World Cup Top Performers So Far

Zak Drapeau
Jul 3
5 min read

by Zak Drapeau

Sportz Nation - 7/3/2026

Photo Credits to Vincent Carchietta via Reuters

Kylian Mbappe

France ST

Mbappe came into this World Cup with sky high expectations for him and his country and is already surpassing them. In 4 games, Mbappe has scored 3 braces (2 goals in 1 game), and tallied 2 assists in the other. As the Captain of the French squad who has pulled away as tournament favorites, Mbappe has not only led his team in scoring but has led his whole team to playing some of the best football in French history with their first 4 games leading to a combined 13-2 score line.

Erling Haaland

Norway ST

The Norwegian coach chose to rest Haaland for their huge Group matchup against France so we missed out on the two best strikers in the world doing battle which is even more of a shame considering the form they're both in. Mbappe may be a spectacular forward and Captain for France but no one in the world can be considered a better pure goal scorer than Haaland. Doing just as much with less of a team around him, Haaland has scored 5 goals in 3 games including the remarkable game winner against Ivory Coast to move on to the Round of 16. Their next matchup with Brazil will be Must See TV.

Harry Kane

England ST

If Haaland is the #1 goal scorer in the world right now, Kane is probably 1B. 5 Goals in 4 games doesn't quite do Kane justice for his performances in the World Cup which includes two, second half goals in their Round of 32 matchup with DR Congo to narrowly escape what would've been a huge upset. With the score tied 1-1 after his first goal, Kane battled a defender on the outside of the box and without looking at the net, fired the ball past the goalkeeper in the top right corner to drag England to the next round.

Photo Credits to Marcelo Endelli via Getty Images

Lionel Messi

Argentina FWD

Messi is not only tied with Mbappe with 6 goals so far in this World Cup but is averaging a goal every 33 minutes played. Now there is definitely an argument that Messi has faced some of the weakest teams to have made the tournament and that's why he's scored so often but let's also chalk it up to Messi being the best player ever and rising to the occasion once again in his country's World Cup championship defense.

Vinicius Jr.

Brazil LW

Brazil has started the 2026 World Cup a little shaky with a tie with Morocco and almost losing to Japan in the Round of 32 but Vinicius Jr. has almost single-handedly brought them to where they are. 4 goals and an assist in 3 Group Stage games easily had him toward the top of the Golden Boot list. Vini has done a lot more than just score though, he has been one of the best wingers in breaking inside the box of the whole tournament and even if he doesn't score or assist has been a huge part of almost every one of Brazil's 9 goals in this competition.

Photo Credits to David Martinez via Reuters

Ousmane Dembele

France RM

France may have Mbappe leading the charge but the reigning Ballon d'Or winner has been just as integral to their success. Dembele has yet to play an entire 90 minutes in this World Cup because manager Didier Deschamps wants to manage his conditioning after Dembele is quite literally running all over the pitch. Dembele's 6 points or 1 point every 47 minutes and first half hattrick against Norway doesn't tell the whole story. With 12 crosses, 2 tackles won, 10 shots and 124 passes completed while only averaging 71 minutes per game shows just how versatile Dembele has been and how important he is for the World Cup favorite's attack on the outside.

Michael Olise

France CAM

And speaking of France's midfield, if Dembele has been the heart France's penetration on the wing, Michael Olise has been the best distributor and midfielder for their country. Olise leads the entire tournament in assists with 5 and has done so while only averaging 76 minutes per game. Olise is making his first major starts on a international stage like this in the 2026 World Cup and has been money as their attacking midfielder with not only his huge assist count but with 12 crosses, 3 tackles won and 6 fouls drawn to completely flabbergast opposing midfielders and keep momentum with Les Bleus every chance he gets.

Rodri

Spanish CM

Spanish soccer has always been one of the slowest paced and as a result, highest-pass counting countries in world football but Rodri is taking that style to a whole other level. Rodri has completed 364 of 383 passes so far in 4 games for 95% and has more than 100 passes more than the next man. Rodri hasn't just been passing the ball back and forth though and has 11 tackles won and 3 interceptions too. Rodri is the heart of the Spanish game and has shown that he has just as much ability to control their defense as their offense.

Cesar Montes

Mexico CB

Montes may have been Red Carded and missed Mexico's 2nd World Cup group stage game but in his country's other 3 games he has been the anchor of their defense. A defense by the way that has arguably been the very best in World Cup so far and had a clean sheet in every game. Montes' presence, tackling, control and turnovers has stifled every team that's come across him and if his form continues it's going to continue to make Mexico's defense as one of the hardest to score on in the entire tournament.

Photo Credits to Eloisa Sanchez via Reuters

Achraf Hakimi

Morocco RB

Hakimi may be the most talented offensive defensemen in the entire world and is proving both abilities every chance he gets in the World Cup. Hakimi not only has 1 goal and 1 assist but has booted some of the more impressive crosses of the competition so far and completed 27 of them. He also has shined in his countries' biggest moments with a spectacular man of the match performance in their group stage draw with Brazil and a brilliant display of fullback defense in their intense, pk win against Netherlands.

Orlando Gill

Paraguay Goalie

I chose not to include several of Paraguay's back line even despite their incredible defensive stats because the real hero has been their keeper Orlando Gill. His country and himself were thrashed in their first group matchup with the USA when he surrendered 4 goals on 17 shots but since then has only allowed 1 goal on 62 shot in the last 3 games and was unbelievable during the upset shootout win with Germany that sent Paraguay to the next round. Gill has the most saves in the tournament so far with 24 and has been by far the best sweeper keeper with 219 actions on the ball.

Diogo Costa

Mexico Goalie

Costa wasn't on my list until just last night when Portugal came back to beat Croatia in extra time. Costa saved 6 of the Croatians' 7 shots on goal and made the net seem like it was 3 feet wide in one of the best single-goalkeeping performances of the World Cup. Not just a one game wonder, Costa has saved 15 of a possible 17 shots so far in the fixture and can easily be seen as Portugal's top player so far with their midfield and attack seemingly still finding their footing. While the rest of the team tries to step up their play for their upcoming clash with Spain, at least they know Costa will be in from.