On Thursday, FIFA revealed the Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium as one of 16 venues for the 2026 World Cup. It’s unclear how many matches will be held there, but with it being one of the biggest stadiums in the tournament, it’s sure to get more than most.
It got me thinking of an idea. I thought, “What if I compared Cowboys players to soccer players?” And I did just that.
With the World Cup coming back to Dallas, here are six Cowboys-soccer player comparisons:
QB Dak Prescott: Harry Kane (Tottenham)
Prescott can always put up numbers. He threw a franchise record 37 touchdowns last season and finished third in passer rating, fourth in completion percentage and seventh in passing yards.
Like Prescott, Kane can produce immensely for club and country. He’s scored 105 goals in the last five seasons for Tottenham and has scored 50 goals in 73 appearances for the English national team.
Despite these numbers, neither have been able to capture team success. Prescott’s playoff shortcomings are well known, while Kane has yet to win a major trophy with Tottenham or England.
LB Micah Parsons: Pedri (FC Barcelona)
Parsons burst onto the scene last year and immediately became one of the best defensive players in the league. He’s already a vital contributor to Dallas’ team, and he’s become that in just one season.
Similarly, Pedri has become a key member of Barcelona and the Spanish national team, having made 49 appearances in the last two seasons before getting hurt in early 2022. At just age 19, he’s arguably one of the best midfielders in the world.
Parsons won Defensive Rookie of the Year unanimously and nearly won Defensive Player of the Year, while Pedri won the 2021 Golden Boy Award, given to the best young player in Europe. These are both young superstars with their best days ahead.
G Zack Martin: Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Both Martin and Modric get better with age. Martin is coming off his seventh All-Pro season in 2021 and seventh Pro Bowl. He’s the best player on the Cowboys’ roster and one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL.
Like Martin, Modric remains a crucial member of Real Madrid’s squad, helping his club win its 14th UEFA Champions League against Liverpool in May. He’s an integral part of how Real Madrid plays in the midfield and has shown no signs of slowing down.
Both are veteran players but are two of the best at their profession.
RB Ezekiel Elliott: Harry Maguire (Manchester United)
Elliott and Maguire both receive criticism for a common reason — underperforming despite a high salary.
Elliott’s contract is a talking point every offseason, and he rarely proves himself worthy of it. Manchester United paid Leicester City just under $98 million for Maguire, making him the world’s most expensive defender, but he’s coming off arguably his worst season in 2021-22.
Both also seem to be a perpetual part of their respective teams’ gameplan. Elliott continues to get a bulk of the carries over Tony Pollard, while Maguire remained in United’s starting lineup (and remained the team’s captain) despite subpar performances.
Both men are still talented but haven’t lived up to their price tags.
CB Trevon Diggs: Paul Pogba (Free Agent)
When Diggs and Pogba are at their best, they provide a massive impact on their teams. When they aren’t, it shows, and their teams massively pay the price for it.
Diggs led the NFL with 11 interceptions but was inconsistent in pass coverage. Pogba recorded nine assists for Manchester United last season, but the French midfielder’s inconsistencies are a significant reason why the team finished sixth in the Premier League.
After United elected not to renew Pogba’s contract, he’s expected to join Italian club Juventus ahead of the 2022-23 season. Maybe, he can become more consistent, just like Diggs can be more consistent in pass coverage.
WR CeeDee Lamb: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
Both Lamb and Kimmich are extremely versatile players who have only become more important the more they play.
Lamb can provide lots of yards-after-catch and be a deep threat, while Kimmich can play in defense just as well as he can play midfield. Lamb will become Dallas’ No. 1 receiver in 2022 and even had to do that last year, while Kimmich has slowly progressed to become one of Bayern Munich’s best players.
No matter what you tell either of these guys to do, you can count on them to do it well.
