100 matches, 292 goals.This year's editon ranks highest on average goals per game at a #FIFAWorldCup since 1970! pic.twitter.com/aOfg41B1NG— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 14, 2026
Really good effort. Let's compare our 26-man squads after the final. That said, I can already tell you that Pedri would need to put in two Man of the Match performances in the semifinal and the final to make my squad. In my view, he's been one of the biggest disappointments of the tournament so far.
The Athletic have listed their top 50 of the tournament so far: 1. Messi 2. Mbappe 3. Bellingham 4. Kane 5. Haaland 6. Olise 7. Dembele 8. Hakimi 9. Vinicius 10. Laporte 11. Cubarsi 12. Upamecano 13. Saliba 14. Yamal 15. Saibari 16. Diogo Costa 17. Quinones 18. Rodri 19. Anderson 20. Oyarzabal 21. Rice 22. Trossard 23. Gordon 24. Alvarado 25. Pedri 26. Bruno Guimaraes 27. Ismaila Sarr 28. Balogun 29. Brahim Diaz 30. Porro 31. Luis Diaz 32. Schjelderup 33. Lisandro Martinez 34. Doue 35. Cucurella 36. Kobel 37. Odegaard 38. De Ketelaere 39. Rabiot 40. Mac Allister 41. Merino 42. Saka 43. Tielemans 44. Kimmich 45. Davinson Sanchez 46. Enzo Fernandez 47. Wirtz 48. Barcola 49. Diomande 50. Julian Alvarez
24. GHANA 6.00 Ati Zigi 6.00 Asare 5.50 Senaya 5.33 Partey 5.33 Adjetey 5.25 Opoku 5.25 G. Mensah 5.25 Fatawu 5.00 Semenyo 4.50 Luckassen 4.50 K. Sulemana 4.33 Caleb Yirenkyi 4.33 Nuamah 4.25 Sibo 4.00 E .Owusu 3.50 Thomas-Asante 3.50 J .Ayew 3.00 P. Adu 2.50 I. Williams +++ Asare +++ Ati Zigi +++ Senaya +++ Opoku +++ Adjetey ++ Liuckassen + Fatawu + G. Mensah xxx I .Williams xxx Semenyo x Sibo x J .Ayew X Seidu 23. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC CONGO 6.00 Mbemba 6.00 Cipenga 5.50 Wissa 5.50 Mpasi 5.50 Wan Bissaka 5.25 Tuanzebe 5.00 Elia 4.67 E. Kayembe 4.50 Mbuku 4.50 Masuaku 4.50 J. Kayembe 4.25 Sadiki 4.00 Kapuadi 4.00 Bakambu 4.00 Mukau 3.75 Moutousammy 3.50 Pickel 2.00 Bongonda +++ Cipenga +++ Mpasi ++ Mbemba ++ Wissa ++ Mbuku ++ Elia ++ Mayele + Wan Bissaka + E. Kayembe + Kapuadi xxx Bakambu xxx Bongonda xxx Banza xx Masuaku xx Motousammy xSadiki x Pickel x Mukau 22.AUSTRALIA 6.00 Beach 5.67 Volpato 5.25 Souttar 5.25 Bos 5.00 Irankunda 5.00 Circati 4.67 Okon-Engstler 4.67 Irvine 4.50 Metcalfe 4.50 Italiano 4.25 O' Neill 4.00 Behich 4.00 Hrustic 3.67 M. Toure 3.50 Geria 3.00 Herrington 2.50 Vellupilay 2.50 C. Burgess +++ Beach +++ Okon-Engstler + Volpato + Irankunda + Souttar + Metcalfe xxx C. Burgess xxx M. Toure xx Ryan x Vellupilay x Leckie x Irvine x Behich 21.JAPAN 6.00 K.Sano 5.75 K .Nakamura 5.75 J .Ito 5.75 Z. Suzuki 5.75 Maeda 5.50 Kamada 5.50 Itakura 5.33 Tomiyasu 5.33 Tanaka 5.25 Ueda 5.25 H. Ito 5.25 Sugawara 5.00 Taniguchi 4.50 Doan 4.00 Ogawa 4.00 Seko 3.50 Watanabe 3.00 Junnosuke Suzuki +++ J. Ito +++ K. Nakamura +++ Maeda ++ Tomiyasu + Seko + K. Sano + Z. Suzuki + Kamada xxx Doan xxx Watanabe x Junnosuke Suzuki x Yuito Suzuki x Ogawa x Goto x Kubo x Tanaka 20.CROATIA 