Lionel Messi continues to strengthen his legendary FIFA World Cup legacy, but surprisingly, he is not the top-ranked player in FIFA’s latest World Cup 2026 Power Rankings. Instead, Germany forward Deniz Undav occupies the No. 1 spot following an outstanding group-stage campaign, while Messi sits second and Cristiano Ronaldo is ranked 79th.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 has entered the knockout stage, where every match carries enormous significance. After an impressive group-stage performance, Messi emerged as the tournament’s leading scorer with six goals in three matches, taking his all-time World Cup tally to a record 19 goals. The Argentine captain has outscored several younger superstars, including France’s Kylian Mbappe, Brazil’s Vinicius Junior and Norway’s Erling Haaland, each of whom scored four goals during the opening phase.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Despite his remarkable numbers, Messi narrowly missed out on the top position in FIFA’s newly introduced Power Rankings. The ranking system evaluates every player’s overall tournament performance rather than simply goals scored. Outfield players receive ratings across attacking, creativity and defensive contributions, with each category scored on a scale of 10.
Germany striker Deniz Undav leads the rankings after an exceptional start to the tournament. The Stuttgart forward earned an attacking rating of 8.36, creativity score of 6.78 and defensive rating of 4.70, placing him just ahead of Messi. The Argentine received scores of 8.34 for attacking, 6.43 for creativity and 5.14 for defending.
France captain Kylian Mbappe occupies third place with ratings of 8.13, 7.25 and 4.59 respectively, while Brazil winger Vinicius Junior sits fourth after recording scores of 7.92 in attacking, 6.39 in creativity and 4.75 in defending.
Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, has struggled to make the same impact during the group stage. The 41-year-old is ranked 79th in FIFA’s Power Rankings with ratings of 5.72 for attacking, 4.98 for creativity and 4.74 for defending.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Power Rankings (Top players)
| Rank | Player | Country | Attacking | Creativity | Defending |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deniz Undav | Germany | 8.36 | 6.78 | 4.70 |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 8.34 | 6.43 | 5.14 |
| 3 | Kylian Mbappe | France | 8.13 | 7.25 | 4.59 |
| 4 | Vinicius Junior | Brazil | 7.92 | 6.39 | 4.75 |
| 79 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 5.72 | 4.98 | 4.74 |
One of the biggest stories behind the rankings is the rise of Undav. The Germany international has emerged as one of the surprise performers of the tournament, scoring three goals and providing two assists despite not being among the pre-tournament favourites. Off the pitch, his success has also drawn attention because of his Yazidi and Kurdish heritage, making him a source of inspiration for communities that have rarely been represented on football’s biggest stage.
With the knockout rounds now underway, the Power Rankings are expected to change after every match. While Messi continues to dominate the scoring charts and chase more World Cup history, Undav currently leads FIFA’s performance-based rankings, setting up an intriguing battle as the race for football’s biggest prize intensifies.
