2026 World Cup Carries 44 Top-100 Players Into Quarterfinals as France Leads With 13

3 articles · Updated · FOX Sports · Jul 7

Forty-four pre-tournament Top 100 players remain alive as the 2026 World Cup closes out the round of 16 and shifts toward the quarterfinals.
France accounts for 13 of those players, Spain still has double digits, and Argentina stays in the title picture behind 39-year-old Lionel Messi and other stars.
Argentina's comeback win over Egypt secured Messi's place in the final eight race, while Colombia or Switzerland will claim the last open quarterfinal spot.
The surviving field keeps several storylines intact at once — a Golden Boot chase, defending champions still standing, and a late-stage clash of many of the tournament's biggest names.

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With Messi leading the Golden Boot, can Argentina's magic outlast France's star-studded powerhouse in the final rounds?

Building on their 2022 success, can Morocco's dark horse team eliminate tournament-favorite France in the quarterfinals?

Will Spain's unprecedented no-Real Madrid roster have the chemistry to overcome Belgium's golden generation?