Argentina is on a mission to win another FIFA World Cup title in North America this summer, but there are other players chasing a second trophy on soccer’s biggest stage. Only 21 players in history have won two World Cups, and Pelé is the only player in history to win three. No one has been able to capture a second title since 2002, when Ronaldo and Cafu pulled off the feat with Brazil. Along with the Argentine champions, a handful of players from other recent winners are looking to earn a second World Cup crown. While some returning victors have a long way to go in their international careers, others could be stepping on a World Cup pitch for the final time in 2026. These are the players who are back with a chance to lift the World Cup trophy a second time: 2026 FIFA World Cup Soccer Mar 3 Everything to know about the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Teams, how to watch and more 2026 World Cup Dec 6, 2025 Full 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule: See the key dates, kickoff times and venues 2026 World Cup Dec 3, 2025 How will the 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup work? New format explained Argentina Emiliano Martinez Geronimo Rulli Nahuel Molina Gonzalo Montiel Cristian Romero Nicolás Otamendi Lisandro Martinez Nicolas Tagliafico Leandro Paredes Rodrigo De Paul Exequiel Palacios Alexis Mac Allister Enzo Fernandez Julian Alvarez Lionel Messi Lautaro Martinez Thiago Almada Lionel Messi will be joined by 17 other returning players from Argentina’s 2022 title-winning squad. While Messi scored seven of Argentina’s 15 goals during its 2022 World Cup run, the 38-year-old will have plenty of support from his fellow returnees. Julian Alvarez scored four goals in his World Cup debut four years ago, while Emiliano Martinez’s goalkeeping came up huge in Qatar. La Albiceleste will look to become the third team in history to repeat as World Cup champions. France Ousmane Dembélé Lucas Hernández N’Golo Kanté Kylian Mbappé Six players appeared in all seven World Cup matches France played on its way to a title in 2018, and three of them are still on the roster for 2026: Hernández, Kanté and Mbappé. Mbappé is coming off a Golden Boot performance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where France fell just short of a second straight World Cup title after falling to Argentina on penalties in the final. Dembélé, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, appeared in all seven matches for France in 2022 after playing just four matches in 2018. Hernández and Kanté were mainstays in France’s 2018 title run, but injuries kept them sidelined four years ago. Hernández tore his ACL just 13 minutes into France’s group stage opener against Australia, while a hamstring injury kept Kanté out of the tournament entirely. With its star-studded contingent of returning players, France once again enters the World Cup as a major threat to win it all. Germany Manuel Neuer One major standout from Germany’s 2014 roster will be back in the World Cup 12 years later. Neuer is back for his fifth World Cup appearance in 2026. He was stellar in the 2014 World Cup, conceding just four goals in seven matches and earning the Golden Glove award as the tournament’s best keeper. Now 40 years old, Neuer will look to guide a German side that has failed to make it out of the group stage since its 2014 World Cup triumph. ...read more read less