Headline: Analysis of Top Performers and Moments in the 2026 World Cup
The Football Extra newsletter team picks the best players, goals, and moments from the 2026 World Cup, and readers have their say too.
It’s not too late to tell us who you think should have got a mention – email us at football.extra@bbc.com,
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World Cup ’26 – Best player
George Mills: “I’d never wish ill on someone, but there was a part of me almost relieved to see Rodri’s struggles last season after returning from the ACL rupture that kept him sidelined for most of 2024-25.
“He had become the single most influential player in the Premier League with almost a mythic ability to get ‘it’ done – whatever ‘it’ was on any given day.
“Whether winning tackles, dominating the air, controlling the tempo, providing leadership, even scoring goals, he could do it all – and make it look effortless.
“For him, the World Cup Golden Ball was richly deserved, representing personal redemption and a spectacular return to form after a year of real physical struggle.
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“For everyone else, it’s bad news. One of the world’s best is only getting better.”
Jon Barbuti: “It’s always a little tempting to go against the flow, but it has to be Rodri. Spain’s win was built on controlling the game, and of all their brilliant cogs in midfield, he is by far the most important.
“Others were highly effective. Dani Olmo, in particular, impressed – he’d win an award for under-the-radar brilliance. Rodri, though, was always there, in the right place, running the game through intelligence and positioning.
“It feels near certain that there are those at Fifa who would have loved the Golden Ball award for best player to have gone to one of the glamour names. Rodri, meanwhile, didn’t get a single goal or an assist. He didn’t pick up a yellow or red card. He didn’t go on mazy dribbles or create much xG. But he was on the pitch for 97% of all Spain’s minutes; his influence was always obvious and couldn’t be ignored.”
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Your picks
“I thought Marc Cucurella was absolutely superb for Spain throughout the World Cup. Tremendous work rate and commitment; he was alert to both opportunities and threats. He made himself a total pain in the neck for his opponents to deal with, disrupting their run of play at will. A complete team player!” (Eileen Byrne)
“Pau Cubarsí, 19 years old, played like he was 29.” (Bert Buter)
“Jude Bellingham.” (Luis Francisco Elias)
“Lionel Messi – 8 goals and 4 assists at 39 years of age?” (JR Bauer)
“Marc Cucurella. In my view, he performed so well in the World Cup finals that he must now be considered the best left full back in world football. What a shame he is lost to English football.” (Michael Millard)
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“Emiliano Martinez. If not for him, Argentina would have lost the final by a huge number of goals.” (Jenny Lewis)
Best goal
Erling Haaland fires Norway into a two-goal lead against Brazil with the minimum of fuss. [Getty Images]
GM: “Sidney Lopes Cabral’s equalizer for Cape Verde in extra time against Argentina is surely the only right answer here. It was the strike of a lifetime for the World Cup debutants against the defending champions, having already forced Messi and company beyond 90 minutes.
“Despite the arguments against further World Cup expansion, Cape Verde’s joyful campaign showed what can happen when the smaller sides are given a chance to shine. They held three former World Cup champions to a draw over 90 minutes – including a 0-0 against the eventual winners, Spain. A remarkable achievement.”
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JB: “I’m going for Erling Haaland’s second for Norway against Brazil, though, as it felt different from any other goal. It was dismissive – I’ve just scored, now I’m going to saunter around, get the ball 25 yards out, take a touch to get it out of my feet, and drill it into the corner.
“I imagine the inner monologue went, ‘You’re not going to bother marking me? You think I’m not great for distance? OK, here’s a little lesson.’
Breakout player
Tottenham’s Djed Spence emerged as one of England’s most consistent players during the World Cup [Getty Images]
GM: “Such as it is nowadays, the times when a player would come to the World Cup a complete unknown and leave as a superstar are pretty much gone. The ubiquity of clips and content on social media has put paid to that.
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“But if there’s one player who sticks in my mind as having done his reputation – at least in my country – a world of good, it’s Djed Spence. The Spurs defender was a surprise inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s squad, but leaves this tournament having won the hearts and minds of most England football supporters.
“You could almost see him grow in stature as the weeks went on, to the point where now it would be a shock not to see him named in England’s squad for the Nations League in September.”
JB: “I’ve seen him described on a couple of sites as the ‘Norwegian Neymar’. That is ridiculous hyperbole even by modern standards, but 21-year-old winger Antonio Nusa is an exciting talent who showed in flashes why he was wanted by numerous top clubs.
“He shone brightest against Ivory Coast, scoring a superb opener and topping the BBC player ratings (that’s one for his CV) and when used off the bench he was a threat. Few England fans were overly happy to see him coming on in the quarter-final.
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“He is likely to move from RP Leipzig, possibly to the Premier League, and will be one to watch next season.”
Your picks
“The Cape Verde team, all of them.” (Eamonn Smyth)
“Jude Bellingham by miles!” (Travels With Deb)
“Erling Haaland and the row drum performance!” (Pats)
“The Cape Verde goalkeeper (Vozinha) had an incredible tournament. Please know I really wanted to vote for Dan Burn here.” (Christian Swezey)
Favourite moment from the 2026 World Cup
Dan Burn and the respect shown at the end of England v Mexico. There is so much to love in this photo [Getty Images]
GM: “In a recent newspaper column, Michael Owen made a thoughtful counterpoint to the discussion around England’s ‘brave’ 3-2 victory over Mexico in the last-16. He challenged the English definition of that word in a football context, questioning why we only tend to use it to fetishize those who ‘stick their body on the line’ or when the team retreats into desperate defensive tactics. Owen suggested bravery should instead be defined by our on-ball decisions, our desire to continue playing for possession, making passes, and taking the ball under pressure, regardless of the game state. I’ve been thinking about that a lot.
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With all that being said, I am who I am, and my moment(s) of the tournament were watching two Dan Burn headed clearances clear the halfway line from inside his own box against Mexico. How is that even possible?”
JB: “I’m choosing an entire match – Mexico against England in the last 16. Much was made of the challenges England faced in dealing with altitude and also a wonderfully passionate home support at the Azteca, and they coped superbly.
“But I’ll remember this match not so much for the result, but for it being a true World Cup spectacle. It was competitive but fair, refereed superbly, and even had moments of humour – Mexico’s coach Javier Aguirre heckling Anthony Gordon, who smiled and took it in the spirit intended.
“The English FA is believed to be inviting Mexico for a friendly at Wembley, a sign of the bond created over 120 minutes.”
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Your picks
“Scottish Army during their entire campaign. Their singing of the national anthem (in Boston?) was spectacular and heartwarming.” (JR Bauer)
“The entire World Cup would have felt different without Vozinha and Cape Verde. Spain couldn’t beat them. The Cape Verde vs Argentina match was the most thrilling game of football I have ever seen.” (Dixie Tenny)