Updated

Updated · The New York Times · Jul 13

Messi Holds No. 1 in The Athletic's Top 50 World Cup Players After Quarter-Finals

Updated

Updated · The New York Times · Jul 13

Messi Holds No. 1 in The Athletic's Top 50 World Cup Players After Quarter-Finals

Q: Can Jude Bellingham’s knockout stage form dethrone Messi and Mbappe as the World Cup's best player?

Not yet — but he is now the strongest challenger. Bellingham’s knockout-stage surge has put him firmly into the Golden Ball conversation. He has scored four goals in England’s last two knockout matches, risen to third in The Athletic’s top-50 ranking, and become a central reason England are in the semi-finals. For a midfielder, his output is exceptional: he is matching elite forwards for decisive moments while also carrying major all-round responsibility. Even so, Messi and Mbappé still have the stronger overall tournament cases. Messi remains No. 1 in The Athletic’s model because, despite visible fatigue, he continues to drive Argentina’s attack and create goals at a historic rate. Mbappé stays second and arguably has the cleanest statistical case as the tournament’s most devastating attacker, with elite scoring numbers and another major quarter-final contribution against Morocco. The key point is that Bellingham has closed the gap, not erased it. His rise is built on recency and knockout impact, which matters enormously at this stage, but Messi and Mbappé still lead on total body of work, sustained influence and historical production across the tournament. That could change quickly. If Bellingham outshines Messi in England’s semi-final against Argentina and then delivers again in the final, he would have a credible claim to overtake both. For now, though, the evidence still places him just behind them rather than above them.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 13

Lionel Messi stayed atop The Athletic’s updated top 50 World Cup player rankings after the quarter-finals, with four teams left in the tournament.
The ranking uses The Athletic’s player ratings model and keeps 50 names throughout the knockout rounds, meaning eliminated players can remain but be overtaken by those still playing.
Kylian Mbappe held second after scoring against Morocco, while Jude Bellingham jumped four places to third after four goals in his last two knockout matches for England.
Quarter-final performances drove some of the biggest moves: Elliot Anderson rose 11 spots to 19th, Ousmane Dembele climbed to seventh, and Mikel Merino entered at 41 after two late knockout winners.
The updated list reflects the semifinal picture as Argentina, England, France and Spain supply many of the highest-ranked players heading into the final two rounds.