World Cup 2018: 5 Barcelona stars who will be key for their teams at the Mundial

#4 Samuel Umtiti (France)

Umtiti (left) will be the bedrock of France's defence

The French international has been a revelation at the Camp Nou since he joined from Olympique Lyonnais in a €25 million deal in 2016 but under the expert defensive guidance of manager Valverde, he has grown to become one of the finest young centre-backs in world football and will be central to France’s hopes of winning the Mundial for the second time.

Pacy, strong with an immaculate sense of timing for making tackles, Umtiti’s game intelligence and technique has been further enhanced by the patient coaching of Valverde and Les Bleus manager Didier Deschamps will be banking on the Barca star to form a formidable central defensive partnership with Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane.

His strength, agility, and pace will be crucial in helping to shore up the back-line and protect Hugo Lloris’ goal from the opposition at the World Cup and given that an adventurous Benjamin Mendy will probably be starting for the French team at left back, Umtiti will have the extra job of covering the left side of the defence whenever Mendy gallops forward.