A bumper 48 nations are heading to the USA, Mexico and Canada for this summer's World Cup extravaganza and there are squads packed full of talent.
The international showpiece brings together the world’s best players and we have ranked the top five performers who will be playing at the 2026 World Cup.
5 Declan Rice (England)
Wind the clock back five or 10 years ago and this list would have been dominated by the great Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, those two legends are now faded stars and there is a new generation of top-level performers.
Declan Rice bossed Arsenal’s midfield this season, helping the Gunners to end their Premier League title drought as well as reach the final of the Champions League.
The England star scored five goals and provided seven assists across those two competitions this term, but it’s more than just numbers for the 27-year-old.
Rice is capable of lung-busting runs forward and is also superb at breaking up opposition attacks to cover the defence.
The Arsenal man will be the key force in England’s midfield at the World Cup and Thomas Tuchel may also look to harness his expert set-play delivery.
There are some brilliant and technically gifted midfield maestros at the summer showpiece, but there aren’t many players who can match the strength, power and quality of England’s key midfielder and Rice looks set for a fantastic tournament.
4 Lamine Yamal (Spain)
Lamine Yamal is only 18 years old but he is already one of the world’s best performers and set to star at the World Cup.
The Barcelona man was named La Liga Player of the Year this season as the youngster scored 16 goals and provided 12 assists in 28 Spanish top-flight appearances.
Yamal also bagged six goals in 10 Champions League matches and combines blistering speed with a fantastic finishing touch, with a touch of magic thrown into the mix.
Yamal will be a key attacking threat for a Spain side hoping for a big run at the World Cup.
With many teams likely to sit in and try to frustrate the bigger nations at the international extravaganza, La Roja will be looking to the pace and superb skill of Yamal to help break down opposition defences.
3 Michael Olise (France)
From Reading to Bayern Munich, Michael Olise is one of the World Cup’s standout performers.
The Frenchman scored 22 goals in a magnificent title-winning campaign for Bayern Munich and he is clearly an extremely gifted performer.
Many attacking players rely on blistering pace to unlock defences and create opportunities, but Olise uses intelligence, skill and guile to become the star of the show.
France has a wealth of talent in attacking areas, and the fact that Olise will command a place in Didier Deschamps’ forward line indicates the quality the 24-year-old possesses.
The left-footed star will provide a major goalscoring and chance-creating threat for Les Bleus, who look very capable of going all the way at the World Cup.
2 Erling Haaland (Norway)
Erling Haaland may not have the silky touch or imagination of some of the other forward players at the World Cup, but the Manchester City man is a goalscoring machine.
The forward-running power and physical presence of the Norwegian is unmatched and the 25-year-old scored 27 Premier League goals this season.
Haaland also crashed in 16 goals in eight World Cup qualifying matches and it would be no surprise if the striker's goals carried Norway deep into the US, Mexico and Canada tournament.
The Norwegian powerhouse is arguably the most feared forward in world football and looks set to star on the international stage.
1 Kylian Mbappe (France)
In the last World Cup in 2022, Kylian Mbappe became only the second male player to score a hat-trick in the final after Geoff Hurst in 1966.
France may have lost the Qatar showdown to Argentina but Mbappe has already proved to be a World Cup star.
The 27-year-old had previously dazzled as France triumphed at the 2018 World Cup and another starring role is likely eight years later.
It was a tough season for Real Madrid, but Mbappe was still a brilliant performer and he will form part of a terrifyingly brilliant Les Bleus front three.
Even with the likes of Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele in the France squad, Mbappe is still the standout star as well as the World Cup’s number one talent.
See all World Cup 2026 fixtures and tables.
