It’s World Cup season! From November 20 to December 17, sport enthusiasts gather together at any time of day to celebrate and support their favorite teams. They come together with four years of bottled-up excitement to see their country compete for the World Cup title.

But who’s the Latino world betting on winning the trophy? Fear not, amigos; we have the answers. Here are five Latino players we are following closely this World Cup – and you should be too! 

Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Messi is arguably Argentina’s greatest player of all time. Though this international tournament is his last – it’s also anticipated to be his best. And if y’all are familiar with Messi, how could he leave without a bang? “It’s my last World Cup,” Messi said in a recent interview.  “My last opportunity to accomplish my dream, the dream that we’re all after.”

Enner Valencia (Ecuador)

Valencia scored the official first goal of 2022’s global tournament. He scored two goals, leading the team to a historical first-ever win against the World Cup host’s first game. The Olympics’ official site describes him as “the driving force behind the national team’s success in recent years,” – so we’re excited to see what’s next and how far he could lead his national team.

Vinicius Jr. (Brazil)

We all know who Neymar is and what he’s good at, but did you know that Neymar vouches for his teammate Vinicius Jr.? “From what I’ve seen, Vinicius Junior is the best player in the world,” he said in an interview. That’s enough for us to get hooked.

Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico)

We love Ochoa. It may be because I’m biased toward Mexico, but since his debut, he’s made a name for himself as one of Mexico’s best (and popular) goalkeepers in history.

Rodrygo (Brazil)

Now, let’s take a look at a not-so-veteran player. This 21-year-old is also one of this year’s most talked about. Now imagine him, Vinicius Jr., and Neymar? Brazil’s one to be reckoned with!

So who are your favorite Latino players?