The Man City and Liverpool men play key, selfless roles for their respective clubs but there can only be space for one of them in Russia
It is apt that Brazil boss Tite has used the word "pressure" to describe Roberto Firmino's push for a starting berth at the World Cup.
For it is pressure, placed upon the opposition's back-line, that is required of Brazil's No.9 in Russia this summer.
Tite has transformed his country's fortunes since taking over from Dunga in 2016, forging an exciting team full of stars that are ready to work for each other.