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The 2026 World Cup is primed for a thrilling crescendo over the next 10 days.
Co-hosts the United States, Mexico and Canada all bowed out at the Round of 16, but traditional heavyweights and other teams on historically deep runs are firmly in the fight for glory.
This has been a tournament for the superstars. Just look at the Golden Boot rankings, with Lionel Messi leading the way from Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane.
That quartet obviously feature here. It feels like a competition where the big names have stepped up en masse like no other. But there are also some breakout stars and players flying the flag for their nations, finding another level when it matters most.
There were a few factors to consider in these rankings. Primarily, it's important how well the players are performing at the World Cup itself. But we must also gauge their overall quality, standing within the wider sport in 2026 and what this means in terms of having a potentially decisive impact down the stretch.
Read, enjoy and disagree wildly. It's what we're all here for.
MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:
- Printable World Cup bracket
- Updated Golden Boot tracker
- Expert picks for World Cup quarterfinals
- Ranking World Cup teams remaining 1-8
Ranking the best 15 players remaining at the 2026 World Cup
All stats from Opta Analyst unless stated
15. Enzo Fernandez (Midfielder, Argentina)
Fernandez is solely responsible for his place on this list. Without his impeccably judged header in stoppage time against Egypt, there's every chance that bedraggled champions Argentina would be heading home. Lionel Messi can't do this all on his own, honestly. A thoroughbred midfielder like Fernandez gives him a chance. The former River Plate youngster was a breakout performer at Qatar in 2022, paving the way for a big-money move to Chelsea. Life with the chaotic London club has made it hard to call Fernandez one of the best midfielders in the world. As he dragged La Albiceleste out of the first in Atlanta, that was exactly what he looked like.
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14. Achraf Hakimi (Fullback, Morocco)
Morocco have proved their run to the semifinals in Qatar was no fluke and, with players such as back-to-back Champions League winner Hakimi in their ranks, it's little surprise. When the Paris Saint-Germain full-back is in full flight, it can feel like Morocco have an extra player, as he patrols all of the right flank by himself. A threat from open play and set pieces, Hakimi's 15 chances created are the fourth best in the competition overall and comfortably the best of any defender. He has also contested more ground duels than anyone else at the tournament heading into the quarters.
13. Patrick Berg (Midfielder, Norway)
Alongside Erling Haaland, captain Martin Odegaard is Norway's star turn. But the Arsenal playmaker has arguably been outshone in the Norway midfield by Bodo/Glimt star Berg. Industrious and technically sound. The 28-year-old took his impressive Champions League form onto the biggest international stage with a dominant display as Norway took down Brazil. Berg completed 93% of his passes, including four of six line-breaking passes, as per FIFA's match data. He also covered over 12km and showed his effectiveness in terms of pressing and recovering possession.
12. Dayot Upamecano (Defender, France)
France's swashbuckling attack have stolen the limelight but if the old adage that defences win tournaments holds true, Didier Deschamps's side as also in pretty good shape. Les Bleus have not conceded during the knockout stages. Alongside William Saliba at centre-back, Dayot Upamecano has been outstanding. The Bayern Munich man has taken his game to another level this season and his 12 interceptions are a tournament high, giving France the insurance to play their expansive attacking game without fear. Only Switzerland's Granit Xhaka (37) has won possessions on more occasions than Upamecano (33).
11. Ismael Saibari (Forward, Morocco)
Bayern Munich-bound forward Saibari has left no doubt over his capacity to revel on the biggest stages with his performances at the World Cup. The 25-year-old flew out of the blocks, opening the scoring in the 1-1 draw with Brazil before sealing a 1-0 victory against Scotland with an early strike. Saibari made it three in three group games when he netted in the 4-2 win against Haiti before dispatching the decisive penalty to down the Netherlands in the Round of 32. A hamstring injury then struck against Canada, and although it does not appear to be a serious problem, he is likely to have to endure the agony of sitting out the quarterfinal showdown with France.
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10. Ousmane Dembele (Forward, France)
It's hard to find space alongside Kylian Mbappe in the spotlight when he gets to this tournament, his tournament. Dembele started slowly, struggling in a central attacking role during France's tournament opener against Senegal. Didier Deschamps' decision to switch Dembele and Olise's positions has paid dividends since. The Paris Saint-Germain star fired a brilliant first-half hat-trick against Norway after opening his account against Iraq. Dembele is the reigning Ballon d'Or for a reason and is primed to do damage during the knockout rounds.
MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:
- Printable World Cup bracket
- Updated Golden Boot tracker
- Expert picks for World Cup quarterfinals
- Ranking World Cup teams remaining 1-8
- Ranking best players still in World Cup
9. Pedri (Midfielder, Spain)
Arguably the most complete midfielder in world soccer, Pedri is playing like a man with unfinished business at the 2026 World Cup. After the tournament in Qatar, the Barcelona favourite was waylaid by injury woes. He returned at Euro 2024, but knee ligament damage sustained in the quarterfinal win over Germany ruled him out of Spain's final steps to the title. No player in the competition has made more than Pedri's 170 in the final third, and his seven through balls are more than any of his teammates. He is vital to a Spain side without huge attacking firepower, helping them to poke, prod and cajole opponents into submission.
