Prime 100 Gamers In The 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ranked

[ad_1] One of the best gamers on the planet will probably be on show this summer season on the 2026 World Cup. So, let’s rank them.

Forward of the world's premier sporting occasion, our on-air specialists — Alexi Lalas, Maurice Edu and Stu Holden — and manufacturing workers ranked the 100 greatest stars who will doubtless function at this summer season’s World Cup, hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada. We’ll rely right down to No. 1 over the subsequent 5 weeks, beginning with Nos. 100-76.

Simply how good is USA captain Christian Pulisic? The place do dwelling legends like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo stack up in comparison with the most recent era of stars, led by Kylian Mbappé? What about gamers making their World Cup debuts, like Erling Haaland or Lamine Yamal?

Some massive names kick issues off for us. Is South Korea's Son Heung-min too low? Is Mexico's Raúl Jiménez approach overrated? And the place does Pulisic actually rank?

Let's get into it!

Pervis Estupiñán | Defender | Ecuador

(Picture by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Photographs)

Age: 28National staff appearances: 52Club staff: AC Milan (Italy)

Estupiñán thrived within the Premier League for 3 seasons with Brighton earlier than making a transfer to AC Milan final summer season. He is without doubt one of the spectacular abilities that make Ecuador a possible sleeper this summer season.

Alexander Isak | Ahead | Sweden

(Picture by JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)

Age: 26National staff appearances: 56Club staff: Liverpool (England)

Isak scored 52 objectives in his final two seasons at Newcastle earlier than making a big-money transfer to Liverpool final summer season. Accidents have restricted him to simply 4 objectives and 21 video games this season, however he is a continuing menace to attain at any time when he’s on the pitch.

Kim Min-jae | Defender | South Korea

(Picture by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Photographs)

Age: 29National staff appearances: 77Club staff: Bayern Munich (Germany)

Kim received Serie A with Napoli in 2023 earlier than making a giant transfer to Bayern Munich. He hasn’t established himself as a first-choice participant for the German giants, however he will probably be a pillar within the Korean protection this summer season.

Bradley Barcola | Ahead | France

(Picture by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Photographs)

Age: 23National staff appearances: 18Club staff: Paris Saint-Germain (France)

Barcola is without doubt one of the massively proficient French attacking gamers who will probably be vying for a beginning spot. At 22 years previous, Barcola is without doubt one of the greatest younger wingers on the planet and performs at PSG, which received final season’s UEFA Champions League.

Lisandro Martínez | Defender | Argentina

(Picture by Daniel Jayo/Getty Photographs)

Age: 28National staff appearances: 26Club staff: Manchester United (England)

Martínez would begin at heart again for many groups on this match, however he’s doubtless going to begin because the third choice behind Cristian Romero and Nicolas Otamendi, who began throughout Argentina’s successful run in 2022. He can fill in at left again, as properly, and can play a task one way or the other for the reigning champions.

Phil Foden | Ahead | England

(Picture by Michael Regan - The FA/The FA by way of Getty Photographs)

Age: 25National staff appearances: 49Club staff: Manchester Metropolis (England)

Foden was the Premier League Participant of the Season in 2023-24, however he has not constructed off that honor. At 25 years previous, he's but to seek out his footing and set up a spot within the England staff.

Kaoru Mitoma | Ahead | Japan

(Picture by Visionhaus/Getty Photographs)

Age: 28National staff appearances: 31Club staff: Brighton (England)

Mitoma is an thrilling winger who broke out two years in the past for Brighton. He scored the successful objective for Japan again on March 31 in a pleasant in opposition to England and would be the key participant in assault for his nation this summer season.

Marcus Thuram | Ahead | France

(Picture by Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Photographs/Getty Photographs)

Age: 28National staff appearances: 33Club staff: Inter Milan (Italy)

Kylian Mbappé will doubtless lead France’s assault in the beginning of the match, however Thuram is an excellent different. Son of former France star Lilian Thuram, Marcus has scored at the least 12 Serie A objectives in every of his first three seasons at Inter Milan.

Mikel Oyarzabal | Ahead | Spain

(Picture by Manuel Queimadelos/High quality Sport Photographs/Getty Photographs)

Age: 29National staff appearances: 52Club staff: Actual Sociedad (Spain)

A winger by commerce for Actual Sociedad, Oyarzabal has stepped up as a striker for the nationwide staff prior to now. One of the best instance was within the Euro 2024 closing, when he scored the successful objective for Spain in opposition to England.

Gonçalo Ramos | Ahead | Portugal

(Picture by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Photographs)

Age: 24National staff appearances: 24Club staff: Paris Saint-Germain (France)

Ramos famously changed Cristiano Ronaldo within the Portugal lineup for a Spherical of 16 sport in opposition to Switzerland on the 2022 World Cup and scored a hat trick. Ronaldo will doubtless begin the match up entrance for Portugal, however Ramos is without doubt one of the greatest backup strikers you’ll see this summer season.

Raúl Jiménez | Ahead | Mexico

(Picture by Yair Gonzalez/Jam Media/Getty Photographs)

Age: 34National staff appearances: 125Club staff: Fulham (England)

Jiménez is a fixture within the Fulham beginning lineup and would be the foremost man for Mexico this summer season. With 44 objectives for El Tri, he’s two objectives behind former striker Jared Borgetti for second most all time.

Kenan Yıldız | Ahead | Türkiye

(Picture by Hakan Akgun/Anadolu by way of Getty Photographs)

Age: 20National staff appearances: 28Club staff: Juventus (Italy)

Yıldız broke into the Juventus lineup three years in the past and shortly turned a focus of the staff’s assault. At 20 years previous, he has already made 28 appearances for Türkiye.

