czechia striker has been one of the Bundesliga’s most consistent goal scorers for years and is now Leverkusen’s all-time leading foreign scorer. Last season, he surpassed Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov with 91 competitive goals for the club. At the World Cup, he will lead the line for Czechia, who face co-hosts Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea.
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His hair color may change from time to time, but one thing always stays the same: his dedication, tenacity, and unwavering determination to never give up on a ball. Many opponents would surely prefer to have this fullback on their own team. At the World Cup, that team is Norway, who are back in the big show for the first time in 28 years. Their opponents are France, Senegal, and Iraq.
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The Bosnian was born in Hamburg, but now plays up front for Stuttgart, where he is one half of a strong attack with German striker Deniz Undav. Despite holding a German passport, Demirovic has always been clear that he would play for his parents’ homeland. He has been in the Bosnia set-up since 2021 and the 2026 World Cup will be his first major tournament for the country.
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The Argentine is a defending World Cup champion. He has been playing for Leverkusen in the Bundesliga for six and a half years, but injury has meant that Palacios has played in just 125 of a 220 possible league games. More of a squad player than a starter for his country, the 27-year-old will be hoping for more glory this summer.
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The Croatian is one of the most loyal players in the Bundesliga, having been at Hoffenheim since 2016. After Robert Lewandowski and Claudio Pizarro, Kramaric is now the third highest-scoring foreign player in league history. Croatia have struggled somewhat of late though. After finishing runners-up in 2018 and third in the 2022 World Cup, they were eliminated in the group stage at Euro 2024.
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Edin Dzeko has been playing football at an elite level for so long that sometimes people forget he was a key player in Wolfsburg’s Bundesliga championship win back in 2009. A remarkable 17 years later, he helped Schalke get promoted back to the Bundesliga and led Bosnia to the World Cup for the second time since 2014. The 40-year-old has had a special career and is still going!
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The technically gifted attacker endured a disappointing season. Having arrived in the Bundesliga from PSV with high expectations, the German-American has struggled at Leverkusen. It would certainly be a boost for Tillman’s confidence if he could help World Cup co-hosts the USA to a strong campaign, but they must get past Paraguay, Australia and Turkey first.
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The Moroccan, who was born and raised in Belgium, has been playing in Stuttgart since September 2025. The Moroccan made an instant impact with his creativity, technique, and vision. In his debut Bundesliga season, he made 25 appearances, scoring four and assisting five. At the World Cup, he and Morocco will face Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti in Group C.
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