Ranking the best 25 players at the 2026 World Cup

The World Cup is about stars, and this tournament will have no shortage of them.

Four years ago, Lionel Messi stamped his authority on the tournament by leading Argentina to glory, winning the Golden Ball in the process.

Messi will return this time around, but he’ll be challenged by an array of talent from across the globe.

Below, we’ve ranked the best 25 players at the 2026 World Cup:

<1 / 19

<2 / 19

<3 / 19

<4 / 19

<5 / 19

<6 / 19

<7 / 19

<8 / 19

<9 / 19

<10 / 19

<11 / 19

<12 / 19

<13 / 19

<14 / 19

<15 / 19

<16 / 19

<17 / 19

<18 / 19

<19 / 19

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Messi, at almost 39, is not the player he once was. But the 2022 World Cup winner is still an undeniable force, winning back-to-back MLS MVP awards with Inter Miami. He is set to once again play a starring role for Argentina at a World Cup — his sixth.
– Morocco, right back

The PSG defender is widely regarded as the best right back in the world and at 27, he comes into this World Cup smack dab in his prime. Hakimi’s pace and crossing ability make him a huge weapon for Morocco, which became the first African side to reach a World Cup semifinal in 2022.

Something of a late bloomer, Semenyo toiled in the lower leagues in England before becoming a Premier League star with Bournemouth. The winger earned a big-money move to Manchester City, where he became an instant hit. Semenyo played a reserve role for Ghana at the 2022 World Cup, but he’ll be front and center this time around.

Few defenders in world soccer are more highly regarded than Saliba, with the possible exception of his Arsenal teammate Gabriel Magalhães. Saliba had some growing pains early in his career but has developed into one of the world’s best center backs thanks to his combination of size, pace and composure on the ball.
– Portugal, left back

If Hakimi is the world’s best right back, then his PSG teammate Nuno Mendes is probably the top left back in the game. The 23-year-old is a dynamic dribbler with speed to burn and handles his defensive duties with aplomb.
– England, midfielder

Bellingham likely would have been higher on this list a year ago, but a subpar season with Real Madrid has seen the midfielder’s stock dip just a bit. Still, at 22, Bellingham has already been named player of the year in the Bundesliga and La Liga, and his two-way ability will be crucial for England this summer.

France is so stacked in attack that Doué might be the one player on this list who isn’t even a starter. But that is no shade on the 21-year-old PSG winger, who announced himself to the world with two goals and an assist in last year’s Champions League final.

Neves has become a fixture for PSG and Portugal at the base of center midfield. The 21-year-old isn’t physically imposing, but uses his immaculate vision and technical ability to control games.
– Brazil, winger

Raphinha’s glow-up over the past few years has been remarkable. The attacker has become a star at Leeds to one of the best players in La Liga for Barcelona and a fixture for Brazil. His versatility and eye for goal make him just as important to Brazil as his more heralded teammate Vinicius Jr.
– Spain, midfielder

A technical wizard in the mold of Barcelona and Spain legends Xavi and Andres Iniesta, Pedri is carrying on their legacy while adding a bit of drive and bite as well. He’s suffered many injury issues in his young career, but Pedri enters this summer fit and firing.

When it comes to pace and trickery on the ball, there may be no better winger in the world than Doku. The knock on the 24-year-old had always been end product, but he’s started to refine that part of his game while becoming integral for Manchester City and Belgium.
– Argentina, forward

Alvarez had a breakout World Cup in 2022, helping Argentina lift the trophy. The Atlético Madrid forward will be crucial to his side’s title defense after establishing himself as one of the top forwards in the game with his scoring and work-rate.

As a center back, Gabriel is the full package. The 6-foot-3 defender has size, speed, strength, toughness and is a constant threat on set pieces. Brazil will need him at his best to claim its first title since 2002.

There is nothing Valverde can’t do as a central midfielder. He is a true box-to-box threat, using his endless work-rate and aggression to break up attacks. On the other end of the field, Valverde has an eye for the spectacular goal.

After establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s top players at Liverpool, Diaz moved to Bayern Munich and managed to find another level. The 29-year-old scored a career-best 26 goals across all competitions in his debut season with Bayern, and is Colombia’s best hope of a deep run at the World Cup thanks to his relentless dribbling and finishing ability.
– England, midfielder

The engine of England and Arsenal’s midfield, Rice is a box-to-box workhorse who controls the game with his passing and lets nothing by him defensively. The 27-year-old rarely misses games, and England will need him at his best if it wants to win its first World Cup since 1966.