6.25 Perisic 5.75 Livakovic 5.75 Baturina 5.50 Kovacic 5.50 P. Sucic 5.50 J. Sutalo 5.25 Modric 5.00 Vlasic 4.50 Marko Pasalic 4.50 Kramaric 4.33 Budimir 4.33 Matanovic 4.33 Mario Pasalic 4.25 Stanisic 4.00 P. Musa 3.67 Pongracic 3.50 Gvardiol +++ Livakovic +++ Perisic ++ Baturina ++ Kovacic ++ J. Sutalo ++ Marko Pasalic + P. Musa xxx Gvardiol xxx Vuskovic xxx Mario Pasalic xx Kramaric xx Stanisic xx Modric xx L. Sucic X Pongracic 19.IVORY COAST 6.50 Singo 6.25 Y. Diomande 6.00 Amad Diallo 6.00 Sangare 5.67 N. Pepe 5.33 G. Konan 5.33 G. Doue 5.25 Oulai 5.00 Y. Fofana 4.75 Kessie 4.67 Agbadou 4.50 Bonny 4.33 Kossonou 3.50 Seko Fofana 3.50 Baz.Toure 3.33 Wahi +++ Singo ++ N. Pepe ++ Sangare ++ Amad Diallo ++ G. Konan + Oulai xxx Wahi xxx Baz. Toure xxx Kossonou xxx Seko Fofana xxx Adingra x Kessie x Bonny x G .Doue x Y .Diomande x Agbadou 18.GERMANY 6.25 Undav 6.00 Brown 6.00 Wirtz 6.00 Musiala 5.75 F. Nmecha 5.50 Kimmich 5.50 Rudiger 5.50 Amiri 5.25 Havertz 5.00 Raum 4.50 Goretzka 4.50 N. Schlotterbeck 4.50 Neuer 4.25 Sane 4.25 Tah 4.25 Pavlovic 4.00 M. Thiaw +++ Undav +++ Brown + Amiri + F. Nmecha xxx Tah xxx Pavlovic xxx Neuer xxx Sane xx Raum xx Musiala xx Kimmich x N. Schlotterbeck x Woltemade x Beier x Havertz x Goretzka 17.NETHERLANDS 6.25 Summerville 6.00 Brobbey 6.00 de Jong 5.75 Dumfries 5.75 Verbruggen 5.75 van Hecke 5.50 Gakpo 5.50 van Dijk 5.50 Gravenberch 5.33 Rejinders 5.00 Malen 4.67 van de Ven 4.50 T. Koopmeiners 4.33 Depay 4.00 Ake 4.00 Q. Timber +++ Summerville +++ Brobbey ++ Verbruggen + van Hecke xxx Malen xx van de Ven xx van Dijk x J. Kluivert x Rejinders
16. PARAGUAY 6.00 Enciso 6.00 Gill 5.80 Gust. Gomez 5.50 Galarza 5.50 Mauricio 5.50 Canale 5.20 Cubas 5.00 Caceres 4.75 Junior Alonso 4.50 Alderete 4.50 Almiron 4.40 Velazquez 3.75. D. Gomez 3.33 Bobadilla 3.00 Avalos 3.00 Caballero 3.00 A. Arce 2.00 Sanabria +++ Canale +++ Galarza +++ Gill +++ Mauricio ++ Enciso ++ Cubas xxx D. Gomez xx Sanabria xx A. Arce xx Almiron xx Bobadilla x Alderete x Maidana x Caballero x Balbuena 15. EGYPT 6.00 Shobeir 6.00 Salah 5.50 Lasheen 5.40 Rabia 5.40 Attia 5.20 Ziko 5.20 Ashour 5.00 Haissem Hassan 5.00 Hafez 5.00 Trezeguet 5.00 Fathy 4.80 Hany 4.60 Yas. Ibrahim 4.40 Marmoush 4.00 Fatouh 3.50 Zizo 3.50 Abdelkarim +++ Shobeir +++ Haissem Hassan +++ Ziko ++ Lasheen ++ Ashour ++ Hafez + Abdelmagid + Salah + Attia + Rabia xxx Marmoush xxx Abdelmonem xxx Abdelkarim x Fatouh x Zizo x Yas. Ibrahim x Hany x Trezeguet x I. Adel 14. CANADA 6.20 Eustaquio 6.00 N. Saliba 5.50 I. Kone 5.40 Johnston 5.25 Larin 5.20 Laryea 5.00 J. David 5.00 L. Miller 5.00 de Fougerolles 5.00 Shaffelburg 4.75 Ahmed 4.60 Crepeau 4.50 Sigur 4.50 Cornelius 4.40 Oluwaseyi 4.00 Prom. David 3.67 Bombito +++ N. Saliba +++ Eustaquio ++ Prom. David ++ Larin ++ Shaffelburg ++ Johnston ++ Laryea + de Fougerolles + I. Kone +Sigur xxx Buchanan xx A. Davies xx Cornelius xx J. David x Bombito x Crepeau x Osorio x Ahmed x Oluwaseyi 13. USA 