Messi, Mbappe, Haaland make World Cup group stage best XI
Messi, Mbappe, Haaland, Vinicius Junior make World Cup 2026 group stage best XI, per Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte.
Goalkeeper: Raul Rangel (Mexico)
Mexican keeper keep clean sheet all three group matches, help host top group. Mexico only team win all group games without conceding. Rangel key moment: crucial save against South Korea to secure 1-0 win. Experts praise 26-year-old reflexes, aerial stability.
Goalkeeper: Raul Rangel (Mexico)
Mexican keeper keep clean sheet all three group matches, help host top group. Mexico only team win all group games without conceding. Rangel key moment: crucial save against South Korea to secure 1-0 win. Experts praise 26-year-old reflexes, aerial stability.
Right-back: Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands)
Dumfries excel in attack. Assist two goals in big win over Sweden, play active against Japan, underperform only against Tunisia. After three rounds, Inter Milan defender among top chance creators (4). Other candidate: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), second-highest chance creator in group stage (11), behind Leandro Trossard (13).
Right-back: Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands)
Dumfries excel in attack. Assist two goals in big win over Sweden, play active against Japan, underperform only against Tunisia. After three rounds, Inter Milan defender among top chance creators (4). Other candidate: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), second-highest chance creator in group stage (11), behind Leandro Trossard (13).
Center-back: Diney Borges (Cape Verde)
Borges big discovery in group stage. Cape Verde center-back play great against Spain, stay solid against Saudi Arabia, help African team reach first-ever World Cup knockout stage. Average rating 7.56, 13th among group stage center-backs, per Fotmob. Experts rate 31-year-old aerial, duel ability among tournament best.
Center-back: Diney Borges (Cape Verde)
Borges big discovery in group stage. Cape Verde center-back play great against Spain, stay solid against Saudi Arabia, help African team reach first-ever World Cup knockout stage. Average rating 7.56, 13th among group stage center-backs, per Fotmob. Experts rate 31-year-old aerial, duel ability among tournament best.
Center-back: Davinson Sanchez (Colombia)
Sanchez lead Colombia defense, star against DR Congo, Portugal. Almost score winner against Portugal, ruled out for tight offside. Colombia concede only one goal in three games; Sanchez key to South American side success. Rated 7.51, 16th among group stage center-backs, per Fotmob.
Center-back: Davinson Sanchez (Colombia)
Sanchez lead Colombia defense, star against DR Congo, Portugal. Almost score winner against Portugal, ruled out for tight offside. Colombia concede only one goal in three games; Sanchez key to South American side success. Rated 7.51, 16th among group stage center-backs, per Fotmob.
Left-back: Keito Nakamura (Japan)
Play as left winger, Nakamura impress with work rate. Score against Netherlands, star against Tunisia. Speed, wing threat make Nakamura most effective winger in group stage. Rate 7.82, eighth among group stage wingers. Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal) lead with 8.47 but play only 40 minutes; Nakamura start all three games.
Left-back: Keito Nakamura (Japan)
Used as left winger, Nakamura impress with work rate. He score against Netherlands, then play well against Tunisia. Speed and wing play make Nakamura most effective winger in group stage. With 7.82 points, he rank eighth among wingers in group stage. Top is Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal) with 8.47 points. However, Ndiaye play only 40 minutes total, while Nakamura start all three matches.
Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands)
De Jong is center of Netherlands play, team win two and draw one in group stage. Barca midfielder control tempo, pass well, stand out in win against Sweden and draw with Japan. With 7.57 points, he rank 20th among central midfielders. But De Jong role hard to judge by points and stats.
Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands)
De Jong is center of Netherlands play, team win two and draw one in group stage. Barca midfielder control tempo, pass well, stand out in win against Sweden and draw with Japan. With 7.57 points, he rank 20th among central midfielders. But De Jong role hard to judge by points and stats.
Midfielder: Gustavo Puerta (Colombia)
Puerta take starting spot from Richard Rios, quickly prove coach Nestor Lorenzo right. 22-year-old midfielder run wide, carry ball up, have dangerous long shots. His form is big surprise for Colombia - team top Group K with two wins, one draw.
Midfielder: Gustavo Puerta (Colombia)
Puerta take starting spot from Richard Rios, quickly prove coach Nestor Lorenzo right. 22-year-old midfielder run wide, carry ball up, have dangerous long shots. His form is big surprise for Colombia - team top Group K with two wins, one draw.
Midfielder: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Messi is best player in group stage. Argentina captain score six goals in three matches, lead goal list, set record for most World Cup goals (19). He also become first player to score in seven straight World Cup matches. Though play only 30 minutes in last match against Jordan, Messi still score great free kick, show total influence on Argentina play.
Midfielder: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Messi is best player in group stage. Argentina captain score six goals in three matches, lead goal list, set record for most World Cup goals (19). He also become first player to score in seven straight World Cup matches. Though play only 30 minutes in last match against Jordan, Messi still score great free kick, show total influence on Argentina play.
Forward: Vinicius Junior (Brazil)
Vinicius involve in five of seven Brazil goals in group stage. Real Madrid forward make difference with speed, dribbling, key plays in final third. Like Messi, Vinicius score in all three group matches. In past, when Brazil player do this, team win cup, latest Ronaldo Nazario in 2002.
Forward: Vinicius Junior (Brazil)
Vinicius involve in five of seven Brazil goals in group stage. Real Madrid forward make difference with speed, dribbling, key plays in final third. Like Messi, Vinicius score in all three group matches. In past, when Brazil player do this, team win cup, latest Ronaldo Nazario in 2002.
Forward: Kylian Mbappe (France)
Mbappe show World Cup is his stage. He score brace against Senegal, repeat against Iraq, play well against Norway with two assists. He end group stage with six goal involvements, same as Messi.
After three World Cups, France forward score 16 goals, equal Miroslav Klose record. According to BBC journalist Neil Johnston, Mbappe is best player in group stage, not Messi.
Forward: Kylian Mbappe (France)
Mbappe show World Cup is his stage. He score brace against Senegal, repeat against Iraq, play well against Norway with two assists. He end group stage with six goal involvements, same as Messi.
After three World Cups, France forward score 16 goals, equal Miroslav Klose record. According to BBC journalist Neil Johnston, Mbappe is best player in group stage, not Messi.
Forward: Erling Haaland (Norway)
Haaland score four goals in first two matches, help Norway advance early, rest in last match against France. He get 9.11 points, highest in tournament, per Fotmob stats. Mbappe (8.99) and Messi (8.67) follow. Haaland spot could go to others like Ousmane Dembele or Harry Kane.
Same time, Brazil newspaper pick worst group stage team, with 11 players: Muslera, Sulaka, Khusanov, Shkiri, Robertson, Calhanoglu, Valverde, McTominay, Sane, Son Heung-min, Enner Valencia.
Forward: Erling Haaland (Norway)
Haaland score four goals in first two matches. Help Norway qualify early, rest final match against France. Get 9.11 rating, highest in tournament, per Fotmob stats. Mbappe (8.99) and Messi (8.67) follow. Haaland position replaceable by players like Ousmane Dembele or Harry Kane.
Same time, Brazilian newspaper select worst group stage lineup. 11 players: Muslera, Sulaka, Khusanov, Shkiri, Robertson, Calhanoglu, Valverde, McTominay, Sane, Son Heung-min, Enner Valencia.