Gary Lineker believes the 2026 World Cup might come too soon for Liverpool's rising star, Rio Ngumoha. Is he right about the young talent's timeline?
Gary Lineker has weighed in on the possibility of Rio Ngumoha making the England squad for the 2026 World Cup, and his take is clear: it’s a long shot. The 17-year-old winger has made a splash in his debut season with Liverpool, showcasing his talent and scoring crucial goals, including a stunning 100th-minute winner against Newcastle last August.
Despite his impressive performances, Ngumoha has only started twice in the Premier League and hasn’t yet earned an under-21 cap. Lineker pointed out that while Ngumoha is an exciting prospect, it might be too early for him to be considered for the national team. "He’s only just broken into the Liverpool team, but he’s very exciting. It’s just come a bit too soon for him, I think," Lineker said during a recent episode of The Rest Is Football.
The competition for places in the England squad is fierce. With established players like Anthony Gordon, Marcus Rashford, and Harvey Barnes already in the mix, Ngumoha faces an uphill battle. Even if some fans recall Theo Walcott’s surprise inclusion in the 2006 World Cup at just 17, the depth of talent available to manager Thomas Tuchel today is far greater.
Ngumoha's time will come, but for now, it looks like he’ll be watching the World Cup from home. His development at Liverpool is one to keep an eye on, as he continues to grow into a key player for the Reds.
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Sun 24 May, 16:00
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Fri 15 May, 20:00
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Liverpool FC
v
Brentford FC
Sun 24 May, 16:00
Tip: Home Win
Liverpool has a stronger recent form with 3 wins in their last 5 matches compared to Brentford's 4 draws and 1 loss. Additionally, Liverpool's season league form shows they have scored in 89.2% of their matches and have a higher overall win percentage. Brentford's away form is less impressive, with a significant number of matches where they failed to score.
Aston Villa FC
v
Liverpool FC
Fri 15 May, 20:00
Tip: Away Win
Liverpool has shown stronger recent form with 3 wins in their last 5 matches compared to Aston Villa's 2 wins. Additionally, Liverpool's season league form indicates they have scored in 88.9% of their matches and have a higher goals per game average (1.67) compared to Aston Villa (1.39). The odds also favor Liverpool, suggesting they are seen as the stronger side.
Liverpool FC
v
Chelsea FC
Sat 9 May, 12:30
Tip: Home Win
Liverpool has a strong recent form with 3 wins in their last 5 matches and a solid season league form, scoring in 88.2% of their matches. Chelsea, on the other hand, is struggling with 5 consecutive losses. The odds favor Liverpool, indicating confidence in their ability to win.
Liverpool FC
v
Crystal Palace FC
Sat 25 Apr, 15:00
Tip: Home Win
Liverpool has a stronger recent form with 2 wins in their last 5 matches compared to Crystal Palace's 3 wins. Additionally, Liverpool's season league form shows they have scored in 87.9% of their matches and have a solid goal difference. The odds favor Liverpool significantly, indicating market confidence in their victory.
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