The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) has named Argentine superstar Lionel Messi as the Best Player of the 2026 World Cup, following his captaincy in leading his national team to the final.
Messi was awarded the accolade based on a statistical index that combines match ratings, goals, assists, knockout stage impact, and the team’s overall progress in the tournament.
La Pulga featured in 7 matches during the tournament, clocking a total of 626 minutes. He registered 8 goals and 4 assists, directly contributing to 12 of Argentina’s goals.
The 39-year-old achieved an average rating of 8.33 from the federation, coming out on top thanks to his consistent influence from the group stage all the way through to the final under manager Lionel Scaloni.
The IFFHS index places greater weight on knockout stage matches, which favored the Albiceleste captain after his pivotal role in guiding Argentina to the final.
Despite his stellar campaign, Messi was unable to retain the trophy, as Argentina fell 1–0 to Spain after extra time in the final, settling for the silver medal.
The IFFHS award is distinct from FIFA’s official World Cup Golden Ball, which was awarded to Spain captain Rodri. Meanwhile, the IFFHS selected Messi based on its proprietary statistical analysis.
