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Every footballer in the world wants to be playing in Brazil next summer when the World Cup returns to South America. But only a handful will be there - all aiming to reach the final at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on 13 July. With many stars not taking part, BBC Sport looks at the biggest names forced to watch from afar.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic ( Sweden / PSG): Volleys, audacious flicks and towering headers are the norm for the Paris St-Germain crowd-pleaser. But six assists and eight goals in qualifying, including a brace against play-off opponents Portugal, was not enough for Sweden. "A World Cup without me is something I won't be following," he says.

Robert Lewandowski ( Poland / Borussia Dortmund): International defenders across the globe - and particularly those based in the German top-flight - will be thankful the Borussia Dortmund striker will not be in Brazil. The Poland frontman, currently the Bundesliga's leading scorer with nine goals, could only help his nation finish fourth in England's Group H.

Gareth Bale ( Wales / Real Madrid ) : Will the world's most expensive player ever play for Wales in a major tournament? Ryan Giggs, Mark Hughes and Ian Rush never managed it. The £85m Real Madrid midfielder saw his side finish seven points shy of a play-off spot in Group A.

Christian Eriksen ( Denmark / Tottenham Hotspur ) : In 2012-13, his final season at Ajax, the Tottenham midfielder created more goalscoring chances than any other player across Europe's top leagues. That includes Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. But he will not be unlocking any defences in Brazil after Denmark failed to progress from Group B.

David Alaba ( Austria / Bayern Munich ) : Austria have not reached the World Cup finals since 1998 - but one man who might, one day, help end the barren run is Bayern Munich's brilliant full-back/midfielder. Not this time though. Despite Alaba scoring five of their last 11 goals, Austria missed out on a Group C play-off place by three points.

Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia / Chelsea ) : Wholehearted at the back and useful in attack, but Chelsea's multi-tasking Serbia defender will have to watch next year's tournament from home. Although he has helped his national team concede just six goals in eight games, they were pipped to the Group A play-off place by local rivals Croatia.

Stevan Jovetic (Montenegro / Man. City): The emergence of Montenegro since they gained independence in 2008 has been rapid. They finished third behind England and Ukraine in Group H, with Manchester City's forward giving the English defence a torrid time along the way.

Arda Turan ( Turkey / Atletico Madrid ): Remember Turkey at the 2002 World Cup? That epic journey to the semi-finals seems a long time ago now. They have not qualified since and that means Atletico Madrid's flying winger Arda, who created 26 chances during qualifying, has been denied a chance to shine on the greatest stage.

Petr Cech ( Czech / Chelsea ): Chelsea's giant Czech has only played at one World Cup so far - 2006 - and at the age of 31 missing 2014 would probably mean no chance of playing in a future World Cup. But don't bet against the Champions League winner featuring in Russia 2018.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ( Gabon / Borussia Dortmund ) : Like Borussia Dortmund team-mate Robert Lewandowski, Gabon forward Aubameyang will not be able to reproduce his impressive Bundesliga form at the World Cup. His nation, who played in the London 2012 Olympic Games, failed to make it to the African qualifying play-offs.

Jonathan Pitroipa ( Burkina Faso / Rennes ) : Named on the BBC's African Footballer of the Year 2013 shortlist alongside Aubameyang is Burkina Faso star Pitroipa. But the Rennes winger, who starred as the Burkinabe reached the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final, is also missing - they were eliminated by play-off opponents Algeria.