Mané's World Cup absence more important than Benzema's

Football's biggest sporting event, held every four years, is about to kick off. Qatar welcomes the 32 best teams in the world, who from Matchday 1 will trace their destiny in the 29-day tournament. Throughout this tournament, clubs see their superstars enamour the millions of fans who delight in every match. But there are also injuries and departures, which often change the course of history.

There are national teams that despite not having their main stars, either due to injury or not being called up, can afford to transcend, such is the case of France, who in the last edition of Russia 2018, Didier Deschamps left out of his list of 23 players Karim Benzema, who was going through one of the best moments of his career, and who today, once again, will not be in the competition due to a thigh strain.

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On the other hand, there are national teams that depend a lot on the absence of their main figure to do well. The absence of former Liverpool legend Sadio Mané not only fractures Senegal's hopes of reaching the finals, but also jeopardises their own qualification from the group stage. Mané was forced off the boat after failing to recover from a knee injury in Bayern's penultimate game before the World Cup kick-off.

Mané, who is fondly remembered at Anfield, will leave the African champions with his fate "up in the air", as his goals, camaraderie and smile leave a huge void difficult to fill for coach Aliou Cissé, who told the media that Mané's departure is a blow not only for the team, but for the nation itself, which was excited to see the talent that so enamoured the world during his time at Liverpool.

Two stars out of the World Cup

Sadio Mané left Merseyside last summer, and with that, sadness gripped the millions of Red's fans who could not explain what had happened. Although months have passed since his departure, fans still chant and chant the Senegalese's name at every Pool game, hoping that one day Sadio will return to where he belongs, his home, where he was not only a champion, but completely happy.