With more teams than ever participating in the World Cup, it stands to reason that more players than ever will be in the tournament—1,248 across 48 teams to be exact. Of that number, a significant chunk will spend the entire tournament wearing training bibs. (Sorry, third-choice goalkeepers.) And of those who do get minutes, only a select bunch are likely to truly define the tournament.
Among them are the names that follow, our ranking of the 20 Best Players at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, weighted heavily toward attacking talent. If you’re putting a marker down for the Golden Boot winner, you’re in the right place.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Country: Portugal
Position: F
Club: Al-Nassr FC
Age: 41
Could this be Cristiano Ronaldo’s last dance on the World Cup stage? Surely. At 41, the Portugal captain remains a focal point of the national team and continues to score goals at a remarkable rate for Al-Nassr. With the World Cup trophy and the 1,000-goal milestone both within reach, Ronaldo has an opportunity to add one final chapter to one of football’s greatest careers. Surrounded by a talented Portuguese squad, he enters the 2026 World Cup with another shot at the one major trophy that has eluded him. —Joseph Turuseata
Achraf Hakimi
Country: Morocco
Position: D
Club: PSG
Age: 27
The reigning African Footballer of the Year captains the team that made a surprising run to the semifinals in ’22. If Morocco wants to get anywhere close to the final four this year, they’ll again rely on their Madrid-born right back, whose marauding runs up the flank were a key feature in PSG’s back-to-back Champions League wins. —Donnie Kwak
Michael Olise
Country: France
Position: RW
Club: Bayern Munich
Age: 24
Olise has been voted the best attacking player in the world by his fellow Bundesliga professionals, finishing ahead of Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane, after a stunning season that saw him rack up 15 goals and 19 assists in the German top flight. Born in London to a British-Nigerian father and a Franco-Algerian mother, Olise could have represented four nations but committed to France, a choice that looks increasingly inspired. Graceful yet ruthless in front of goal, he is widely viewed as the long-term successor to Antoine Griezmann. Deschamps has described him as a player with "everything," and with a Ballon d'Or conversation now swirling, the World Cup could be where Olise announces himself to the entire planet. —Valentin Bansen
Vitinha
Country: Portugal
Position: MF
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Age: 26
Vitinha has quietly become one of the most influential midfielders in world football, combining technical brilliance with an intelligence that makes everything around him function more smoothly. After playing a key role in Paris Saint-Germain’s back to back Champions League titles, he enters this tournament as the heartbeat of Portugal’s midfield. What makes him stand out is his ability to dictate tempo, evade pressure, and create opportunities without demanding the spotlight. In an era filled with flashy stars, Vitinha’s control and composure have made him one of the game’s most valuable modern playmakers. —James Granados
Luis Diaz
Country: Colombia
Position: Left Wing
Club: Bayern Munich
Age: 29
Luis Diaz shined during his first season at Bayern Munich, notching 23 goals and 18 assists in 41 appearances with the eventual Bundesliga champion. How did he do it? Even as he nears 30, Diaz is still a spectacular athlete: a whirling combination of speed, skill, stamina, and tenacity out on the left wing. Despite having never played in a World Cup (he didn’t make Colombia’s World Cup roster in 2018 and the team didn’t qualify in 2022), Diaz still possesses an impressive resume on the international stage, having scored two goals in a World Cup qualifying win over Brazil and leading Colombia to the Copa Americana final in 2024. —Thomas Golianopoulos
Lionel Messi
Country: Argentina
Position: F
Club: Inter Miami
Age: 38
Four years ago in Qatar, the most decorated player in the history of the sport—eight Ballons d’Or, four Champions League titles, 14 league titles, countless scoring records—filled the one hole on his resume. Perhaps more impressive, Leo was consistently the best player on the pitch in 2022, tallying seven goals and three assists on his way to winning the Golden Ball. Now, Messi, who will turn 39 during the tournament, returns for his sixth and likely final World Cup. Though a step slower, he’s still one of the most dangerous playmakers and finishers in the game and will lead a talented Argentina squad hoping to become the first team to repeat as champions since Brazil in 1962. —TG
