142
The squads feature comfortably more Brazilians than any other nationality: 142. Next come Argentinians (104), Spaniards (54), Portuguese (49), Ameriancs (42), Mexicans (40), French (37), Germans (36), Italians (36), Moroccans (31) and South Africans (31).
112
Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF is the FIFA Club World Cup™ player with the most international goals to his name: 112 for Argentina. He is followed by Harry Kane of Bayern München, (73 for England), Luis Suarez of Inter Miami (69 for Uruguay), Aleksandar Mitrovic of Al Hilal (62 for Serbia), Edinson Cavani of CA Boca Juniors (58 for Uruguay), Olivier Giroud of LAFC (57 for France), Mehdi Taremi of FC Internazionale Milano (55 for IR Iran) and Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid C.F. (50 for France). Messi (193), Luka Modric of Real (188) and Sergio Ramos of CF Monterrey (180) are the players with the most international caps.
44
Fluminense FC goalkeeper Fabio, at 44 years and 257 days when the competition kicks off, will be easily its oldest player. He is followed by team-mate and centre-back Thiago Silva (40 years old), Mamelodi Sundowns FC goalkeeper Denis Onyango (40), Real midfielder Luka Modric (39) and CF Pachuca defender Gustavo Cabral (39). Fabio is remarkably poised to play in the USA 28 years after appearing in his first FIFA tournament. Alongside Ronaldinho, he helped Brazil win the FIFA U-17 World Cup™ in 1997. Fabio is over five-and-a-half years older than Bayern coach Vincent Kompany.
29
Kylian Mbappe is the man with most goals for a FIFA Club World Cup participant this year. The 26-year-old has struck 29 in 32 appearances for Real. Mbappe is followed by Ousmane Dembele (25 in 30 for Paris Saint-Germain), Serhou Guirassy (22 in 26 for Borussia Dortmund) and Vangelis Pavlidis (22 in 29 for SL Benfica).
26
The tournament will be decorated by 26 FIFA World Cup™ winners: two Spaniards from South Africa 2010, two Germans from Brazil 2014, nine Frenchmen from Russia 2018, and 13 Argentinians from Qatar 2022. They are Sergio Busquets, Sergio Ramos, Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer, Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Lucas Hernandez, Presnel Kimpembe, Thomas Lemar, Hugo Lloris, Kylian Mbappe, Benjamin Pavard, Marcos Acuna, Julian Alvarez, Franco Armani, Angel Correa, Rodrigo De Paul, Angel Di Maria, Enzo Fernandez, Lautaro Martinez, Lionel Messi, Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolas Otamendi and German Pezzella. An unprecedented six represent Atlético de Madrid: Alvarez, Correa, De Paul, Griezmann, Lemar and Molina.
16
Urawa Red Diamonds midfielder Takeshi Wada, who only turned 16 last week, is the youngest player at the tournament. He is followed by Dortmund winger Mathis Albert (16 years and 24 days when tournament kicks off), Bayern defender Cassiano Kiala (16 years and 154 days), LAFC midfielder Jude Terry (16 years and 249 days) and Bayern forward Mike Wisdom (16 years and 263 days). The most common age is 22 years old (80 players), followed by 21 (77 players), 19 (69 players), 25 (66 players) and 29 (64 players).
6
Al Hilal wing-back Joao Cancelo has represented six teams at this FIFA Club World Cup. The 31-year-old previously ran out for Benfica, FC Internazionale Milano, Juventus FC, Manchester City and Bayern. CR Flamengo right-back Danilo, formerly of FC Porto, Real., City and Juventus, is next on five. Achraf Hakimi, despite being only 26, is third having appeared for four: Real, Dortmund, Internazionale and PSG.
2.01
Gustavo Ramalho of Fluminense is, at 2.01 metres, the tallest player. He is followed by another two goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma of PSG (2.0m) and Mike Penders of Chelsea FC (2.0m). The tallest outfield player is Bayern’s 17-year-old Swedish striker Jonah Kusi-Asare (1.98m).
1.60
Al Hilal’s Kaio Cesar and new Fluminense recruit Yeferson Soteldo are, at 1.60 metres apiece, the shortest players. They are followed by Mamelodi Sundowns duo Siyabonga Mabena and Thato Sibiya (1.62m). Soteldo is a staggering 41 centimetres smaller than his Flu team-mate Gustavo Ramalho.
