Best players in the World Cup 2026 and how to keep following them

In this article we’re exploring the best World Cup talent from front to back, with goalscorers, shot stoppers, midfield generals and everything in between under the microscope.

Best World Cup attackers

The simplest way to rank attackers at any World Cup is by goals scored, but this approach misses a certain nuance. Certain players may have scored more had they been part of a stronger team that progressed further, for example.

The performance of the team relative to the player’s goal contribution is important in understanding their overall impact on their team. But it’s also important to remember that the further into the tournament a team progresses, the harder the games become.

It’s also worth considering the importance of each goal in the tournament. For example, goals scored in dead rubber matches should be factored in, no offense to England’s Bukayo Saka who scored all of his three goals against an unmotivated France in the third place playoff.

Here’s a list of the top scorers at World Cup 2026, with honorable mentions to Harry Kane and Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored six and five respectively. Kane misses out on a higher ranking because of a slightly lower goals per minute ratio. Oyarzabal, although scoring fewer, was part of the Spain team that won the World Cup and scored some extremely important goals.

Kylian Mbappé

• National team: France
• Real Madrid