World Cup 2026 Team of the Round: Messi, Mbappe and Diaz Among Standout Players in First Round of Group Games
Tom Hancock
The first round of World Cup 2026 group games are in the books and plenty of players have already lit up the tournament in North America. Here is LiveScore’s Team of the Round…
Goalkeeper: Vozinha (Cape Verde)
World Cup debutants Cape Verde produced one of the performances of the tournament so far by holding favourites Spain to a shock 0-0 draw – a major achievement that was thanks in no small part to their 40-year-old goalkeeper.
Vozinha, who plays his club football for Portuguese second-tier side Chaves, made seven saves in a man-of-the-match display in Houston, the pick of them a stunning diving effort to keep out Aymeric Laporte’s first-half header.
Right-back: Ramin Rezaeian (Iran)
Another veteran to impress in the first round of group games, Iran’s 36-year-old right-back Ramin Rezaeian had a hand in both his team’s goals as Team Melli fought back from 1-0 and 2-1 down to draw 2-2 with New Zealand in Los Angeles.
The 36-year-old, who has spent most of his career playing in Iran, started and finished the move for the first equaliser then delivered a sublime cross for Mohammad Mohebi to head home the second.
Centre-back: Wilfried Singo (Ivory Coast)
Ivory Coast looked to be heading for an entertaining but goalless draw with Ecuador, but Wilfried Singo had other ideas, playing a key part in substitute Amad’s 90th-minute winner in New York.
With the game stretched late on, the Galatasaray man – who won four out of four aerial duels throughout the encounter – surged up the right wing and found his teammate with a perfectly timed cut-back, leaving him to do the rest.
Centre-back: Diney Borges (Cape Verde)
Diney Borges was another of Cape Verde’s heroes in their historic draw against Spain, defending doggedly and tirelessly to help the Blue Sharks fend off the 2010 world champions’ relentless attacks.
Based in the UAE with Al Bataeh, Borges showed the experience you’d expect from a player of his 31 years, his contributions including eight clearances and five ground duels won out of a possible six.
Left-back: Nathaniel Brown (Germany)
One of several German players appearing at their first World Cup, Nathaniel Brown grasped his opportunity with both hands as the four-time winners demolished newcomers Curacao 7-1 in Houston.
Having provided six assists and scored four goals for Eintracht Frankfurt in 2025/26, the 22-year-old notched one of each either side of half-time, seeing his corner headed in by Nico Schlotterback to restore Germany’s lead then latching onto Deniz Undav’s flicked ball to sweep home his first international goal.
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Central midfield: Felix Nmecha (Germany)
Fellow World Cup first-timer Felix Nmecha sent Germany on their way to their comprehensive victory by finishing off a fine passing move with an exquisite finish from the edge of the box inside six minutes.
The Borussia Dortmund man, who attempted the joint most shots in the game (four) also won the penalty which Kai Havertz converted to put Julian Nagelsmann’s side 3-1 up on the stroke of half-time.
Central midfield: Hwang In-beom (South Korea)
South Korea are the only team to come from behind to win so far at this World Cup, and Hwang In-beom was central to the recovery which ensured they began their campaign with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in Guadalajara.
Hwang, who plays his club football for Feyenoord, saw the most touches of anyone on the pitch (93) – his most important coming as he sat down Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar to equalised and when he sent in a first-time low cross for Oh Hyun-gyu’s winning goal.
Right winger: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Messi underscored his claim to the title of the GOAT in style, hitting his maiden World Cup hat-trick as holders Argentina began their title defence by sweeping aside Algeria 3-0 in Kansas City.
Appearing at a record sixth World Cup (alongside Cristiano Ronaldo), Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain drew level with Miroslav Klose for the most goals in the history of the competition (16) – with the pick of his strikes the third, a precisely curled effort into the bottom corner from just outside the box.
Attacking midfield: Michael Olise (France)
Michael Olise is one of the best players on the planet right now, and the Bayern Munich star proved exactly why with his hugely influential performance in France’s 3-1 triumph over Senegal in New York.
Completing 51 out of 57 passes, the 24-year-old created a match-high four chances – including two big chances – and set up Kylian Mbappe for the deadlock-breaking goal with a world-class, defence-splitting pass around the corner.
Left Winger: Luis Diaz (Colombia)
Like Olise, Luis Diaz enjoyed an excellent season for Bayern Munich, and he stole the show as Colombia marked their World Cup return by beating first-time qualifiers Uzbekistan 3-1 in Mexico City.
In the last of the first round of group matches, Diaz became the 18th player at the tournament to record multiple goal involvements in a game, finding Daniel Munoz for then opener then getting on the scoresheet himself to restore his country’s lead.
Striker: Kylian Mbappe (France)
Before Messi emulated Klose, Mbappe moved to within two goals of the World Cup record, surpassing Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading scorer with a match-winning brace against Senegal.
Having finished brilliantly from Olise’s pass for the opener, the French skipper’s second goal was perhaps the striker of the tournament so far as he received the ball some distance from goal, swivelled and thumped one in from 30 yards to make well and truly sure of three points.
READ MORE: All Day 8 World Cup 2026 Predictions
