The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins today, but this tournament is about more than chasing a trophy. For the final time, some of the greatest players in football history will take the world's biggest stage. Lionel Messi. Cristiano Ronaldo. Neymar. Luka Modrić. Kevin De Bruyne. Manuel Neuer.
For nearly two decades, these legends defined an era, inspired generations, and delivered moments we'll never forget.
In this World Cup edition of After the Comma, we reflect on what these icons have meant to the game, why their final World Cup matters, and how this tournament represents both an ending and a beginning. Because every great story eventually reaches its final chapter. And sometimes, the end isn't the period. It's the comma.