Top 10 – With the World Cup already in the knockout stage, a standout list of players ranked through June 27 places Kylian Mbappé at No. 1—while Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and several less-heralded names surge into the spotlight.
When the World Cup shifts from group-stage rhythms to knockout stakes. it’s easy to assume the biggest names will simply steamroll the conversation. Through June 27, the scoreboard does point to stars—especially Kylian Mbappé. But the deeper story is how quickly the tournament has also made room for players most fans wouldn’t have been tracking until now.
Here are the top 10 players so far, with games through June 27.
At No. 10 is Deniz Undav of Germany. The striker is being framed as a feel-good story: he was working in a factory and playing in Germany’s fourth division before moving to Belgium and then Brighton in the English Premier League. where he struggled to find a consistent spot. A return to Germany reinvigorated his career at Stuttgart and earned him a place in the Germany team. He hasn’t started Germany’s first two games. but he has three goals and two assists so far in just 69 minutes played—part of it including the winner in injury time against Ivory Coast.
No. 9 goes to Ayyoub Bouaddi of Morocco. an 18-year-old central midfielder whose name many fans likely didn’t know before the tournament. His impact is described as immediate and commanding—especially in Morocco’s opening game against Brazil. where he “absolutely bossed the game” against a midfield that included Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes. The list also points to the question of how long he’ll stay in Ligue 1. with Lille described as linked to the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal.
No. 8 is Ismael Saibari of Morocco, with the emphasis placed on his finishing. He scored two standout goals against Brazil and Scotland, earning Man of the Match in both games. He added another goal in Morocco’s final group-stage match against Haiti. The 25-year-old forward has scored 26 times in the Eredivisie over the past two seasons. and Bayern Munich is described as having moved quickly to secure his services this summer.
At No. 7 is Vinicius Junior of Brazil. The list cautions that this isn’t a “vintage” Brazil team, but it argues the flair is still there. Vinicius Junior has four goals so far in the tournament, scoring in each of Brazil’s group-stage matches.
No. 6 features Spain’s Lamine Yamal. The Spanish team is described as looking lifeless without him during their first game—a drab 0-0 draw against Cape Verde—after he came on as a substitute in the 71st minute. Yamal has been nursing a hamstring injury. but after that start. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente put Yamal back into the starting lineup against Saudi Arabia. The result was swift: Spain were up 3-0 within the game’s first 25 minutes. and Yamal was described as being about to sit after halftime.
No. 5 lands on Folarin Balogun of the United States. The pitch here is personal and partisan, but grounded in match moments: Balogun helped the U.S. get off to a blazing start with two goals in the 4-1 win over Paraguay. and he also produced the run and dangerous ball into the box that turned into Australia’s own net for the American’s first goal in the 2-0 win over the Aussies. The list also notes he sat out the U.S.’s meaningless final group-stage match. With the striker market described as limited this summer. the implication is that Balogun will become one of the most sought-after forwards after the World Cup.
No. 4 is Michael Olise of France. The tournament’s headline-grabbers—Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé—are credited with the goals. but Olise is placed at the top through a different kind of impact: he shares the tournament lead with three assists. and the list insists the case doesn’t rest on numbers alone. It also includes a personal disclosure: Olise was listed as the pre-tournament Golden Ball pick. After a “monster season” at Bayern Munich, the write-up says he’s carried that form into the World Cup.
No. 3 is Erling Haaland of Norway. The argument is blunt: he scores—and keeps scoring. Haaland is described as having netted 59 times in 52 games for Norway and as having four goals already through two games in this World Cup. He’s characterized as strong and fast. devastating in the air. and “a true defender’s nightmare.” Norway has already qualified for the knockout stage. and the list adds that the team rested Haaland in the final group-stage match. a choice that could affect his push for the Golden Boot.
No. 2 is Lionel Messi of Argentina. The list frames the ranking as nearly unavoidable, arguing that Messi can’t realistically be left off No. 1 with six goals through three games. It credits Argentina’s 39-year-old maestro with a hot start that included a hat trick against Algeria. It also acknowledges he hasn’t been perfect, pointing to a missed penalty. Still. it emphasizes his clinical presence in the final third. and it notes he finished the group stage with a free kick goal off the bench.
And at No. 1 is Kylian Mbappé of France.
The story starts with friction. France is described as having been sluggish in the opening half against Senegal, only to kick into gear afterward. The list credits the turnaround to the brilliance of Michael Olise. Olise is said to have set up Mbappé’s first goal with an “inch-perfect” pass. From there. Mbappé’s production takes over: he scored three more goals through the tournament. including a shot from outside the box against Iraq. He then added two assists in the final group-stage game against Norway.
The list closes with a reminder of just how deep France’s attack is, naming Mbappé, Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, and Desire Doue as the kind of lineup that makes the tournament feel almost uneven.
The sequence of rankings through June 27 tells a clear story: the tournament’s biggest moments have leaned on elite finishing and creative delivery. but the standouts also include players like Undav. Bouaddi. and Saibari whose rises feel sudden—and whose futures now look tied to how far their teams go next.
World Cup Kylian Mbappé Lionel Messi Erling Haaland United States Folarin Balogun Michael Olise Lamine Yamal Deniz Undav Ayyoub Bouaddi Ismael Saibari