As of 2 July, 14 of the players still active at the World Cup are technically unemployed. That alone makes the list unusual, but the two names that jump out most are Casemiro and Mohamed Salah, who are still producing performances that keep them in the shop window. BBC Sport noted that the famous names in the group are unlikely to be worrying too much about finances, and the football on show backs that up.
Casemiro and Salah are still delivering
Casemiro has played four matches at the tournament and holds a 7.21 World Cup rating. He also delivered an 8-rated performance in his most recent outing, and scored a priceless equaliser in Brazil's last-32 comeback win against Japan. That is a good reminder that his value is not resting on reputation alone, even if he is among the free agents at the tournament.
Salah has gone even higher in a single outing, with an 8.7-rated performance that included one goal and one assist. BBC Sport put him alongside Casemiro and James Rodriguez as one of the headline names in the free-agent group, and Salah's latest display is exactly the sort of thing that keeps suitors interested.
The wider list is a real market
The rest of the group is not made up of filler. John Stones left Manchester City after a decade and 15 major trophies, while David Alaba has already won 12 league titles and four Champions Leagues in his club career. Manchester United have won four of their last five league matches, which is the level Casemiro has just left behind.
There is also the unresolved side of the list. BBC Sport's view is clear on the headline names, but it has not been confirmed where Casemiro or Salah go next, and James Rodriguez's situation is still open as well. For now, the point is simpler: the World Cup is still being used as a stage for players whose contracts are up, and the biggest ones are not playing like men in limbo.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →