The Premier League will soon resume following the conclusion of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The final between France and Argentina was a fun one, with Premier League star Emiliano Martinez emerging as one of the tournament’s heroes.
But he’s not the only Premier League player who helped his country win the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
It’s not easy to play every game for your country in the biggest tournament in the sport, especially when the games come thick and fast. Several stars from the Premier League played a key role for their country at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
In addition, maintaining fitness after a condensed domestic schedule is commendable given that this year’s games will be held in the winter. However, some Premier League players achieved the same feat and performed admirably for their nations during the tournament.
In light of this, let’s take a look at the five Premier League players who participated in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and logged the most minutes.
#5 Hugo Lloris (570 minutes)
Hugo Lloris tried his best to lead France to FIFA World Cup glory in 2018 and did so again this year.
Lloris appeared in six of France’s seven matches, helping the Bleus avoid defeat in all but the penalty-filled final against Argentina.
The Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper only kept one clean sheet in six games, but that was also due to a weak defense.
Regardless, Lloris played 570 minutes at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which may have been his last major tournament appearance.
#4 Mateo Kovacic (638 minutes)
Mateo Kovacic was one of Croatia’s key players and one of the best midfielders at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Kovacic, along with Luka Modric and Marcelo Brozovic, advanced the ball high up the field at every opportunity.
Throughout the tournament, his team greatly benefited from his dribbling abilities and ability to select the appropriate pass.
The Chelsea star played 638 minutes out of a possible 690, which is impressive considering that he was playing with an injury.
Croatia’s third-place finish was also helped by Kovacic, who will be looking to advance his nation at the next World Cup.
#3 Hakim Ziyech (638 minutes)
The Chelsea winger led Morocco to the semi-finals of the World Cup, where he was a standout performer.
In his seven appearances, the right-sided attacker contributed significantly more than just one goal and one assist. Players like Ziyech were expected to lead from the front because Morocco had few stars at the FIFA World Cup.
The 29-year-old worked tirelessly because he was so important in the buildup play and helped Morocco quickly switch from defense to attack.
Ziyech, a phenomenal ball-crosser, played 638 minutes at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
#2 Ivan Perisic (670 minutes)
Ivan Perisic was one of Croatia’s main men at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, just like he was at the 2018 World Cup.
The winger excelled on the left wing because of his fine crossing skills, though he played multiple roles for the men in red and white.
In addition, in the 670 minutes he played at the World Cup, Perisic demonstrated that he could be a threat in one-on-one competitions, scoring once and assisting on three occasions.
The 33-year-old has probably played in his last World Cup, but given his level of fitness, it wouldn’t surprise many if he also plays in the 2026 World Cup.
#1 Emiliano Martinez (690 minutes)
Emiliano Martinez was the best goalkeeper at the Qatar World Cup, as previously mentioned. The 6’4 goalkeeper has an amazing reach and has ended up being magnificent in 1v1 circumstances.
In the World Cup-winning extra-time save against Kolo Muani, which he made in the final, he saved multiple penalties in the shootout.
Consequently, the goalkeeper for Aston Villa stood out and will undoubtedly be remembered in Argentina’s history.
Martinez played 690 minutes at the World Cup, the most by a Premier League player in the tournament, following his heroics in the extra-time final.
When the Premier League resumes on December 26, the shot-stopper will want to perform similarly for Aston Villa.