Jude Bellingham
Country: England
Position: MF
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 22
Jude Bellingham has already established himself as one of the game’s brightest young stars, and the 2026 World Cup could be his biggest stage yet. With England among the tournament favorites, their No. 10 will be expected to drive the attack and dictate the tempo. The Real Madrid standout has proven he can deliver in the biggest moments. Now the spotlight shifts to whether he can help England end their 60-year World Cup drought. —JT
Florian Wirtz
Country: Germany
Position: MF
Club: Liverpool
Age: 23
Wirtz became the youngest scorer in Bundesliga history at just 17 and was the creative heartbeat of Bayer Leverkusen's historic unbeaten domestic double in 2024, ending Bayern Munich's long dominance. A record £100m move to Liverpool followed last summer. His first season at Anfield was uneven, but Nagelsmann has consistently gotten the best out of him at the international level, where Wirtz looks confident, inventive and dangerous, which is exactly the player Liverpool fans are hoping to see week in, week out. With eight goal contributions in nine Germany appearances this season, if Die Mannschaft are going to end their tournament drought, it will likely be with Wirtz leading the way. —VB
Julián Álvarez
Country: Argentina
Position: F
Club: Atlético Madrid
Age: 26
Julián Álvarez continues to prove why he is one of football’s most sought after transfer targets. Whether scoring goals, pressing defenders, or creating chances for teammates, the Argentine forward brings relentless energy and versatility every time he steps on the field. After establishing himself as a centerpiece of Cholo Simeone’s Atlético Madrid, he arrives as one of Argentina’s most dependable stars beyond Lionel Messi. What makes Álvarez special is his ability to impact matches in countless ways, blending tireless work rate with the clinical finishing that has made him a nightmare for defenders around the world. —JG
Bruno Fernandes
Country: Portugal
Position: MF
Club: Manchester United
Age: 31
Despite United’s inconsistencies since he joined in 2020, Fernandes has continued to shine. He enters this World Cup fresh off winning Premier League Player of the Season, and joins a stacked Portuguese midfield alongside PSG’s Vitinha and João Neves. Fernandes broke the PL record for assists this season with 21, and he’ll be feeding Cristiano Ronaldo throughout this tournament. But he can score, too; Fernandes is one goal away from vaulting into the top five Portugal goalscorers of all time. —DK
Federico Valverde
Country: Uruguay
Position: MF
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 27
There may not be a more complete player in the tournament than Fede Valverde. The Real Madrid star has spent the last few years proving he can do just about everything, whether that’s creating chances, covering ground, tracking back defensively, or popping up with a goal when his team needs it most. As captain of an increasingly dangerous Uruguay squad, Valverde will be tasked with leading a team that has all the pieces to make noise in 2026. How far they go may depend on just how dominant he is in the middle of the park. —JT
Rodri
Country: Spain
Position: MF
Club: Manchester City
Age: 29
Rodri served as defensive anchor for a squad that won four consecutive Premier League titles and won Champions League in 2023. But he hasn’t regained his Ballon-d’Or-winning form since tearing his ACL in September 2024. This past season featured more health challenges (hamstring and groin injuries), but he is said to be ready for this summer’s World Cup, where he has a lot to prove following Spain’s exit in the Round of 16 four years ago. After playing out of position at center back in Qatar, Rodri, who was recently named Spanish captain, will be stationed in his usual defensive midfield role this summer in North America. —TG
Harry Kane
Country: England
Position: F
Club: Bayern Munich
Age: 32
Harry Kane remains one of football’s premier goal scorers, pairing elite finishing with a passing range that few strikers can match. Fresh off a remarkable 74 goal contributions across all competitions with Bayern Munich, Kane arrives at the World Cup as England’s captain and focal point in attack. What makes Kane stand out is the completeness of his game, he can score from anywhere, dish out game changing passes, and control the rhythm of attacks with his movement and vision. Kane’s consistency and leadership keep him among the sport’s elite, being a serious contender for this year's Ballon d’Or. —JG
