The 2026 FIFA World Cup concluded with an extraordinary display of individual brilliance and world-class football. Beyond Spain’s historic victory to claim their second World Cup title, the tournament served as a global stage for iconic performances.
Transforming fans from passive spectators into active decision-makers, the digital platform Fanzword allowed users to rate player performances after every match, accumulating final ratings across the entire tournament.
Here are the top 5 best players of the 2026 World Cup, as voted by Fanzword users:
5. Pau Cubarsí (Spain) – Rating: 8.2
Pau Cubarsí, the young central defender for champions Spain, anchored La Roja’s defense with remarkable composure. Cubarsí played every single minute of Spain’s winning campaign—a rare feat achieved by only three players in the tournament.
4. Erling Haaland (Norway) – Rating: 8.3
Erling Haaland proved his big-game capability by scoring 7 goals in the tournament, most notably a memorable brace against Brazil in the Round of 16 that knocked out the South American giants.
3. Jude Bellingham (England) – Rating: 8.4
At just 23 years old, Jude Bellingham carried England to the semifinals. Scoring 7 goals as the tournament’s third-highest scorer, Bellingham broke 10 different World Cup records during his stellar campaign.
2. Kylian Mbappé (France) – Rating: 8.5
France’s Kylian Mbappé delivered a masterclass in attacking dominance, capturing the Golden Boot with 10 goals—the highest tally in a single World Cup edition since Gerd Müller in 1970. Mbappé also contributed 4 assists throughout the tournament.
1. Lionel Messi (Argentina) – Rating: 9.0
Topping the Fanzword rankings, Lionel Messi earned the ultimate accolade at age 39. Leading Argentina to his third career World Cup final (equaling Cafu’s historic record), Messi scored 8 goals (2nd overall), provided 4 assists, created 5 big chances, and completed 87% of his passes to secure his place as the tournament’s standout performer.
