# The 17 Best Players at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

> Seasoned captains and teenage breakout stars shared the same stage this summer, from golden-boot chases to a final decided in extra time. Who was the tournament's true standout?

*By YPB Team · Published July 21, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-17-best-players-at-the-2026-fifa-world-cup*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Kylian Mbappe** — score 1000/1000
   France striker who won the adidas Golden Boot with 10 goals, becoming back-to-back top scorer.
2. **Ousmane Dembele** — score 551/1000
   France forward who scored a group-stage hat-trick and added more goals through the knockouts.
3. **Lionel Messi** — score 494/1000
   Argentina's captain who scored 8 goals and led his side to the 2026 final at age 39.
4. **Unai Simon** — score 494/1000
   Spain's goalkeeper who won the Golden Glove with seven clean sheets.
5. **Marc Cucurella** — score 494/1000
   Spain's attacking left-back who earned a place in most pundits' Team of the Tournament.
6. **Harry Kane** — score 494/1000
   England captain and striker who scored 6 goals during the tournament.
7. **Ferran Torres** — score 428/1000
   Spain forward whose extra-time substitute goal won the 2026 World Cup final.
8. **Pedro Porro** — score 428/1000
   Spain's marauding right wing-back who was one of the tournament's standout defenders.
9. **Enzo Fernandez** — score 350/1000
   Argentina's box-to-box midfielder who anchored the run to the final alongside Messi.
10. **Rodri** — score 350/1000
   Spain's midfield anchor who won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best overall player.
11. **Lamine Yamal** — score 257/1000
   Spain's teenage winger widely rated the tournament's most dangerous dribbler.
12. **Denis Undav** — score 257/1000
   Germany forward who emerged as a surprise Golden Boot contender during the tournament.
13. **Cristiano Ronaldo** — score 257/1000
   Portugal's veteran forward who scored 3 goals in his record-setting final World Cup appearance.
14. **Erling Haaland** — score 257/1000
   Norway's striker who scored 7 goals in his first-ever World Cup appearance.
15. **Pedri** — score 257/1000
   Spain's composed deep-lying playmaker who controlled tempo throughout the run to the title.
16. **Jude Bellingham** — score 143/1000
   England midfielder who scored 7 goals, including in the third-place playoff.
17. **Pau Cubarsi** — score 143/1000
   Spain's 19-year-old defender who won the Young Player of the Tournament award.

Tags: football, players, world cup, 2026