8. Rodri (Midfielder, Spain)
Rodri was already in the early stages of recovering from ACL surgery by the time he won the Ballon d'Or, in part for his imperious performances in Spain's Euro 2024 success. It's been a long road back and Manchester City supporters only saw flashes of his very best in the Premier League last season. Those high points were more frequent after the turn of the year, and Rodri increasingly looks like his old self. He was superb in the knife-edge Iberian derby win over Portugal. His attempted (534) and completed (499) passes are tournament bests by a considerable distance. Additionally, 17 tackles and 30 instances of possession won are also high returns and highlight a player trusting his body once again.
7. Lamine Yamal (Winger, Spain)
A hamstring injury suffered in late April put Lamine Yamal's participation at this tournament in doubt. But he was ready to be called upon to try (and fail) to avert Spain's opening 0-0 draw against Cape Verde. He opened his tournament account and launched the rout of Saudi Arabia. Since then, Lamine has flickered rather than outright dazzled. He was wonderful as Spain swept Austria aside 3-0, but struggled at times against Portugal, seemingly missing being part of a dual wing threat as Nico Williams recovers from his own hamstring woes. Lamine still has a joint-high 10 carries ending in shots in the competition and only four players have contested more than his 60 ground duels. He looks ready to take things to the next level.
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6. Michael Olise (Attacking midfielder, France)
Olise's dizzying rise for club and country is one of the delights of the game in 2026. He left Crystal Palace for Bayern Munich with all the tools in 2024, but the sight of him putting it all together for two of the marquee teams in soccer as been something to behold. The 24-year-old's move to a No.10 role has unlocked France in North America. Yet to get on the scoresheet himself. Olise has five assists at the World Cup, all from open play, and is a relentless menace in the final third. His 117 passes in that attacking area of the field are third behind Rodri and Pedri.
5. Harry Kane (Striker, England)
Where would England be without their all-time leading goalscorer and talismanic captain? Probably back home enjoying the latest UK heatwave (honestly). Kane's brilliant double pulled the Three Lions out of peril against DR Congo in the Round of 32, and his nerveless penalty at the Azteca proved the difference in a crazy night against Mexico. He has six goals for the tournament and 14 overall, joint fifth in the all-time standings alongside the great Gerd Muller, whose shoes he now fills decades on at Bayern Munich. England are a flawed team, but it was smart from Thomas Tuchel to build the whole strategy around a man who might go down as his country's greatest of all time.
4. Lionel Messi (Forward, Argentina)
Okay, calm down. Messi is underlining the fact that, beyond most reasonable doubts, he is the greatest player ever to compete in the sport he has redefined. Eight goals, while taking abysmal penalties, at 39 years of age at a World Cup is just a fiasco, perhaps his final and most audacious defiance of logic. Messi looks refreshed from his time in Miami, as opposed to some of the stars who arrived chewed up and spat out by the European club season. The only reason for him being below the remaining names on this list is a question over whether MLS-era Messi can unfurl more of his magic against an elite opponent. As always with him, it will be a delight finding out.
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3. Jude Bellingham (Midfielder, England)
Since he joined Real Madrid in 2023, it's hard to think of another player in elite football who's produced quite as many superhero performances as Bellingham. His latest, and perhaps greatest, came at the Azteca. Two quickfire first-half goals for England against Mexico were only part of the story. Bellingham was relentless amid the Mexican storm, dragging Thomas Tuchel's 10 men over the line. He also scored a brilliant solo goal to effectively snuff out Croatia's challenge in a thrilling opening game and broke the deadlock in a tense encounter with Panama. England's hopes stand and fall on Bellingham and Kane and both are more than happy to take the team on their shoulders.
2. Erling Haaland (Striker, Norway)
Haaland is having a moment, possibly a career-defining summer in North America. He's scoring goals by the bucketload, laying waste to central defenders, lighting up social media, banging the drum and leading the Norway fans in their rowing celebration. The Manchester City hero has hit one of those runs of form where he looks inevitable, while brute physicality has seen him appeal to members of the American sports public with only a passing interest. If Norway go a little further, this will be remembered as the World Cup of Haalandmania.
1. Kylian Mbappe (Forward, France)
Three games from now, we could be talking about Kylian Mbappe having an iron-clad claim of being the greatest World Cup player of all time. If he continues at his current pace and finishes with double figures for goals in a triumphant campaign, that will follow a World Cup win and a final goal on debut in 20-18, and a hat-trick in a losing final effort, along with the Golden Boot. Mbappe's prolific club career at Paris Saint-Germain and now Real Madrid has not always found critical acclaim, but the World Cup brings out extra gear in this phenomenon of a soccer player who has it all.
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