The 10 best players who won't be at the World Cup

Perhaps it's time to seriously consider a breakaway tournament that rivals the World Cup, based on the number of stars who will be watching from home in 2018.

From Alexis Sanchez to Gareth Bale, there's no shortage of top talents who will have to wait at least four more years for another chance to lift the World Cup trophy.

Here's a look at the 10 best players who will miss the 2018 tournament in Russia:

Arturo Vidal - Chile

Heartbreak at the tail end of Chile's qualifying campaign may have cost Arturo Vidal, who hinted at retiring from international play, a chance to represent his country at the World Cup one last time. And while there's been plenty of recent success for Chile to be cheerful about - specifically, consecutive Copa America titles - the bitterness of missing out on the World Cup will be a tough pill to swallow.

Arjen Robben - Netherlands

Arjen Robben won't grace the pitch at another World Cup, as the Bayern Munich midfielder announced his retirement in the wake of Holland's abysmal qualifying campaign.

Gareth Bale - Wales

Bale's wait to compete in his first World Cup continues. The joy of reaching the semi-finals of the European Championship last year was followed by bitter disappointment, as Wales failed to secure a play-off spot for a chance to book a ticket to Russia. However, the country's failure hardly falls on Bale's shoulders, as the Real Madrid star was forced to sit out the final two qualifiers through injury.

Antonio Valencia - Ecuador

Antonio Valencia may have just missed out on his final chance to feature at a World Cup with Ecuador. After a bright start to the South American nation's qualifying campaign, there was little Valencia, 32, could do to prevent a late collapse as La Tricolor lost their final six qualifiers.

Virgil van Dijk - Netherlands

The future is somewhat bright for a Netherlands side going through a transition period after failing to secure a play-off spot for next summer's competition. Virgil van Dijk will be a prominent figure behind the country's revival, but for now, he's part of just the fourth Dutch side that's failed to reach the World Cup.

David Alaba - Austria

The diversity of David Alaba's club career compared to his time with the Austrian national team isn't likely to change, as the six-time Bundesliga winner with Bayern Munich missed out on a chance to compete on the world's biggest stage following his country's poor qualifying campaign.

Marco Verratti - Italy

Along with being robbed of a chance to see perennial contender Italy at the World Cup, neutral football fans will also miss the opportunity to watch the talented Marco Verratti in the tournament. The PSG midfielder, however, will be a vital piece of the puzzle as the country attempts to overcome its biggest setback in 60 years.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - Gabon

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang falls into an unlucky category of supremely talented players who will struggle to ever reach the World Cup. Simply put, Gabon - a country that's never qualified for the tournament - hasn't produced the type of talent capable of helping Aubameyang reach the competition.

Alexis Sanchez - Chile

Sanchez's absence from the World Cup is major blow for football supporters worldwide, but it could be a blessing in disguise for the feisty Chilean. Although the tournament will miss the passionate Arsenal player, Sanchez will finally get a summer off after years of answering the call

Gianluigi Buffon - Italy

Gianluigi Buffon's passionate rendition of the Italian national anthem will be sorely missed in Russia following the Azzuri's stunning failure to secure a place in the 2018 World Cup. Yet, he's set a standard between the pipes that 'keepers competing for the coveted trophy - which Buffon lifted in 2006 - will hope to replicate when the tournament kicks off next summer.

Honourable mentions: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Armenia), Edin Dzeko (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Christian Pulisic (United States), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Jan Oblak (Slovenia)

(Photos Courtesy: Action Images)