With England, Croatia, Panama, and Ghana part of World Cup Group L, the best-player rankings heading into the tournament put Harry Kane at No. 1, followed by Declan Rice and Luka Modrić.
The next time the ball gets knocked loose in World Cup Group L, expect attention to land on the front line—because the opening-round best-player rankings heading into the tournament have left no doubt about who should be hardest to stop.
England. Croatia. Panama. and Ghana make up Group L. and in the run-up to the games. the podium for the group’s top players is set. Declan Rice of England and Arsenal comes in at No. 3, Luka Modrić of Croatia and AC Milan holds the No. 2 spot, and Harry Kane—listed with England and Bayern Munich—lands at No. 1.
Rice’s case is built on reliability and two-way impact. The ranking frames him as a player who “tirelessly cleans up the mistakes around the field. ” while still contributing offensively enough to be dangerous on both ends. The description also leans into the quiet kind of influence—someone whose best work can be happening even when he barely registers on the broadcast.
Modrić’s placement carries a different kind of weight. The ranking acknowledges that his season with AC Milan “didn’t go well. ” but treats the World Cup as its own measuring stick. It points to what he’s already done at the tournament level. saying he has led Croatia to back-to-back semifinals. including a World Cup Final after beating England. The ranking also adds a personal edge to the decision. suggesting that this could be the last time the 40-year-old plays professionally and leaving open the possibility of “a miracle” even if he’s down to the final stretch of his career.
Kane’s turn at the top is simpler and more forceful: he is described as a scorer who “simply scores goals. ” and as “the best all-around striker in the sport today.” The ranking doesn’t deny that another forward—Erling Haaland—might produce more highlights. but it draws a clear line between highlight creation and the role Kane fills for England.
It notes that Kane has kept up his scoring pace since leaving Tottenham to join Bayern Munich, and it makes the World Cup dependency plain: if England has any chance of winning the tournament, Kane “will need to at his absolute peak form.”
World Cup Group L Harry Kane England Bayern Munich Declan Rice Arsenal Luka Modrić Croatia AC Milan Panama Ghana
Kane being #1 is just obvious lol, he always shows up.
I’m confused why they’re talking about “reliability” like it’s a job interview. If Modric had a bad season with Milan shouldn’t he be lower? Also Panama getting ranked at all is kinda wild.
So what, England just wins because Kane cleans up mistakes? That sounds like he’s playing defense too, which I don’t think is his whole thing. And “last time” for Modric? I swear people say that every tournament. He’s 40 but somehow still running like nothing.
This list is dumb because Haaland would be scoring more… highlights or not. Like England can have “best all-around striker” but if they can’t beat Croatia then who cares. Also I keep thinking Ghana is gonna shock them and nobody talks about that, so this ranking feels backwards.