Jamal Musiala
Country: Germany
Position: MF
Club: Bayern Munich
Age: 23
Musiala’s career trajectory had followed a gilded path: Champions League scorer at 17; one of Germany's few bright spots at the 2022 World Cup; breakout star at Euro 2024. Then it abruptly came to a halt when he suffered a fibula fracture and a dislocated ankle at the Club World Cup in July 2025 following a collision with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. After nearly 200 days on the sidelines, Musiala returned to action in January 2006 with an assist in Bayern's 5-1 win over RB Leipzig. Though he’s on Germany's World Cup squad, the question remains whether Musiala will be fully sharp—not just fit, but the dynamic, dribbling force who once looked like the best young player in the world. —VB
Pedri
Country: Spain
Position: MF
Club: Barcelona
Age: 23
Pedri represents the future of Spanish football while already performing like a seasoned veteran. The Barcelona midfielder, described by Spanish legend Xavi as “simply magic,” has become known for his extraordinary vision, close control, and ability to glide through pressure in the game’s biggest moments. What makes him such a compelling player is the maturity he brings despite his age, consistently dictating matches against elite opposition. As Spain continues its return to the top tier of international football, Pedri stands at the center of that resurgence, blending creativity, elegance, and tactical intelligence in a way few players can replicate. —JG
Ousmane Dembélé
Country: France
Position: F
Club: PSG
Age: 29
Dembélé is the main man in front of goal for PSG, but for Les Bleus the Ballon d’Or winner plays second fiddle to Kylian Mbappé. Still, Dembélé will be a critical piece for France, who’ve advanced to the finals of the past two World Cups. Hopefully he’ll erase the bitter taste from the ’22 Final, when he was infamously subbed out before halftime. —DK
Vinícius Júnior
Country: Brazil
Position: F
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 25
If Brazil is going to bring Jogo Bonito back to the World Cup, Vinícius Jr. will be leading the charge. The Real Madrid star plays with the kind of flair, confidence, and creativity that has defined Brazilian football for decades. Though his international résumé still has room to grow, his talent is undeniable. Between his electric pace, elite dribbling, and ability to take over a match in the blink of an eye, Vini remains Brazil’s biggest game-breaker. If the Seleção are serious contenders in 2026, their No. 7 will have plenty to say about it. —JT
Erling Haaland
Country: Norway
Position: F
Club: Manchester City
Age: 25
Norway's entire World Cup game plan revolves around getting the ball to Haaland—and with good reason. Already Norway's all-time leading scorer with 55 international goals in just 48 appearances, Haaland was a force in qualifying, netting 16 goals in eight games, more than any player in Europe or in any other confederation. Three Premier League Golden Boots and a Champions League title at City have established him as the defining center-forward of his generation. Now the football world is waiting to see how he performs in his first World Cup. —VB
Kylian Mbappé
Country: France
Position: F
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 27
Though Mbappe netted 42 goals in 44 matches across all competitions last season, Real Madrid supporters were quick to blame him for Los Blancos’ trophyless campaign. He now returns to the tournament where he first made his name. The most prolific finisher in the game led Les Blues to the 2018 trophy as a precocious 19 year old, and he scored eight goals in Qatar, including a hat trick in France’s finals loss to Argentina, to earn the Golden Boot. —TG
Lamine Yamal
Country: Spain
Position: F
Club: Barcelona
Age: 18
Spain’s youngest-ever goalscorer hasn’t played a competitive match since tearing his hamstring at the end of April. But with Spain in a relatively easy group, he may not be needed to exert himself fully until the knockout stages. Injury aside, everything’s set up for this to be Yamal’s World Cup coming-out party, much like Mbappé in 2018. The teenage phenom is an electrifying force on the right wing, terrifying defenders with speed and guile. —DK
