I'd say Kane is the best footballer in the world at the moment. I don't think it's enough to win it but England should be up there.Hasn't the winner pretty much always has a player that is out of this world and on top of their game when it really counts ... Maradona, Pele, Zidane, Messi, R9, Beckenbauer, Charlton, Klinsmann, Rossi, Mbappe ... with 2 or 3 players that are not light years behind in quality.
Unless Father Time has done them in completely Messi and CR7 have the stardust and a supporting cast. Mbappe has decent support if he can get back to what he was. Anyone else that might step up and take centre stage ... Yamal maybe? Doue?
Exception that proves the rule could be Brazil last time it was in the US? Maybe that is what gives a bit of hope ... Italy were clearly better but Brazil got it over the line.
My dark horse is Norway. Good team, some really good players. What's the odds Norway reach the semi final.