Top 5 players who might not get selected for their respective sides at the 2022 FIFA World Cup 

#3. Marcus Rashford (England)

Italy v England - UEFA Euro 2020: Final

It is no secret that Marcus Rashford has been far from his best this season. With Jadon Sancho now preferred to him on the left flank, he is no longer an automatic starter at Manchester United.

Almost half of Rashford's appearances have come off the bench this term. He's contributing to a goal every 156 minutes, 45 minutes more from his superb 2019-20 season. The 24-year old is currently creating less than a chance per 90 for the first time in his career.

While doubts over his future at Old Trafford have only increased, it seems the back and shoulder injuries he sustained over the last two years have stunted his development. Moreover, the English forward hasn't played a competitive game for the Three Lions since October 2020.

With Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Sancho all firmly ahead of him in the England pecking order, Rashford is in serious danger of missing out on the next World Cup.

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#2. Donny Van de Beek (Netherlands)

Netherlands v Spain - International Friendly

Like Rashford, Donny Van de Beek hasn't started for his national team competitively in almost 18 months. He recently moved to Everton on loan in order to boost his chances of working his way back into the Dutch setup.

But despite playing all but one game for the Toffees since making his switch, the midfielder hasn't even made the provisional squad for the Oranje's ongoing fixtures. Manager Louis Van Gaal had previously stated that Van de Beek made the wrong choice by signing for Manchester in 2020. Van Gaal told the 24-year old last summer that he needed to be playing more to get picked for the national side.

With more in-form players like Ryan Gravenberch and Teun Koopmeiners, who have played in Europe this term providing the competition, Van de Beek really needs to impress Van Gaal for any chance of making Qatar. Right now, it doesn't look likely.

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#1. Ansu Fati (Spain)

Spain v Switzerland - UEFA Nations League

Ansu Fati would've just turned 20 by the the World Cup kicks off in November. He burst onto the scene as a 16-year old back in 2019 and became Barcelona's youngest debutant since 1941. He even broke records in both La Liga and the Champions League.

By 2022, it was expected that he'd be a regular fixture for the Spain side. Had it not been for a torrid deal with injuries, he probably would have been. At the start of the 2021 season, he even outshone Lionel Messi as Barcelona's talisman in the final third.

Fati was also handed his international debut by Luis Enrique before a knee injury that was initially meant to keep him out for four months. However, it ended up seeing him miss almost a year of action. Multiple injury setbacks have followed this term, meaning that since last season, he has made just nine starts in La Liga.

Yet to feature for Spain since 2020, Fati faces a physical and psychological battle to both stay fit and retain the fearlessness that made him one of Europe's most exciting young players. If he can do so, then a place at the World Cup is not out of reach. But, considering the struggles, it is very much a race against time.