Harry Kane just keeps scoring: World Cup Group L best player rankings

The final foursome of the opening round of the World Cup, Group L, might deliver some of the best early games of the tournament with the likes of England, Croatia, Panama, and Ghana.

But who is truly the best player in Group L?

As we’ve done with each of the other 11 groups, it’s time to pick the podium of the best three players heading into the greatest road trip across North America in history this summer.

Declan Rice of Arsenal celebrates progressing to the final of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 after the team’s victory in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final Second Leg match between Arsenal FC and Atletico de Madrid

It was a difficult choice between Rice and Real Madrid‘s Jude Bellingham for me, and though the latter has a higher ceiling, the engine of the team that just won the Premier League got my vote in the end. Rice is a machine that tirelessly cleans up the mistakes around the field, while also contributing offensively enough to make him dangerous on both ends. Rice is the type of player that sometimes is at his best when you never hear his name on broadcast, just dousing fires left and right on the field.

Take what I said about Rice and then double that for what Modrić means for the nation of Croatia. I don’t care if his season with AC Milan didn’t go well. It’s the World Cup, and Modrić has led Croatia to back-to-back semifinals, including a World Cup Final after beating England. This might be the last time we see the 40-year-old play professionally, and even if it’s down to his last breath, there’s a chance he can make a miracle happen.

Bologna FC 1909

Harry Kane simply scores goals. He is the best all-around striker in the sport today, and although someone like Erling Haaland might create more highlights, Kane is irreplaceable in his role for England. He has only continued his incredible scoring pace since leaving Tottenham to join Bayern Munich, and if England has any chance of winning the World Cup, Kane will need to at his absolute peak form. If this past campaign is any indication, Kane is up to the challenge.