Lionel Messi was named the best player of the World Cup

The World Cup is heating up, and it's not just the competition between national teams that's intensifying—discussions around the tournament's brightest stars are also gaining momentum. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

Influential publication The Athletic has updated its ranking of the standout footballers at the current World Cup. Once again, the captain of the Argentine national team, Lionel Messi, claimed the top spot on the list.

Close behind him is Kilian Mbappé, the forward for the French national team. These two footballers have drawn attention not only for their scored goals and decisive assists but also for their direct influence on match-defining moments.

For Messi, this achievement once again proves that, despite his age, he remains capable of changing the course of high-stakes games. One of the most notable shifts in the ranking involves Jude Bellingham, a member of the England national team.

The talented midfielder climbed four positions from his previous standing to secure third place, highlighting his growing importance in the World Cup.

Bellingham is not just a distributor of the ball in midfield—he embodies the role of a playmaker who organizes attacks, applies pressure on opponents, and drives the team forward from the center. For England, this is a crucial factor, as even with experienced strikers like Harry Kane, it is often Bellingham who sets the tempo of the game.

The rest of the top ten, as announced by the publication, includes: Lionel Messi in first, Kilian Mbappé in second, and Jude Bellingham in third.

Fourth and fifth places are held by Harry Kane and Norway’s representative Erling Haaland, respectively. Following them are French players Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembélé, while the top ten is completed by Achraf Hakimi, Vinícius Júnior, and Emerik Laporte.

The presence of three French representatives in the list underscores not only the team’s collective strength but also the individual quality of its players. Similarly, the fact that two England players made it into the top ten is noteworthy.

While Harry Kane stands out for his consistency and finishing ability, Bellingham reflects the overall pace and dynamism of England’s play—confirming that the English side possesses not only a strong lineup but also elite-level form ahead of the semifinals.

Lionel Messi, Kilian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Erling Haaland