Top 20 Players of the 2026 World Cup
- jonjoward1998
- Jul 23
- 5 min read
The 2026 World Cup came to an end on Sunday and it was a tournament that produced many great moments and saw many of the world's best players light up the world stage. It also saw new stars emerge both young and unheard.
Now it's time for me to tank my top 20 players of the tournament.
Brahim Diaz - Morocco
POSITION: Winger
CLUB: Real Madrid
Diaz was Morocco's main man at this World Cup as he registered 4 assists to help them reach the Quarter Finals. He brought both flair and quality to Morocco's attack and he'll now be looking to break into the Real Madrid team next season.
Julian Quinones - Mexico
POSITION: Winger
CLUB: Al-Qadsiah
Quinones scored the opening goal of the tourament against South Africa and kept on delivering for the rest of the tournament. He was arguably Mexico's main man at this tournament as he scored 4 goals to help them reach the last 16 with most of them being crucial.
Orjan Nyland - Norway
POSITION: Goalkeeper
CLUB: Free Agent
Nyland was a solid presence between the sticks all tournament for Norway as he made a lot of important saves to keep his team in games. His best game of the tournament without a doubt came in the last 16 against Brazil as he saved a Bruno Guimaraes penalty made a number of crucial and quality saves to keep Norway in the game.
Elliot Anderson - England
POSITION: Midfielder
Club: Man City
Anderson made that no.6 spot in the England team his own at this World Cup by winning the ball back countless times for his team. He was one of England's most consistent players at this World Cup and is set to hold that no.6 spot for a good number of years.
Martin Odegaard - Norway
POSITION: Midfielder
CLUB: Arsenal
Odegaard was Norway's chief creator at this tournament as he registered 4 assists to help them reach the Quarter Finals. He was at the heart of everything Norway did going forward and Arsenal will want him to bring this form with him into next season.
Mikel Oyarzabal - Spain
POSITION: Forward
CLUB: Real Sociedad
Oyarzabal came into this form in brilliant form and he kept it up right throughout the tournament as he scored 4 goals. His goals played a key role in Spain going all the way as he stepped up as their no.9 and became one of their most important players at this tournament.
Fabian Ruiz - Spain
POSITION: Midfielder
CLUB: PSG
Ruiz played another starring role for Spain at this tournament by scoring 2 goals and putting in some good performances in the midfield. Spain have never lost a game when he's been in the side which shows how important a player he is for them.
Pedro Porro - Spain
POSITION: Right Back
CLUB: Tottenham
Porro was a completely different player at this tournament to the one he was at Spurs last season as he became one of Spain's standout performers. He made vital contributions at both ends of the pitch in making important defensive interventions and popping up with 2 crucial goals.
Dayot Upamecano - France
POSITION: Centre Back
CLUB: Bayern Munich
Upamecano was solid at the back all tournament as France had one of the best defences up until the semi finals. His important interventions both physically and aerially played a key role in France having a strong defence and finished 4th.
Marc Cucurella - Spain
POSITION: Left Back
CLUB: Real Madrid
After starring at the Euros two years ago, Cucurella once again played a starring role for Spain at this World Cup as Spain went all the way. He made crucial contributions at both ends of the pitch and all them played a key role in Spain winning the tournament.
Ousmane Dembele - France
POSITION: Forward
CLUB: PSG
Dembele scored 6 goals at this tournament as France finished 4th with three of them coming against Norway during the group stages. He was an important part of an exciting France attack with the goals he scored and the overall performances he put in over the course of the tournament.
Unai Simon - Spain
POSITION: Goalkeeper
CLUB: Athletic Bilbao
Simon won the golden glove award as he conceded just one goal across the entire tournament. He was helped out by having a solid defence in front of him, but when he was called upon he stepped up by making important and crucial saves to hep Spain go all the way.
Harry Kane - England
POSITION: Striker
CLUB: Bayern Munich
Kane scored 6 goals at this tournament and all of them were important as England finished 3rd. He always stepped up when his team needed someone to and without him England might not have gone as far as they did.
Erling Haaland - Norway
POSITION: Striker
CLUB: Man City
Haaland scored 7 goals in his first major tournament with Norway as they reached the Quarter Finals at their first World Cup since 1998. His goals definitely proved to be the difference as all of them were key to Norway reaching the Quarter Finals.
Pau Cubarsi - Spain
POSITION: Centre Back
CLUB: Barcelona
Cubarsi is already looking like a quality defender at the age of just 19 and was the deserved winner of the young player of the tournament award. He was calm and composed at the back all tournament and played a key role in Spain having such a good defensive record.
Michael Olise - France
POSITION: Winger
CLUB: Bayern Munich
Olise carried his club form into this tournament as he registered 7 assists which is more than any other player at a single World Cup. He was at the heart of everything France did in attack with his ball carrying skills and ability to create chances for his teammates.
Jude Bellingham - England
POSITION: Midfielder
CLUB: Real Madrid
Bellingham stepped up whenever England needed someone to as he dragged them over the line at times including the Quarter Final against Norway. He scored 7 goals at this tournament which is more than any England player at a World Cup and showed why he deserved to start after an injury hit season at Real Madrid.
Kylian Mbappe - France
POSITION: Forward
CLUB: Real Madrid
Mbappe lit up the World Cup once again as he bagged himself another golden boot to become the first player to win the award twice. He scored 10 goals as France finished 4th and became both France's record goal scorer and the World Cup record goal scorer on the way.
Rodri - Spain
POSITION: Midfielder
CLUB: Man City
Rodri was back to his best at this tournament by dictating and controlling games from midfield as Spain went all the way. He was brilliant without the ball as well as he got back to make key interventions and sniff out danger when his team needed him to. His work both in and out of possession was crucial to Spain winning the tournament.
Lionel Messi - Argentina
POSITION: Forward
CLUB: Inter Miami
Messi was as brilliant as he always has been at this World Cup as he continued to provide moments of brilliance when his team needed them. He also scored 8 goals as Argentina went all the way to the final and he very much carried them there on his own.
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