Captains have always been a central part of great World Cup teams and Russia 2018 will be no different. A lot has changed in football since it became a fully professional sport nearly 2 centuries ago. However, the role of the captain has remained as constant as the Northern Star.
Chief cheerleader, on-pitch motivator, first-born in a community of brothers, the captain is usually the man who gives his team an identity.
In the long and often majestic history of the World Cup, great captains have emerged who have led their nations to do magical things on football’s greatest stage.