Top 20 Players of the 2022 World Cup

The World Cup is over and what a tournament it was. Many players lit up the scene in Qatar including the best players on the planet and a number of players who nobody had heard of at the start of the tournament. I've ranked my best players at the tournament below based on how effective they were.

20. Romain Saiss - Morocco

Club: Besiktas

Morocco arguably had the best defence at this World Cup and Saiss was a key part of it. He got the ball out his own penalty area at every opportunity and he made crucial interventions when his team needed him to. His leadership on the pitch also played a crucial part alongside his performances as Morocco reached the semi finals.

19. Rodrigo De Paul - Argentina

Club: Atletico Madrid

De Paul was an absolute engine in the Argentina midfield with his energy and tenacity to win the ball. He showed this in pretty much every game at the tournament it's what made him a crucial part of Argentina's winning side.

18. Adrien Rabiot - France

Club: Juventus

Rabiot wasn't expected to play much at this World Cup and he only went on and became a mainstay in the French midfield. He worked his socks off for his team with his energy and he was determined to win the ball back for his team when they needed someone to. He stepped up in the absence of N'Golo Kante brilliantly.

17. Bukayo Saka - England

Club: Arsenal

Saka was England's joint top scorer at these finals with 3 goals and is surely now one of the first names on the team sheet moving forward. He caused defenders problems with his pace and movement and is set to play a big role for England at future tournaments.

16. Yassine Bounou - Morocco

Club: Sevilla

Bono was solid between the sticks throughout this tournament for Morocco by making many crucial saves and being a solid presence as his country reached the semi finals. He was the hero in their shootout win over Spain in the last 16 and was crucial in their other wins against tough opposition in Belgium and Portugal.

15. Aurelian Tchouameni - France

Club: Real Madrid

Tchouameni stepped up brilliantly in the absence of Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante at this World Cup by dictating play in midfield and winning many crucial balls. Did this in pretty much every game he played at this tournament is set to be a key player for the French in the future as he's only just 22.

14. Theo Hernandez - France

Club: AC Milan

Hernandez was excellent in both departments at this World Cup by being a solid defender and a threat whenever he went forward. He registered a goal and 2 assists as France nearly went all the way and he stepped up instantly after replacing his brother Lucas in the opening game against Australia.

13. Azzedine Ounahi - Morocco

Club: Angers

Ounahi has been one of the many outstanding young players at this World Cup with his energy in the midfield playing a crucial role in Morocco's journey to the semi finals. He's done both sides of the game very well in being creative on the ball when in possession and winning it back out of possession on many occasions. Some clubs in the Premier League will surely come knocking on the door for his signature after the tournament he's just had.

12. Enzo Fernandez - Argentina

Club: Benfica

Fernandez was surprisingly named as the best young player at this World Cup and it wasn't untli the second game where he came into the team. He was excellent both defensively and offensively in the Argentina midfield and at 21 years old is going to be a big player for them in the future.

11. Dominik Livakovic - Croatia

Club: Dinamo Zagreb

Livakovic was without a doubt one of the standout keepers at this tournament by making lots of big saves at crucial moments and being a big presence between the sticks. He was the hero in Croatia's shootout wins over Japan and Brazil and was one of the main reasons why his side were such a tough team defensively.

10. Jude Bellingham - England

Club: Borussia Dortmund

Bellingham has evolved a lot as a player at this tournament and he's only just 19. He worked his socks off in the midfield with his energy and tenacity and he also showed off his range of passing. He was even the first person to console Harry Kane after his missed penalty against France.

9. Julian Alvarez - Argentina

Club: Man City

Lautaro Martinez was set to be Argentina's main striker going into this tournament. But Alvarez has outshone him by scoring 4 goals and offering more as a centre forward with his pace and movement. His form at this tournament kept the Inter Milan man on the bench.

8. Antoine Griezmann - France

Club: Atletico Madrid

Griezmann played more like a box to box midfielder at this tournament as he was excellent both in and out of possession. His work rate off the ball was incredible as he tracked back multiple times to help his team out defensively whilst going forward he registered the joint most assists with 3. He's shown a different side to his game.

7. Achraf Hakimi - Morocco

Club: PSG

Hakimi was rock solid right throughout this tournament as Morocco had one of the best defences and reached the semi finals. He also offered a threat going forward alongside being solid defensively with the endless energy he has as he showed why he's one of the best full backs around.

6. Josko Gvardiol - Croatia

Club: RB Leipzig

Gvardiol was arguably the best central defender at this World Cup and he's only just 20 years old. He was rock solid in almost every game he played and his strong performances in defence were why Croatia had a strong defence all tournament. After the tournament he's just had, it wouldn't surprise me if one or two clubs from the Premier League come calling.

5. Emiliano Martinez - Argentina

Club: Aston Villa

Martinez has been a solid presence between the sticks right throughout the tournament as Argentina went all the way. He made lots of crucial saves when his team needed him to and especially during the knockout stages and final. He also protected his goal like his life depended on it in the way he came out to smother crosses coming into the box.

4. Olivier Giroud - France

Club: AC Milan

The former Arsenal and Chelsea striker might not have played much at this tournament had Karim Benzema not been and he only went on a stepped up brilliantly in his absence. He scored 4 goals and he became France's record goal scorer with his strike against Poland in the last 16. His name surely deserves more respect.

3. Sofyan Amrabat - Morocco

Club: Fiorentina

Amrabat has been like N'Golo Kante at this World Cup because of his endless energy and ability appear almost anywhere on the pitch to make a crucial intervention. His presence in front of the Morocco defence and work rate off the ball were crucial to Morocco reaching the semi finals and his strong performances at these finals have already got Liverpool interested.

2. Kylian Mbappe - France

Club: PSG

Mbappe won the golden boot with 8 goals as France nearly went all the way. He's caused full backs all kinds of problems with his pace and change of direction alongside the goals he's scored and he is no doubt the next in the line to replace Lionel Messi as the best player in the world.

1. Lionel Messi - Argentina

Club: PSG

Messi finally fulfilled his dream in winning the World Cup for Argentina and he did it in some style. He provided many moments of magic when his team were in need of them and continued to dominate games like he has done right throughout his career. He's surely now the greatest player of all time now he's won the main trophy.