6.75 Tillman 6.00 McKennie 5.75 Balogun 5.50 Pulisic 5.25 Adams 5.25 Richards 5.20 Freeman 5.00 S. Belhalter 5.00 Dest 5.00 A. Robinson 5.00 Ream 4.50 G. Reyna 4.25 Pepi 4.25 Freese 4.00 Trusty 4.00 Scally 3.00 Weah +++ Tillman +++ Freeman ++ Balogun + G. Reyna + S. Belhalter + Trusty + Miles. Robinson xxx Weah xx Freese xx A. Robinson xx Ream xx Pepi x Richards x McKenzie x H. Wright x Scally x Zendejas 12 .PORTUGAL 6.40 Diogo Costa 6.40 Nuno Mendes 6.25 Leao 6.00 Joao Neves 6.00 B. Fernandes 5.75 R. Dias 5.67 Joao Felix 5.60 Cristiano Ronaldo 5.50 N. Semedo 5.40 R. Veiga 5.40 Joao Cancelo 5.40 Vitinha 5.00 F. Conceicao 5.00 Dalot 4.60 Neto 4.33 Bernardo Silva 3.50 Ruben Neves +++ Leao +++ Diogo Costa ++ R. Veiga + N. Semedo + Gonc. Ramos + Cristiano Ronaldo xxx Vitinha xxx B. Fernandes xxx Bernardo Silva xxx Ruben Neves xxx Neto xx Joao Cancelo xx Joao Neves xx Trincao xx T. Araujo 11. BRAZIL 7.00 Vinicius junior 6.00 Alisson 6.00 Bruno Guimaraes 6.00 Rayan 5.80 Gabriel Magalhaes 5.60 Matheus Cunha 5.60 Marquinhos 5.60 Douglas Santos 5.25 G. Martinelli 5.25 Lucas Pacqueta 5.20 Casemiro 5.00 Neymar 4.40 Danilo da Silva 4.33 Endrick 4.33 Danilo Santos 4.00 Raphinha 4.00 Fabinho 3.50 Ederson da Silva +++ Rayan ++ Douglas Santos ++ Vinicius junior ++ Matheus Cunha + Bruno Guimaraes + Alisson + G. Martinelli xxx Raphinha xxx Igor Thiago xx Gabriel Magalhaes xx Endrick xx Danilo da Silva xx Fabinho x Alex Sandro x Casemiro 10. COLOMBIA 6.60 D. Sanchez 6.40 G. Puerta 6.00 D. Munoz 5.75 J. Quintero 5.60 J .Arias 5.60 L. Diaz 5.50 J. Cordoba 5.25 Lucumi 5.20 James Rodriguez 5.20 Vargas 5.00 Campaz 4.80 Lerma 4.50 Mojica 4.40 Rios 4.00 L. Suarez 3.50 Cucho Hernandez +++ G. Puerta +++ D. Sanchez +++ Campaz +++ J. Quintero +++ S. Arias ++ J. Cordoba + Lucumi + James Rodriguez + J .Arias + D. Munoz + D. Machado xxx L. Suarez xxx Cucho Hernandez xxx Rios xxx L. Diaz x Lerma x Mojica x Vargas x Mina 9.MEXICO 7.00 Quinones 6.20 R. Alvarado 6.00 Lira 5.75 Vazquez 5.50 Jimenez 5.50 Mora 5.50 Romo 5.50 E. Alvarez 5.50 J. Sanchez 5.33 Fidalgo 5.25 C. Montes 5.20 Rangel 4.80 Gallardo 4.67 O .Vargas 4.50 I. Reyes 4.25 B. Gutierrez 4.00 S. Gimenez 4.00 Pineda +++ Quinones +++ R. Alvarado +++ M. Chavez +++ Lira + Rangel + J. Sanchez + Mora + Jimenez + Vazquez xxx Vega xxx Pineda xx Gallardo x B. Gutierrez x S. Gimenez x L .Chavez x I. Reyes
A fantastic performance by Spain. They are fearless. At it from the start to the end. Fine margins tho despite what people will probably say about France now. French players responded poorly to the resistance. That was disappointing. Spain broke their rythm and the spirit towards end, which was their only path to victory - to make French forwards uncomfortable and not let them play. Masterfully done by the whole Spanish team. They exploited French weaknesses - Digne and the left side. The Saliba's injury was a big part of the whole dynamic. Rodri was brilliant. He has been fantastic the whole tournament. His best ever international tournament. Not sure when was the last time a defensive midfielder was this good in national football. If Spain wins, he is the player of the tournament for me. Of course, Cucurella and Porro, what a performance and tournament for them. No other team has fullbacks at such a high level this tournament. The difference. Historic stuff from Spain.
