Aníbal Godoy

Aníbal Godoy is Panama's captain and a defensive midfielder in Thomas Christiansen's squad for the 2026 World Cup. The San Diego FC midfielder is 36 at kick-off and is Panama's all-time appearance leader, bringing 157 senior caps and four international goals into the tournament. He played at the 2018 World Cup, Panama's first appearance at the finals, and now leads the side as captain.

Panama face England, Croatia and Ghana in Group L, with a meeting with England at MetLife Stadium on 27 June. Christiansen's side qualified by winning their CONCACAF third-round group on 18 November 2025. Godoy is named in the squad as captain and the most-capped player in it, with more than 150 appearances to his name.

Godoy is a defensive midfielder whose game is built on screening the back line, breaking up play and keeping possession ticking from deep, the holding role asked of him in Christiansen's 5-4-1. At 36 his reading of the game and positioning do much of the work, allowing him to sit in front of the defence and recycle the ball.

As captain and the country's all-time appearance leader, he is the organiser in midfield, with four international goals over a long Panama career. That experience makes him the senior presence in the side.

Aníbal Godoy is the experienced heart of Panama's midfield in Goal Rush: the captain and all-time appearance leader with 157 caps at 36, a defensive midfielder who screens the back line, sets the tempo from deep and organises the side from the base of a 5-4-1. Panama's Tier 4 price is £10m, a low-band figure within the game's £200m card budget, with a Group L that brings England, Croatia and Ghana.