World Cup 2026 Player Ratings: Who's Shining, Who's Flopped?

The 2026 World Cup has delivered drama on an epic scale. With the quarter-finals upon us, we've seen enough football to separate the genuine stars from the costly disappointments. From a 39-year-old Lionel Messi rewriting the record books to entire nations packing their bags in embarrassment, here are our player ratings for the tournament so far.

The Superstars: 9/10 and Above

Lionel Messi (Argentina) — 10/10. What else is there to say? At 39, playing his club football in MLS, many wondered whether Messi had one more World Cup left in him. He's answered emphatically. A hat-trick against Algeria, a brace against Austria, and further goals against Cape Verde and Egypt have given him 8 goals — the most in the tournament. He surpassed Miroslav Klose's all-time record of 16 World Cup goals during the group stage and now sits on 21 career World Cup goals. He is the first player in history to score in seven successive World Cup matches.

Kylian Mbappé (France) — 9.5/10. Mbappé has had a goal involvement in every match France have played. Back-to-back braces against Senegal and Iraq powered Les Bleus to a perfect nine-point group sweep, and he added another in the Round of 16 win over Paraguay. He's on 7 goals and sits second on the all-time World Cup scorers list with 19 career goals, just two behind Messi.

Erling Haaland (Norway) — 9.5/10. The highest-rated player on WhoScored (8.52), Haaland has been an absolute force on his World Cup debut. Five goals in three group games were followed by a stunning brace against Brazil in the Round of 16, sending five-time champions home. His 7 goals have him level with Mbappé in the Golden Boot race.

The Stars Who've Delivered: 8/10

Jude Bellingham (England) — 8.5/10. After a gruelling season at Real Madrid, Bellingham has silenced any talk of fatigue. He scored in wins over Croatia and Panama, reached his 50th cap at just 22 against Ghana, and then produced a truly iconic performance against Mexico — two goals in 98 seconds at the Azteca, becoming the first player to score twice there in a World Cup match since Diego Maradona in 1986. His "foot of God" goal-line block later in the same match may be the moment of the tournament.

Harry Kane (England) — 8/10. Six goals and counting, including crucial strikes throughout the group stage and a penalty in the nervy 3-2 win over Mexico. The Bayern Munich striker is a genuine Golden Boot contender and has been the clinical finisher England needed.

Vinícius Jr (Brazil) — 8/10. Despite Brazil's disappointing early exit to Norway, Vinícius was one of few Seleção players who can hold their head high. He became only the fifth Brazilian to score in all three group matches — joining Jairzinho (1970), Romário (1994), Ronaldo and Rivaldo (both 2002).

Lamine Yamal (Spain) — 8/10. Returning from a hamstring injury that cut short his club season, Yamal lit up the tournament with his first World Cup goal against Saudi Arabia, becoming the second-youngest scorer in World Cup history behind Pelé. The 18-year-old then helped Spain beat Austria 3-0 and was instrumental in the 1-0 Round of 16 victory over Portugal that ended Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup dream.

The Unsung Heroes: 7/10

Not every top performance comes from a household name. These players have punched well above their weight:

Vozinha (Cape Verde) — 9/10. The 40-year-old goalkeeper became the story of the group stage when he kept Spain scoreless in a 0-0 draw, making seven saves. On Cape Verde's first-ever World Cup appearance, Vozinha was nothing short of heroic.

Lisandro Martínez (Argentina) — 7.5/10. Quiet but brilliant. His WhoScored rating of 7.82 reflects consistent defensive excellence and he even chipped in with a goal against Cape Verde.

Julián Quiñones (Mexico) — 7.5/10. Three goals and one assist powered the co-hosts through the group stage, giving the home fans plenty to cheer before England ended their run.

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) — 7.5/10. The Atlas Lions captain led from the front, scoring a goal and setting up another in a 4-2 comeback against Haiti. Morocco topped their group with seven points and beat Canada 3-0 in the Round of 16.

The Disappointments: 5/10 and Below

Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) — 4/10. One of the few survivors from Belgium's "golden generation," Lukaku has looked a shadow of his Napoli form. His movement has been sluggish and his finishing wayward at the moments that mattered most.

Ferran Torres (Spain) — 4/10. Dispossessed four times and lost eight duels in the 0-0 draw against Cape Verde. A 4.93 WhoScored rating in that match tells its own story. Spain have succeeded in spite of Torres, not because of him.

Son Heung-Min (South Korea) — 3.5/10. South Korea's talisman was benched for the decisive group match against South Africa — a 1-0 loss that sent them home. Whether through form or fitness, Son simply hasn't been at it.

Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) — 4/10. Did not register a single touch of the ball in the opening 31 minutes against Cape Verde — the first time any player has done this in a World Cup match since records began in 1966. An extraordinary statistic for a starting international footballer.

The Biggest Team Failures

It's not just individuals who've underperformed. Some entire squads have left their fans bewildered:

Türkiye deserve a special mention. Tipped as dark horses after reaching the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, they fired 62 shots in two matches and scored precisely zero goals — more than half their attempts from outside the box. They were eliminated before their final group game even kicked off.

The Golden Boot Race Heats Up

With the quarter-finals about to begin, the battle for the Golden Boot is shaping up to be one of the greatest in World Cup history. Messi leads on 8, with Mbappé and Haaland breathing down his neck on 7. Kane sits on 6. If two players finish level, the award goes to the player with the most assists — and if that's equal, to whoever achieved their tally in fewer minutes.

The fact that three former Golden Boot winners (Mbappé, Kane, and James Rodríguez) are still in the running adds another layer of intrigue. No player has ever won the award twice.

What Happens Next?

The quarter-finals promise blockbuster matchups. Haaland faces familiar Premier League foes in England. France and Morocco replay their 2022 semi-final. Spain, Argentina, and Belgium are all still standing. With four matches left before the final at MetLife Stadium on 19 July, there's still time for the floppers to redeem themselves — and for the stars to cement their legacy.

One thing is certain: this World Cup won't be short on storylines.

Sources

This post was researched using the following sources:

• GiveMeSport — 30 Best Players at 2026 World Cup Based on Stats
• 365Scores — Top 15 Most Disappointing Players of the 2026 World Cup
• Sky Sports — World Cup 2026 Golden Boot Race
• ESPN — World Cup Grades for Every Eliminated Team
• Opta Analyst — World Cup 2026 Best XI From the Group Stage
• FOX Sports — World Cup Best XIs
• Al Jazeera — Who Is Leading the Race for the Golden Boot Award?
• ESPN — 2026 World Cup Stats: Bellingham First Since Maradona

Cover image: Kylian Mbappé during France v Senegal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Bryan Berlin via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.