Goalkeeper: Eloy Room (Curacao)
Like Vozinha for Cape Verde in round one, Room became hero in Curacao's historic draw against Ecuador. Made 15 saves, among highest in single World Cup match, excluding extra time. 37-year-old goalkeeper helped team win first World Cup point. Performance earned Room Player of Match, multiplied Instagram followers.
Goalkeeper: Eloy Room (Curacao)
Like Vozinha for Cape Verde in round one, Room became hero in Curacao's historic draw against Ecuador. Made 15 saves, among highest in single World Cup match, excluding extra time. 37-year-old goalkeeper helped team win first World Cup point. Performance earned Room Player of Match, multiplied Instagram followers.
Right-back: Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands)
Dumfries contributed heavily to Netherlands' 5-1 win over Sweden with two assists. Constantly pushed forward, provided width, frequently appeared in opponent's final third. Beyond attacking support, Dumfries made 8 successful defensive actions, rated 8.7 on Fotmob.
Right-back: Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands)
Dumfries contributed heavily to Netherlands' 5-1 win over Sweden with two assists. Constantly pushed forward, provided width, frequently appeared in opponent's final third. Beyond attacking support, Dumfries made 8 successful defensive actions, rated 8.7 on Fotmob.
Center-back: Ko Itakura (Japan)
Itakura defended well, contributed directly to both goals in Japan's win over Tunisia. Intercepted ball to start opening goal, assisted second. Center-back frequently pushed up, joined build-up, showed versatile role in Japan's tactics. Made 11 successful defensive actions, match highest.
Center-back: Ko Itakura (Japan)
Itakura defended well, contributed directly to both goals in Japan's win over Tunisia. Intercepted ball to start opening goal, assisted second. Center-back frequently pushed up, joined build-up, showed versatile role in Japan's tactics. Made 11 successful defensive actions, match highest.
Center-back: Shoja Khalilzadeh (Iran)
Khalilzadeh played excellently as Iran drew 0-0 with Belgium. Dominated aerial duels, made 14 clearances. Iranian center-back neutralized Romelu Lukaku, leaving striker with no clear chances. 37-year-old registered 21 defensive actions, highest in match. Solid performance helped Iran secure crucial point.
Center-back: Shoja Khalilzadeh (Iran)
Khalilzadeh played excellently as Iran drew 0-0 with Belgium. Dominated aerial duels, made 14 clearances. Iranian center-back neutralized Romelu Lukaku, leaving striker with no clear chances. 37-year-old registered 21 defensive actions, highest in match. Solid performance helped Iran secure crucial point.
Left-back: Keito Nakamura (Japan)
Playing as attacking wing-back, Nakamura was Japan's main outlet. Assisted one goal in win over Tunisia, carried ball forward from own half. Dribbling and quick transitions helped Japan maintain constant pressure on opponent defense. Performance helped Japan fans forget absence of Kaoru Mitoma.
Left-back: Keito Nakamura (Japan)
Playing as attacking wing-back, Nakamura was Japan's main outlet. Assisted one goal in win over Tunisia, carried ball forward from own half. Dribbling and quick transitions helped Japan maintain constant pressure on opponent defense. Performance helped Japan fans forget absence of Kaoru Mitoma.
Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands)
De Jong control tempo when Netherlands beat Sweden. He receive ball, pass, keep rhythm with short accurate passes. Midfielder play central role in ball movement, help Netherlands control game, build base for big win. 29-year-old player important, subbed out minute 59 when Netherlands lead by four.
Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands)
De Jong control tempo when Netherlands beat Sweden. He receive ball, pass, keep rhythm with short accurate passes. Midfielder play central role in ball movement, help Netherlands control game, build base for big win. 29-year-old player important, subbed out minute 59 when Netherlands lead by four.
Midfielder: Bruno Guimaraes (Brazil)
Guimaraes only Brazil representative in squad. He stand out with interceptions, reading game, help team control midfield against physical Haiti. Interceptions, good positioning limit opponent attacks. Still, 28-year-old midfielder no goal or assist in 3-0 win of Brazil.
Midfielder: Bruno Guimaraes (Brazil)
Guimaraes only Brazil representative in squad. He stand out with interceptions, reading game, help team control midfield against physical Haiti. Interceptions, good positioning limit opponent attacks. Still, 28-year-old midfielder no goal or assist in 3-0 win of Brazil.
Attacking Midfielder: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Messi rewrite World Cup history, raise goals to 18, become top scorer in tournament history. Against Austria, he miss penalty but score twice, create chances for teammates. Performance show Messi still center of Argentina play, score and playmake. All 5 Argentina goals in tournament scored by Messi. 39-year-old superstar only player in best XI for both first rounds.
Attacking Midfielder: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Messi rewrite World Cup history, raise goals to 18, become top scorer in tournament history. Against Austria, he miss penalty but score twice, create chances for teammates. Performance show Messi still center of Argentina play, score and playmake. All 5 Argentina goals in tournament scored by Messi. 39-year-old superstar only player in best XI for both first rounds.
Right Winger: Cody Gakpo (Netherlands)
Gakpo explode with two goals, one assist against Sweden. He trouble defense with speed, skill, clinical finishing. 27-year-old winger get 9.3 rating, highest of round.
Right Winger: Cody Gakpo (Netherlands)
Gakpo explode with two goals, one assist against Sweden. He trouble defense with speed, skill, clinical finishing. 27-year-old winger get 9.3 rating, highest of round.
Left Winger: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Ronaldo answer poor start with brace against Uzbekistan. He open score, active in attack, score both from open play. 41-year-old superstar get 9.1 rating, while Kylian Mbappe miss out despite 9.2 rating per Fotmob. Ronaldo also only player in worst XI of round one but picked for best XI of round two.
Left Winger: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Ronaldo answer poor start with brace against Uzbekistan. He open score, active in attack, score both from open play. 41-year-old superstar get 9.1 rating, while Kylian Mbappe miss out despite 9.2 rating per Fotmob. Ronaldo also only player in worst XI of round one but picked for best XI of round two.
Striker: Deniz Undav (Germany)
Undav came off the bench and scored a brace in the second half, helping Germany secure a comeback victory over Ivory Coast. One of the two goals was scored in stoppage time, showing his ability to capitalize on chances at crucial moments. Undav's presence made Germany's attack sharper, especially in the penalty area.
To be selected for this lineup, Undav surpassed many other center-forwards who also impressed in the second round, such as Erling Haaland, Ayase Ueda, and Mikel Oyarzabal. Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku was named in the worst lineup of the second round, alongside Muslera, Posch, Lindelof, Koulibaly, Al-Amin, Valverde, Arda Guler, Almiron, Gordon, and Enner Valencia.
Center-forward: Deniz Undav (Germany)
Undav came off the bench and scored a brace in the second half, helping Germany secure a comeback victory over Ivory Coast. One of the two goals was scored in stoppage time, showing his ability to capitalize on chances at crucial moments. Undav's presence made Germany's attack sharper, especially in the penalty area.
To be selected for this lineup, Undav surpassed many other center-forwards who also impressed in the second round, such as Erling Haaland, Ayase Ueda, and Mikel Oyarzabal. Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku was named in the worst lineup of the second round, alongside Muslera, Posch, Lindelof, Koulibaly, Al-Amin, Valverde, Arda Guler, Almiron, Gordon, and Enner Valencia.