As the World Cup gets into its knockout stages, a small group of players are keeping their eyes on the prize for a reason beyond their teams' quest for glory. The clock struck midnight yesterday, marking the end of the free agency deadline, and 14 of the biggest names still playing in the tournament found themselves without clubs to return to once the competition ends.
Among those players are Mo Salah, one of the most prolific goal-scorers in the history of the tournament, who has been struggling to impress for Egypt in recent games. Despite his struggles, Salah is still a major pull for potential suitors, and it's unlikely he'll have to worry about his financial security. But for some others, like Brazil's Casemiro, who has had a patchy World Cup but still has one notable goal to his name, the uncertainty is palpable.
Casemiro, 34, who played his last club at Manchester United before being released due to his huge wages, has been linked with a move to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. His Brazilian teammate, David Alaba, 33, former Real Madrid star, has been touted as one of the biggest free agents in the tournament, and his storied career with 12 league titles and four Champions Leagues to his name has raised the stakes.
The World Cup has always been a proving ground for football stars looking to boost their value on the transfer market, but this year, the pressure is greater than ever, with some big names facing the very real possibility of being relegated to the lower tiers of football after the tournament. The likes of James Rodriguez, 34, Colombia's former MLS star, have had a lackluster tournament so far, which has left doubts about their future prospects.
One of those players, Vozinha, 40, Cape Verde's goalkeeper, has made waves with his heroic performance in the opening draw against Spain and has helped his team through to the knockout stages for the first time. In an interview with a Brazilian journalist, Vozinha said his contract with second-division Portuguese club Chaves has ended, but he wants to keep playing. With the stakes higher than ever, it's a question of who will make the cut and who will be left behind.
### Key Facts
- David Alaba, 33, Austria (Last club: Real Madrid)
- Casemiro, 34, Brazil (Last club: Manchester United)
- Fabinho, 32, Brazil (Last club: Al Ittihad)
- Mohamed Salah, 33, Egypt (Last club: Liverpool)
- James Rodriguez, 34, Colombia (Last club: Minnesota United)
- Xaver Schlager, 28, Austria
- Thomas Partey, 32, Ghana (Last club: Villarreal)
- Gideon Mensah, 27, Ghana (Last club: Auxerre)
- Orjan Nyland, 35, Norway (Last club: Sevilla)
- Nabil Bentaleb, 31, Algeria (Last club: Lille)
- Thomas Meunier, 34, Belgium (Last club: Lille)
- Abdul Mumin, 27, Ghana (Last club: Rayo Vallecano)
- Luka Modric, 40, Croatia (Last club: AC Milan)