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2026 FIFA World Cup Group Stage Best XI: Messi, Mbappe and Haaland Shine Bright
Sameer Bhatia | June 29, 2026 1:13 AM CST

The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage concluded early on Sunday, showcasing several standout performances from top players across the tournament.

Here’s a look at the best XI from the group stage.

Vozinha (Cape Verde): The 40-year-old goalkeeper has been pivotal in Cape Verde’s remarkable journey. He became the oldest player to keep a clean sheet on his World Cup debut, a testament to his composure and experience.

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco): The Moroccan right-back contributed one goal and one assist, playing a key role in helping the Atlas Lions finish level on points with Brazil, the record World Cup champions, in Group C.

Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands): The Liverpool captain displayed his trademark calmness and leadership, winning 72% of his ground duels and 79% of his aerial battles. He also registered two goal involvements, underlining his influence at both ends of the pitch.

Marc Guehi (England): The England defender has been a rock at the back, winning 84% of his ground duels and 88% of his aerial contests. He maintained a 97% pass completion rate and even created one chance, showing composure in possession.

Antonee Robinson (United States): The Fulham left-back has impressed with his energy and work rate. He created two chances while winning 59% of his ground duels and 60% of his aerial duels, contributing both defensively and offensively.

Pedro Vite (Ecuador): The Ecuadorian midfielder has been a powerhouse in the middle of the park. No central midfielder has won more total challenges (30) or duels in the tournament, and he also created eight chances for his team.

Nathan Saliba (Canada): The Anderlecht midfielder has emerged as one of the breakout stars of the competition, recording three goal involvements and demonstrating confidence beyond his years.

Kylian Mbappe (France): The Real Madrid forward continues to deliver on the biggest stage. Only Lionel Messi has scored more goals, but Mbappe is level with the Argentine captain in total goal involvements.

Johan Manzambi (Switzerland): The young Freiburg attacker has been a revelation, notching four goal contributions despite starting just one match. His pace and creativity have been key assets for Switzerland.

Erling Braut Haaland (Norway): The Manchester City striker has lived up to expectations, netting four goals in just two appearances, reaffirming his status as one of the most lethal forwards in world football.

Lionel Messi (Argentina): Messi remains the talismanic figure for Argentina. He is the only player to score in all three group games and currently leads both the goals and goal involvement charts. The Argentine legend has been the standout performer of the group stage.

Statistics sourced from sofascore.com and fotmob.com.


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