As the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals draw to a close, it's time to update our rankings of the top 50 players. The list is informed by The Athletic's player ratings model, which provides an objective assessment of each player's contribution in a match. With the tournament reaching its climax, let's take a closer look at the players who have shone through, and those who have fallen short.
Top 10: The Stars of the Show
Lionel Messi (Argentina/Inter Miami): Despite signs that the World Cup might be catching up with him, Messi remains Argentina's best player and created the opening goal. Does he have enough left in the tank to hold on to top spot?
Kylian Mbappe (France/Real Madrid): Mbappe seemingly cannot be denied at this World Cup. His curler around Issa Diop was sublime and broke Morocco's resistance. Doing it against Spain would further bolster his case.
Jude Bellingham (England/Real Madrid): Four goals in his last two knockout matches have tied Bellingham with Kane in the World Cup top-scorers chart. He is the primary reason England are in the semi-finals, and form suggests he will be the biggest threat to Argentina.
Harry Kane (England/Bayern Munich): Kane remains the smart, positional fluid fulcrum through and around which most of England's best attacks flow.
Erling Haaland (Norway/Manchester City): Haaland ran out of steam, but his remarkable feats and joyful swagger at this World Cup will live long in the memory.
Michael Olise (France/Bayern Munich): Olise is still, incredibly, waiting for his first World Cup goal, but France's outrageously overpowered attack does not need him to score. His creation is enough, and with the ball at his feet, he is the most beautiful player to watch in this tournament.
Ousmane Dembele (France/Paris Saint-Germain): Dembele scored his fifth goal of the World Cup to seal France's victory over Morocco. His scoring has come more in spurts than the steady stream of Mbappe, but he is looking progressively more comfortable in his supporting role.
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/Paris Saint-Germain): Hakimi slips after he had his most ineffective game of a very impressive tournament against France.
Vinicius Jr (Brazil/Real Madrid): Vini Jr was probably the Brazilian least deserving of elimination against Norway, and would have registered a sensational assist if Endrick had not fluffed his lines in the second half.
Aymeric Laporte (Spain/Athletic Club): Spain's formidable defence was finally breached by Charles De Ketelaere, and Laporte had to scramble to make sure it did not get worse late on against Belgium.
The Rest of the Pack
Pau Cubarsi (Spain/Barcelona): Cubarsi was guilty of allowing De Ketelaere to nip in front of him to head Belgium level, but also set up Spain's winner by uncorking the long-range shot that Senne Lammens could not keep from parrying out to the advancing Mikel Merino.
Dayot Upamecano (France/Bayern Munich): Upamecano strengthened his claim to be France's best defender at this World Cup with another assured display to keep a depleted Morocco attack at arm's length.
William Saliba (France/Arsenal): Saliba has been every bit as good as Upamecano at the heart of a France defence that has tightened up in the knockout rounds.
Lamine Yamal (Spain/Barcelona): Yamal is the one superstar name who has not entirely fired at this World Cup as he works his way back into peak rhythm following his injury.
Ismael Saibari (Morocco/Bayern Munich): Saibari had a fantastic World Cup at the tip of Morocco's attack which more than justified Bayern Munich's decision to sign him this summer.
Diogo Costa (Portugal/Porto): The best goalkeeper in the tournament, Costa made a series of excellent saves against Spain before Merino managed to sneak a shot underneath him in the final minutes.
Julian Quinones (Mexico/Al Qadsiah): Quinones took his World Cup goal tally to four by lashing a loose ball into the roof of the net against England.
Rodri (Spain/Manchester City): Rodri has looked closer to his 2024 Ballon d’Or-winning best at this World Cup, snuffing out opposition attacks before they can take shape.
Elliot Anderson (England/Manchester City): Anderson played three different midfield roles against Norway, and held the fort in the middle of the pitch pretty much alone.
Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain/Real Sociedad): Oyarzabal has struggled to find the same opportunities to be decisive in the knockout rounds and Mikel Merino has outshone him from the bench.
Declan Rice (England/Arsenal): Rice did well to even make it onto the field against Norway, given that England boss Thomas Tuchel revealed he had been in bed sick for most of the three days before the game.
