Fifa World Cup 2022: complete list of injured players - in pictures

A number of star names have either been sidelined or are fighting to be fit for the finals in Qatar

England right back Reece James still has hopes of playing in the Fifa World Cup 2022 in Qatar next month despite being in the early stages of his recovery from a knee injury. EPA

Manchester United's French defender Raphael Varane won’t play for his club before the Fifa World Cup 2022 after sustaining a hamstring injury but still has hopes of playing in Qatar. AFP

N'Golo Kante, centre, of France suffered a setback in his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury. He will be sidelined for four months after undergoing surgery. EPA

Brazil and Spurs striker Richarlison suffered a calf injury earlier this month. He spoke of his “dream” of representing his country at the World Cup potentially being over. But he is more hopeful now, with the injury not as serious as thought. AP

Portugal's forward Diogo Jota will miss the World Cup due to a calf injury sustained in Liverpool's win over Manchester City. AFP

Sweden striker Alexander Isak striker has suffered a setback while recovering from a thigh injury. EPA

Sevilla winger Jesus Corona will not recover from his ankle injury in time to play for Mexico at the World Cup, the club's coach Jorge Sampaoli has said. AFP

Portugal's Pedro Neto will undergo surgery on an ankle injury sustained while playing for Wolves against West Ham United. PA

Roma coach Jose Mourinho said Argentina forward Paulo Dybala had suffered a "very bad' injury when he tweaked a thigh muscle while converting a penalty against Lecce. PA

France's midfielder Boubacar Kamara suffered a knee ligament injury in September that will keep him out until after the World Cup. AFP

Kyle Walker of England had successful groin surgery in early October. The 32-year-old said he is confident of fully recovering in time to make the trip to Qatar. Getty

Brazil's Arthur Melo picked up a muscle injury in the build-up to Liverpool's Champions League clash with Rangers in October. AFP

Uruguay's Ronald Araujo went for thigh surgery in late September, saying he made the choice to go under the knife to return fully fit "as soon as possible". AFP

England and Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips has been sidelined due to a shoulder problem but could return before the Qatar World Cup. PA

France's midfielder Paul Pogba underwent surgery after he damaged his meniscus in training following his transfer back to Juventus. However, he has returned to training. AFP

Argentina's Juventus winger Angel Di Maria is out until early November due to a hamstring injury which the club says will need around three weeks to heal. AP

Romelu Lukaku has sustained another hamstring injury in a major concern for Belgium. Getty

Germany forward Timo Werner will miss the World Cup because of a torn ankle ligament. EPA

England and Chelsea player Ben Chilwell suffered a hamstring injury during the Champions League match against Dinamo Zagreb at Stamford Bridge on November 2, 2022. Getty

The World Cup 2022 in Qatar is just three weeks away. And more than anything, it is the fear of injury that has gripped footballers across leagues as matches continue to come thick and fast in a packed calendar.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted on Friday that the upcoming World Cup will be in players' minds as they try to avoid injury.

England duo Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips are unlikely to play for City again before the break for the World Cup as they battle to fit in time to be selected by Gareth Southgate for the tournament that starts on November 20.

Also, Manchester United's Raphael Varane left the field in tears when the France centre-back suffered a muscle injury against Chelsea.

Earlier, Tottenham’s Richarlison feared the worst when he suffered a calf injury. However, the Brazil striker and Varane have since been given hope they could make it to Qatar with neither injury as serious as first feared.

“What I see is a really packed schedule now, a lot of players playing a lot of minutes, and realistically we will lose more,” said England manager Southgate last month. “I just think it’s so intense and the players have had so much football.”

So who all are injured and which players still have a chance of making to the Qatar World Cup. Scroll through the gallery above to find out.

List of injured players ahead of Fifa World Cup 2022

Raphael Varane (France) - Leg injury

N'Golo Kante (France) - Hamstring injury. Out for four months after surgery

Richarlison (Brazil) - Calf injury

Reece James (England) - Knee injury

Diogo Jota (Portugal) - Calf injury

Jesus Corona (Mexico) - Out due to ankle injury

Alexander Isak (Sweden) - Thigh injury

Paulo Dybala (Argentina) - Thigh muscle injury

Boubacar Kamara (France) - Knee ligament injury

Pedro Neto (Portugal) - Ankle injury

Arthur Melo (Brazil) - Muscle injury

Kyle Walker (England) - Groin surgery

Kalvin Phillips (England) - Shoulder problem

Paul Pogba (France) - Surgery on damaged meniscus

Ronald Araujo (Uruguay) - Thigh surgery

Angel di Maria (Argentina) - Hamstring injury

Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) - Hamstring injury

Timo Werner (Germany) - Torn ankle ligament

Stadium 974 in Doha that will host matches at the 2022 Fifa World Cup. It has a capacity of 40,000. AFP

The Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar. Capacity: 40,000. AFP

The Khalifa International Stadium. AFP

The Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan. Capacity: 45,000. AFP

The Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan. AFP

The Lusail Stadium is around 20 km north of Doha. Capacity: 80,000. AFP

The Lusail Stadium in Qatar. AFP

The Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. Capacity: 60,000. AFP

The Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah. Capacity: 40,000. AFP

The Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar. AFP

The Al Thumama Stadium in Doha. Capacity: 40,000. AFP

The Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan. Capacity: 44,000. AFP

The Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. AFP