Lionel Messi Tops The Athletic's Best 50 Players List After World Cup Group Stage

Following the conclusion of the group stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, The Athletic updated its ranking of the top 50 players based solely on their performances during the tournament so far. This ranking does not consider players' pre-tournament reputations, past seasons, or historical achievements. Leading the list is Lionel Messi, the tournament's top scorer, followed by Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.

Notably, Laamin Yamal, who has struggled to regain his peak form from Barcelona due to an injury sustained early in the tournament, was ranked only 15th. The list includes a diverse group of players from various countries, with several French players such as Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise appearing in the top five, and other notable names like Harry Kane, Achraf Hakimi, and Erling Haaland also featured prominently.

The Athletic encourages fans to engage with their World Cup content through quizzes and prediction games, offering weekly prizes. The full ranking provides a snapshot of the players who have made the most impact during the group stage, setting the stage for the knockout rounds that are about to begin.