Eberechi Eze | Ahead | England

(Picture by Michael Regan - The FA/The FA by way of Getty Photographs)

Age: 27National staff appearances: 16Club staff: Arsenal (England)

Eze made an enormous transfer to Arsenal final summer season and instantly turned a giant a part of Mikel Arteta's squad. He usually performs an attacking function, however he may push for the spot in England's midfield that's often occupied by Actual Madrid star Jude Bellingham.

Mikel Merino | Midfielder | Spain

(Picture by Diego Souto/Getty Photographs)

Age: 29National staff appearances: 41Club staff: Arsenal (England)

Merino is unlikely to begin for Spain, however he'll nonetheless most likely play a giant function. He scored eight objectives in 10 appearances final yr for the reigning European champions. A midfielder by commerce, Merino has additionally performed as a striker for each membership and nation.

Casemiro | Midfielder | Brazil

(Picture by Stephen Nadler/ISI Photographs/ISI Photographs by way of Getty Photographs)

Age: 34National staff appearances: 84Club staff: Manchester United (England)

Casemiro is a four-time Champions League winner at Actual Madrid, however he hasn’t maintained his excessive degree of high quality since transferring to Manchester United in 2022. His former Actual Madrid supervisor, Carlo Ancelotti, is now in command of Brazil and introduced the midfielder again to the nationwide staff final yr.

Fabián Ruiz | Midfielder | Spain

(Picture by Fran Santiago - UEFA/UEFA by way of Getty Photographs)

Age: 30National staff appearances: 41Club staff: Paris Saint-Germain (France)

Ruiz was a part of PSG’s dominant midfield trio final yr that powered the staff’s Champions League victory. Spain’s midfield is loaded with expertise, so it received’t be as straightforward for him to discover a spot within the beginning lineup.

Marc Guéhi | Defender | England

(Picture by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA by way of Getty Photographs)

Age: 25National staff appearances: 27Club staff: Manchester Metropolis (England)

Guéhello was the captain for Crystal Palace final summer season when the South London membership received the FA Cup. He moved to Manchester Metropolis earlier this yr and has instantly change into a fixture within the reigning Premier League champion’s protection.

Jeremie Frimpong | Defender | Netherlands

(Picture by Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Photographs)

Age: 25National staff appearances: 15Club staff: Liverpool (England)

Frimpong is listed as a defender, however he’s as essential to the Dutch assault as he's to its protection. He has spectacular tempo and is a continuing menace down the best wing when he’s on the pitch.

Reece James | Defender | England

(Picture by Jack Thomas - The FA/The FA by way of Getty Photographs)

Age: 26National staff appearances: 22Club staff: Chelsea (England)

James will probably be an essential participant for England this summer season with versatility to play both proper again or midfield. Staying wholesome has been James’ drawback at Chelsea, though he has performed in additional than two dozen video games within the Premier League this season.

Son Heung-min | Ahead | South Korea

(Picture by Marc Atkins/Getty Photographs)

Age: 33National staff appearances: 143Club staff: LAFC (United States)

Son is in the course of his first full season in Los Angeles after a decade within the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur. He’s South Korea’s all-time chief in nationwide staff appearances.

Jules Koundé | Defender | France

(Picture by Franco Arland/Getty Photographs)

Age: 27National staff appearances: 46Club staff: Barcelona (Spain)

Koundé will doubtless begin at proper again for the French, who're among the many favorites this summer season. He has made at the least 40 appearances in every of the final 4 seasons for Barcelona.

Christian Pulisic | Ahead | United States

(Picture by Robin Alam/ISI Photographs by way of Getty Photographs)

Age: 27National staff appearances: 84Club staff: AC Milan (Italy)

"Captain America" may have all eyes on him this summer season. At 27 years previous, Pulisic has already made 84 appearances for the U.S. nationwide staff. His 32 objectives are 25 behind Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey. Pulisic has not scored for the U.S. since November 2024, so he’ll must regain his type if the Individuals need to make a run into the knockout spherical.

Arda Güler | Ahead | Türkiye

(Picture by Hakan Akgun/Anadolu by way of Getty Photographs)

Age: 21National staff appearances: 28Club staff: Actual Madrid (Spain)

Güler is ending up his third season at Actual Madrid and has emerged as a key participant within the squad. He would be the foremost man for Türkiye for years to come back, beginning with this summer season’s World Cup.

Viktor Gyökeres | Ahead | Sweden

(Picture by Sebastian Frej/Getty Photographs)

Age: 27National staff appearances: 32Club staff: Arsenal (England)

Gyökeres scored a memorable hat trick in opposition to Poland within the UEFA World Cup playoffs in March, together with one within the 87th minute to seal a 3-2 win. He moved to Arsenal final summer season and has 18 objectives in all competitions.

Dani Olmo | Ahead | Spain

(Picture by Luciano Lima/Getty Photographs)

Age: 27National staff appearances: 48Club staff: Barcelona (Spain)

Olmo emerged as a key participant for Spain at Euro 2024. He scored three objectives — ending in a six-way tie for the Golden Boot — together with one within the quarterfinal and semifinal in opposition to Germany and France, respectively.

We are going to proceed to unveil FOX Sports activities' FIFA World Cup Rank Prime 100 Gamers every week. Up subsequent are Nos. 75-51 on Could 11.

2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Unfold throughout three nations, the match will culminate with the ultimate on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 match matches will air reside throughout FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with each match streaming reside and on-demand inside each the FOX One and the FOX Sports activities apps. A report 40 matches, greater than one-third of the match, will air in prime time throughout FOX (21) and FS1 (19).