With so many other tournaments now being played both during and after league seasons, there's barely a moment's rest for the truly elite exponents of the beautiful game.
Where once players could enjoy a summer 'off,' now there's no such luck. It's to their great credit, then, that they're still able to turn in match-winning performances despite muscle fatigue and mental tiredness often creeping in.
Great expectations
Of course, the supporters who travel all over the world to support their country at major tournaments do so with great expectation.
Not only are the dreams of success very much alive in their minds, but there's an unspoken contract between fan and player that has, at its very core, the idea that every player will give their best, and the biggest names will deliver on the biggest stage.
It may not always work out in that way, but try telling that to a supporter who has spent valuable time and money on being present to (hopefully) witness history in the making.
For the 2026 World Cup, there were plenty of big-name, big-game strikers of whom everything was indeed expected. Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Vini Jr et al all had the weight of a nation on their shoulders, but who was going to deliver the goods, and who would sink without a trace?
At the time of writing, the tournament is about to stage the quarter-finals, in which all of Kane, Haaland, Messi and Mbappe will participate.
After losses against Spain and Norway, respectively, Ronaldo, Neymar, Vini Jr and their teammates will have to watch the remainder of the FIFA showpiece from their homes, but just how well did the trio do before being eliminated?
Ronaldo underwhelming before elimination
Ronaldo managed to score three goals, including his first ever at the knockout stages of a World Cup, though his tournament record of 29 attacking actions and 0.55 goal involvements across the games that Portugal played could be said to be a little underwhelming from a player who remarked during the tournament that this would be his last for the Selecao das Quinas.
His nemesis throughout his club career, Messi, stands out the most in terms of his impact on the games he's played, given that he's recorded 68.12 actions, with 1.73 goal involvements between goals scored and assists provided.
With eight goals to his name after scoring another against Egypt, he currently leads the race for the Golden Boot. However, Mbappe and Haaland are only one goal behind, and Kane is just two back.
Mbappe's 50.52 actions are significantly less than the Argentine's, but importantly, he has a similar scoring impact, with 1.68 goal involvements.
Vinicius sits between the pair in terms of actions (58.70), though he has a lower goal involvement return of 0.89. Neymar's contributions can't be measured owing to his lack of minutes and not meeting the threshold from which to be able to record data.
Haaland vs Kane is a mouth-watering prospect
A shoot-out between Haaland and Kane in the England v Norway quarter-final could be something very special to witness indeed.
The Englishman is arguably the most in-form marksman in the world at present, but the Norwegian's goalscoring record for his country is beyond compare.
Both are what would be affectionately termed 'traditional' target men, and therefore it stands to reason that they're not always as involved in play as the likes of Messi and Mbappe, for example.
Haaland's 30 attacking actions are very slightly more than Kane's, whilst his goal contribution of 1.51 stands up well compared to the latter's 1.29.
Mbappe out on his own
However, in terms of an all-round perspective, Mbappe is out on his own, using this sample set of players.
His 4.86 shot average per game, 2.99 of which were on target, can't be bettered, and nor can his key passes (1.5), successful dribbles (2.06) and percentage of one-on-one duels won (46.3%).
Clearly, all of the strikers hold the key to the success of their respective national teams to some degree.
In simple terms, if they're playing well and hitting their straps, the realistic chance for a shot at glory will follow.
Who are you backing?