World Cup 2026 best players ranked: Is Kylian Mbappe or Lionel Messi number one? - Sports Mole

World Cup 2026 best players ranked revisits how the 48-team tournament unfolded and credits individual performances that defined the competition. Spain won the title by beating Argentina 1-0 in the final, while England finished third with a 6-4 victory over France in another standout match. The article also notes controversy for Egypt amid contentious refereeing decisions and says opinions were split over the halftime entertainment in the final. In its ranking of 10 standout performers, Lionel Messi leads the list after an eight-goal, four-assist campaign and an Argentina run that ended in the final. Kylian Mbappé follows, highlighted for winning the Golden Boot twice, scoring 10 goals and providing four assists in 2026 to finish just ahead of Messi. The ranking then cites Rodri as a key figure behind Spain’s World Cup triumph.