For Argentina, the question is about life around - and at times without - Lionel Messi. If his workload is managed, Nico Paz looks the kind of attacker who could absorb responsibility between the lines.
France have the opposite issue: too many dangerous attackers, not too few. Desire Doue is not competing with a weak field; he is trying to force his way into one of the deepest forward lines in international football.
O’Reilly is intriguing because he may solve a balance problem, not just add talent.
For Brazil, Endrick remains the explosive option. His minutes at club level have reportedly needed careful management, but his appeal is obvious: aggression, penalty-box instinct and the nerve to attack defenders early.
Pedri is different from the others because he is not really a wildcard. He is a reference point. When Spain are at their best, they dictate rhythm, territory and tempo - and Pedri is central to that identity.
If these contenders are to go deep in 2026, watch the roles as closely as the names. The next storyline is not only who starts, but who gives each coach the solution he did not have before the tournament began.