World Cup 2026: Messi, Ronaldo, Salah, Neymar - ranking best players in final tournament

As the 2026 World Cup knockout stages progress, several legendary players are making what could be their final appearances on football's grandest stage. The tournament has showcased both the enduring excellence of aging superstars and the explosive emergence of younger talents.

At 39, Lionel Messi continues to obliterate World Cup records. No player has scored more goals in World Cup history than Messi's 19 to go with eight assists. His tournament legacy is unmatched, having won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player in both 2014 and 2022, when he led Argentina to their first World Cup title since 1986. This is his sixth World Cup appearance, with his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo the only other outfield player to have done so.

Ronaldo, at 41, remains a remarkable figure despite never winning the World Cup - the one major trophy that has eluded him. No player has more international caps, 231, or goals, 145, than the Portuguese icon, who made his debut in 2003. He holds the record of being the only man to score at six World Cups, though all 10 of his World Cup goals have come in the group stage.

Kylian Mbappe has emerged as a generational talent, recently breaking the record for most knockout stage goals with nine, surpassing Brazilian icons Leonidas and Ronaldo. In the 2026 tournament, Mbappe has netted six goals, moving him level with Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. Most significantly, he now boasts 18 career World Cup goals, leaving him just one behind Messi's all-time total of 19.

Meanwhile, Croatia's Luka Modric, at 40 years and 291 days old, recently became the oldest player to record a World Cup assist. He remains his country's leader and best player. These players represent different eras united by exceptional World Cup performances.