8 MOROCCO 6.17 Bono 6.17 Hakimi 6.00 Ounahi 5.83 Mazraoui 5.80 Saibari 5.67 B .Diaz 5.67 El Khannouss 5.60 Bouaddi 5.50 Rahimi 5.50 Riad 5.33 E. Aynaoui 5.25 Talbi 5.20 Diop 5.00 Yassine 5.00 S. Amrabat 4.50 El Mourabet 4.25 Salah-Eddine 4.00 R. Halhal +++ Talbi +++ Bouaddi +++ Saibari ++ El Khannous ++ Mazraoui ++ Rahimi ++ Yassine ++ Bono+ Riad + Yassine + El Mourabet xxx El Kaabi x S Amrabat x Diop x Hakimi x Salah Eddine x El Ouahdi 7.SWITZERLAND 6.25 Manzambi 6.17 Kobel 5.83 Akanji 5.83. R. Rodriguez 5.75 Zakaria 5.67 Ndoye 5.60 Vargas 5.50 Xhaka 5.33 Embolo 5.33 Elvedi 5.00 Widmer 4.67 Amdouni 4.67 Freuler 4.33 Aebischer 4.25 Sow 4.00 Muheim 3.80 Rieder 3.50 Jashari +++ Manzambi +++ R. Rodriguez ++ Zakaria + Vargas + Kobel + Amdouni + Akanji + Embolo xxx Rieder xx Sow xx Jashari xx Freuler x Aebischer x Muheim x Comert 6. BELGIUM 6.33 Trossard 6.00 Tielemans 5.80 De Bruyne 5.67 Castagne 5.67 Lukebakio 5.50 Courtois 5.40 De Ketelaere 5.40 Lukaku 5.40 Vanaken 5.33 Meunier 5.17 De Cuyper 5.17 Mechele 5.00 Raskin 5.00 Ngoy 5.00 Doku 4.75 Onana 4.50 Saelemakers 3.67 Theate +++ Castagne +++ Trossard +++ Vanaken ++ Meunier ++ Raskin ++ Lukaku ++ Lukebakio ++ Seys ++ De Ketelaere + Moreira + Ngoy + De Cuyper + Mechele xxx Doku xx Onana xx Theate xx Witsel xx Lammens x De Bruyne x Fernandez Pardo x Saelemakers 5. NORWAY 7.00 Haaland 6.20 P. Berg 5.83 Schjelderup 5.80 Odegaard 5.60 Nyland 5.60 Berge 5.60 Bobb 5.33 Ostigaard 5.00 Nusa 5.00 Ryerson 4.80 Moller Wolfe 4.80 Heggem 4.75 Holmgren Pedersen 4.67 Aursnes 4.60 Ajer 4.60 Sorloth 3.50 Thorstvedt 3.00 Strand Larsen +++ P. Berg +++ Schjelderup +++ Haaland ++ Berge ++ Nyland + Holmgren Pedersen + Bobb + Aasgarad + Moller Wolfe xxx Sorloth xx Ryerson xx Ajer xx Bjorkan x Nusa x Hauge x Odegaard x Strand Larsen x Aursnes x Ostigaard
FRANCE vs SPAIN ** 0-2 Maignan 6, Kounde 6, Digne 4, UPAMECANO 7*, Saliba 6, Tchouameni 5, Rabiot 5, Dembele 5, Barcola 5, Olise 5, Mbappe 5 Subs: Lacroix 6, Kone 6, Doue 6, Hernandez, Cherki Simon 6, Porro 9, Cucurella 8, Laporte 8, Cubarsi 8, Ruiz 8, RODRI 9*, Yamal 6, Baena 6, Olmo 8, Oyarzabal 7 Subs: Torres, Pedri, Merino, Williams, Llorente MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: RODRI
