Jarrod Bowen, Mateus Fernandes, Mads Hermansen and Dinos Mavropanos will not be taking part in the 2026 World Cup, but there should still be more than a few familiar names for West Ham United fans to pore over.
Crysencio Summerville, El Hadji Malick Diouf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka will feature. Tomas Soucek broke Hermansen’s heart, meanwhile, when his Czech Republic side edged past Denmark in the play-offs.
Those World Cup fanatics among you – the ones who will be tuning in for Uzbekistan vs Colombia at 3am, you know who you are – may be predicting one last dance for Ecuador icon Enner Valencia.
Which West Ham player are you backing to have the best World Cup? 🌍
No Bowen or Fernandes, but plenty of Hammers in action! ⚒️
Though, still going strong at 36, who would bet against the former West Ham United striker leading the line in 2030?
Former West Ham United striker Enner Valencia chasing World Cup immortality in Ecuador
Valencia rained on Qatar’s parade in 2022; opening the tournament with a brace. At 32, he had already achieved ‘veteran’ status by then.
Four years on, Ecuador’s all-time record goalscorer is now an international centurion with a place in the World Cup history books in his sights.
With three apiece in 2014 and 2022, Valencia has averaged a goal a game across six World Cup appearances.
A seventh in the competition when Ecuador face Ivory Coast next Monday would see him move clear of legends such as Arjen Robben, Dennis Bergkamp, Robin van Persie, Davor Suker, Diego Forlan, James Rodriguez and Thierry Henry.
Only 41 players in the tournament’s history have ever recorded seven or more World Cup goals. Valencia could become the latest to join a pretty exclusive club this time next week.
The one-time Everton striker could also secure himself a spot among top 10 World Cup goalscorers of the 21st century. His tally of six is bettered only by Miroslav Klose, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Thomas Muller, David Villa, Harry Kane, Neymar, Luis Suarez, and Ronaldo’s both original and Cristiano.
Valencia will captain Ecuador in their opener against Cote d’Ivoire
Which top star had the most DISAPPOINTING West Ham career? 😫
Barcelona icon Mascherano only played 5 Prem games…
“Despite coming towards the end of his career, Valencia is still a prolific goalscorer and a great leader,” fellow Ecuadorian icon Alex Aguinaga told the official FIFA website of a man who nearly has as many World Cup goals [six] as he managed in the Premier League for West Ham [eight].
“He’s always worked hard. Even as a big-name player, he’s one of the hardest grafters on the pitch. He runs his socks off, contests every ball and is a real warrior.
“And sometimes, he gets on the end of things purely down to his hunger and desire on the pitch.”
Valencia put Ecuador in dreamland with just 30 minutes on the clock in Qatar; a glorious thumping header getting the Tricolor off to a flying start.
Four years on, while Ecuador and their evergreen skipper will have to wait until Monday to make their mark, few would be surprised to see Valencia pop up again to extend his already enviable World Cup legacy.
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