Comprehensive Rankings: Messi Tops FIFA's 2026 World Cup Player Power List

Lionel Messi, the captain of Argentina, has emerged as a top performer in FIFA's Power Rankings, alongside Iran's Ramin Rezaeian and Canada's Derek Cornelius, after the initial round of group-stage matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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These rankings, which are powered by Aramco and released by FIFA on Thursday, utilize advanced analytics to evaluate players' contributions in various categories, including attacking, creativity, and defending.

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Messi's outstanding performance, which included a hat-trick in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria, propelled him to the top of the attacking rankings, while Rezaeian's impressive display in Iran's 2-2 draw with New Zealand led the creativity category.

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Cornelius, meanwhile, ranked first among defenders after a dominant performance in Canada's victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, showcasing his defensive prowess.

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According to FIFA, Messi was responsible for 60% of Argentina's attempts at goal, every shot on target, and all three of their goals, highlighting his exceptional influence on the team's attacking efforts.

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FIFA noted that Messi's impact extended beyond the penalty area, as he received possession 23 times between Algeria's midfield and defensive lines and completed 12 line breaks, consistently helping Argentina transform possession into scoring opportunities.

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The FIFA Power Rankings take into account not only goals and assists but also actions that create chances, progress attacks, and prevent scoring opportunities, providing a comprehensive assessment of players' performances.

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The governing body will continue to track players' influence throughout the tournament, which is being held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

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The Top 10 FIFA Power Rankings for the opening round feature Lionel Messi (Argentina) with a score of 8.1 in the attacking category, followed by Elijah Just (New Zealand) with a score of 7.9 and Kylian Mbappe (France) with a score of 7.5.

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Ramin Rezaeian (Iran) leads the creativity category with a score of 8.2, ahead of Michael Olise (France) with a score of 7.4 and Florian Wirtz (Germany) with a score of 7.3.

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In the defending category, Derek Cornelius (Canada) ranks first with a score of 7.3, closely followed by Nikola Katic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Tarik Muharemovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), both with scores of 7.1.