It is a bit rushed analysis. Everyone can beat everyone on a given day, e.g., Spain beating France. I think what both teams have done previously is not the right way to think about future performances, because teams can and always do make adjustments for each game, especially due to previous performances. It is not possible to predict how they will show up in the match and which details will play an important role in how the match evolves, especially early on. What I think can be said based on profiles of the team is that neither team will come out firing on all cylinders from the first minute, so what I expect is a cautious, tough, gruelling war of attrition. Even that is not given. Not necessarily a clear-cut advantage for Argentina, but they are very familiar, and you can even say comfortable, in such matches. England has shown a strong mentality, attitude, and character so far in this tournament, but this is an area of the game that this Argentina team is built around. They faced adversity in this WC, in CONMEBOL qualifications, the last WC, etc. If it comes to an ugly back-and-forth game, where will and desire will prevail, I fancy Argentina's chances to see the finish line, because of the sheer experience they have in such games. England has started to show grit, while Argentina is the grit. This doesn't mean Argentina will 100% win if it comes to that dynamic, because everything can still happen, but we know that Argentina will not resign if they indeed suffer at any point in the match. Not sure about the England team tho. If Argentina loses, it will be strictly because England outplayed them or a few moments of brilliance that make a difference. Yet Argentina can genuinely outplay them. Several players have not been at their best in the last few matches, which, if it changes this time around, you will see a significant boost in their level of performance overall. They are not fundamentally, tactically broken team. Limited? Yes. But the limitation is almost irrelevant at their level, because you can find a way to hurt an opponent in many ways. It is impossible to tell which level of performance of the team and players we will see today.
Seeing the line-ups now. De Paul is benched. He is one of those players who were subpar in the last few matches. He started strongly against Algeria, but dipped in form as the tournament went on. Furthermore, Tuchel went for Spence in the left fullback position and Rogers at the right wing. A very defensive-minded approach by him I think.
England with another bottle job. How many times they have done that man (WC 18, euro 21, euro 24, WC 26) what an absolute bottlers the are. The Arsenal of international football
Was a nice time for the guy who someone here claims can’t cross with his right foot to win a game with a right-footed cross.
Messi is good at almost everything except Penalty and header(short size). Messi for me undisputed greatest of all time. He is ruthless.
George Orwell defines football as a phenomenon that takes on the emotional component of war. There is an enemy to defeat. There is glory for the winner and humiliation for the loser. And today, England has been humiliated by Argentina. Incidentally, at nearly 40 years old, Messi is the World Cup's top scorer and assist leader.