Despite playing for one of the biggest clubs and countries in the world, Fernandes sometimes feels under-appreciated. That has changed a bit recently as he was named Premier League player of the season, breaking the league’s all-time single-season assist record with 21. Few, if any, players in the world can see and deliver a pass like Fernandes.
– Portugal, midfielder

Portugal’s midfield is so stacked that it lands three players on this list, with PSG maestro Vitinha coming in at number eight. With the ball at his feet, few are better than the 26-year-old, who has the vision, composure and technical quality to dominate games in the middle.

Will this be the moment Vinicius finally replicates his Real Madrid form with Brazil? An entire nation holds its breath. The 25-year-old has been one of the world’s top wingers for years but hasn’t managed to shine for his country like for his club. After another outstanding individual campaign for Madrid, Brazil fans hope that Carlo Ancelotti can coax the best from Vini like he did at Madrid.
– France, winger

Olise has taken his game to another level after joining Bayern Munich from Crystal Palace in 2024. The winger enters the World Cup after an incredible season where he tallied 22 goals and 26 assists across all competitions. Olise is a Golden Ball contender in his first World Cup.

A player like Haaland deserves to be in a World Cup, and the hulking striker will get his chance this summer. Haaland is a goal machine whether he’s with Norway or Manchester City, tallying 160 goals in his first four seasons with City and with 55 goals in 49 appearances for Norway.
– France, winger

The reigning Ballon d’Or winner was named Ligue 1 player of the season for the second consecutive year, despite starting just 11 games. Now fully healthy, Dembele will aim for his second World Cup and third final all before turning 30.
– England, forward

Kane is in the form of his life at age 32, scoring an incredible 61 goals with Bayern Munich this past season. Somehow he has managed to raise his already-high standards and will be England’s biggest hope of ending a 60-year World Cup drought this summer.
– Spain, winger

Yamal can do anything on the right wing. The teenager can beat his man, cut in and shoot, play the perfect pass or simply keep the ball by mesmerizing defenders with his array of skills. The only thing that can slow Yamal down at his first World Cup is a hamstring injury, but he is trending in the right direction. Defenses beware.
– France, forward

It hasn’t been easy for Mbappe in his first two years at Madrid — at least on the team side. But the forward has a ridiculous 86 goals over two seasons, proving he is still the most dangerous attacking player alive. At just 27, he could set the all-time World Cup record for goals with five at this tournament. For a player like Mbappe, that might be a low bar to clear.

The U.S. men’s national team World Cup roster is out, for real this time. Three days after the team’s squad was fully leaked, USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino officially revealed his 26-man roster for the 2026 tournament on Tuesday, May 26. The release confirmed the leak was, in fact, accurate, as the 26 names matched the 26 The Guardian first reported over the weekend. The names didn’t feature too many surprises, though there were still one or two decisions that could be characterized as head-scratching. “We are confident this is the best group of 26 players to help us achieve success at the World Cup,” Pochettino said. See who made the team:

Christian Pulisic, attacking midfielder/winger

<1 / 26

The U.S. men’s national team World Cup roster is out, for real this time. Three days after the team’s squad was fully leaked, USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino officially revealed his 26-man roster for the 2026 tournament on Tuesday, May 26. The release confirmed the leak was, in fact, accurate, as the 26 names matched the 26 The Guardian first reported over the weekend. The names didn’t feature too many surprises, though there were still one or two decisions that could be characterized as head-scratching. “We are confident this is the best group of 26 players to help us achieve success at the World Cup,” Pochettino said. See who made the team:

Christian Pulisic, attacking midfielder/winger

<2 / 26

<3 / 26

<4 / 26

<5 / 26

<6 / 26

<7 / 26

<8 / 26

<9 / 26

<10 / 26

<11 / 26

<12 / 26

<13 / 26

<14 / 26

<15 / 26

<16 / 26

<17 / 26

<18 / 26

<19 / 26

<20 / 26

<21 / 26

<22 / 26

<23 / 26

<24 / 26

<25 / 26

<26 / 26

For the latest news, results and behind-the-scenes info from the 2026 World Cup, subscribe to USA TODAY’s newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Top 25 players at 2026 World Cup ranked