Strike a pose: the best World Cup 2022 portraits – in pictures

Jorge Sánchez lifts Gerardo Arteaga over the threshold of the Mexico pair's first World Cup.

Hiroki Ito of Japan is happier looking at the camera than at this hotel art.

Australia goalkeeper and goalline dancer Andrew Redmayne roars at a giant illustration of himself.

Qatar midfielder Khalid Muneer models the host nation's home shirt and his own lustrous locks.

Four Iran players adopt the classic boyband pose: (from left) Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Karim Ansarifard, Saeid Ezatolahi and Mehdi Taremi.

Morocco No 1 Yassine Bounou gets a piggyback ride from fellow goalkeeper Reda Tagnaouti.

Antoine Griezmann does his best penguin impression but hopes defending champions France will not freeze.

England's Jack Grealish offers a smouldering stare – will it melt Gareth Southgate's icy heart?

Ismaeel Mohammad of Qatar probably should not try this pose when talking to referees.

Iran goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini either has hands the size of cymbals or it is just perspective.

Jesus Ferreira of the USA loves cheetahs so much he has a tattoo of one on his forearm. Nice.

'The name's Pickford, Jordan Pickford – license to nil.'

Badr Benoun (left) has his finger-pointing thunder stolen by Morocco teammate Jawad El Yamiq.

Nader Ghandri of Tunisia fixedly ignores the opulent chandelier above him.

Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has mastered the Terminator-style head turn in all its glory.

Niclas Füllkrug shares the love while modelling a very stylish Germany shirt.

Nicolás Otamendi likes the look of Argentina's chances of going far.

Midfield metronome Koke practises hollering at his Spain teammates.

Romelu Lukaku of Belgium delivers his best mean and moody glare.

Costa Rica full-back Ronald Matarrita delivers two tickets to the gun show.

Cho Gue-sung (right) playfully squares up to South Korea teammate Kwon Kyung-won.

Kylian Mbappé gives it the double finger point – a classic.

Saudi Arabia duo Sami al-Naje Nasser al-Dawsari style their immaculate fresh trims.

Denmark's Pierre-Emile Højbjerg really enjoys balancing a football on his head.

Lionel Messi unleashes his 'blue steel' look before his fifth World Cup with Argentina.

Damian Szymanski is ready to add some muscle to Poland's midfield.

Renato Steffen of Switzerland gives it the big L to an unknown nemesis off camera.

Gareth Bale is ready to bring Wales out of the World Cup shadows after 64 years.

Australia striker Jason Cummings shows off his ink.