Leandro Trossard (Belgium/Arsenal): Trossard was arguably Belgium’s best performer against the USMNT, but he was unable to do anything significant to trouble the Spanish defence.
Anthony Gordon (England/Barcelona): Gordon continues his rise after making another positive impact for England against Norway.
Roberto Alvarado (Mexico/Guadalajara): Alvarado contributed to the waves of Mexican attacks with his tidy left-footed distribution.
Pedri (Spain/Barcelona): Spain's midfield continues to strangle opponents with possession, but Pedri did not even start against Belgium and was not particularly impactful when he came on.
Bruno Guimaraes (Brazil/Newcastle): Guimaraes was Brazil’s best midfielder at the tournament and that counts for something, though not as much as it used to.
Ismaila Sarr (Senegal/Crystal Palace): Sarr’s huge contribution to Senegal’s showing, and his sensational goal against Belgium, still merit consideration here in the 20s.
Folarin Balogun (United States/Monaco): Balogun’s personal World Cup ended with a relative whimper against Belgium after a political storm he had no hand in.
Brahim Diaz (Morocco/Real Madrid): Saibari’s absence may also have limited Diaz’s creativity against a far superior France side.
Pedro Porro (Spain/Tottenham): Porro continues to provide vital attacking thrust down the right flank for Spain.
Luis Diaz (Colombia/Bayern Munich): Diaz scored his penalty in a tense shootout against Switzerland, but could not provide the cutting edge that Colombia so desperately needed.
Andreas Schjelderup (Norway/Benfica): Schjelderup’s cross/shot to give Norway the lead against England was undeniably spectacular.
Lisandro Martinez (Argentina/Manchester United): Martinez has been Argentina’s second-best performer and second-most important player after Messi.
Desire Doue (France/Paris Saint-Germain): The starting spot on the left side of France’s attack never appears entirely nailed down, but Doue appears to have edged ahead of PSG teammate Bradley Barcola.
Marc Cucurella (Spain/Real Madrid): Cucurella’s clever off-ball movement and well-timed forward runs remain very important to the success of Spain’s patient attack.
Gregor Kobel (Switzerland/Borussia Dortmund): Kobel could do nothing about any of Argentina’s goals, and he was a significant reason why Switzerland were able to hold out for so long with 10 men.
Martin Odegaard (Norway/Arsenal): Odegaard’s composure and leadership on the ball enabled Norway to control possession for long stretches against England.
Charles De Ketelaere (Belgium/Atalanta): De Ketelaere made his aerial ability count against Spain just as he had against USMNT.
Adrien Rabiot (France/Milan): Rabiot has been the most consistent presence doing the midfield dirty work behind France’s vaunted front four.
Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina/Liverpool): After a season of struggle for Liverpool, Mac Allister appears to be rediscovering his mojo for Argentina.
Mikel Merino (Spain/Arsenal): Merino has played just 136 minutes across six matches at this World Cup, but two late winners against Portugal and Belgium have strengthened his status as Spain’s closer.
Bukayo Saka (England/Arsenal): Saka continues to be impactful in a reduced role for England, coming off the bench against Norway.
Youri Tielemans (Belgium/Aston Villa): Tielemans still enjoyed an impressive and memorable World Cup as Belgium’s captain.
Joshua Kimmich (Germany/Bayern Munich): Kimmich was Germany’s best performer at this World Cup, not that it ultimately counted for much.
Davinson Sanchez (Colombia/Galatasaray): Sanchez helped keep out a relatively limited Swiss attack to ensure that Colombia made it to penalties despite their profligacy in front of goal.
Enzo Fernandez (Argentina/Chelsea): Fernandez gets credit here for his late winner against Egypt.
Florian Wirtz (Germany/Liverpool): Wirtz sticks around (for now) in the top 50 as the most reliable source of creation for a Germany attack.
Bradley Barcola (France/Paris Saint-Germain): Barcola slips after losing his starting spot on France’s left flank to Doue.
Yan Diomande (Ivory Coast/RB Leipzig): Diomande’s performances with Ivory Coast have faded a little as the tournament progresses.
Julian Alvarez (Argentina/Atletico Madrid): Alvarez makes his first appearance in this ranking since the pre-tournament edition. He has often looked a shell of himself at this World Cup.
