The provide a data-driven measure of player performance throughout the . Using advanced analytics, these rankings assess contributions across Attacking, Creativity and Defending categories, tracking the players who have the greatest influence on matches as the tournament unfolds.
With the group stage now concluded, the first-ranked players in each category are currently Germany's Denis Undav for Attacking (with an average score of 8.37), France's Michael Olise for Creativity (8.02) and Canada's Derek Cornelius for Defending (7.3).
The final few days of group-stage action witnessed some significant moves up the Power Rankings. Our previous article, for instance, highlighted impressive leaps by Côte d'Ivoire duo in the Attacking and Defending brackets respectively.
Ahead of the start of the Round of 32, other players looking upwards are England's Jude Bellingham – up 332 places in the Creativity ranking thanks to his Michelub Ultra Superior Player of the Match display against Panama – and France's Ousmane Dembele whose hat-trick against Norway lifted him into the Attacking top 10.
Meanwhile Spain's record of three clean sheets in winning Group H is reflected by the prominence of Aymeric Laporte and Rodri in the Defensive ranking.
Dembele's first tournament treble for Les Bleus came from his three attempts on target against Norway – a measure of his clinical finishing on a day when he stayed wide on the right to receive in space following switches of play and run at the isolated Norway left-back, Fredrik Andre Bjorkan. As well as his attacking score of 8.5, he scored high for Creativity too, with his consistent forward passing reflected by a total of 12 progressive passes. As well as moving 49 places up the Attacking ladder to sixth, he scored 6.63 for Creativity to soar 96 places in that second bracket.
A new entry in the top 10 after making his first start of the tournament against Canada, the 20-year-old Swiss had a superb group stage with three goals from just six attempts as well as the assist for Ruben Vargas goal against the co-hosts. His impact has made him one of the tournament's most exciting young attackers so far and leaves him with an average score of 7.56.
With England’s opening goal against Panama and the assist for Harry Kane to supply their second, Bellingham had a key role as Thomas Tuchel's men secured first place in Group L on Saturday. With his forward runs in behind he threatened the Panama backline – and in this way was in position to cross for Kane’s header. His attacking score was 6.72, bringing a climb of 52 places to 14th, while his 5.98 for Creativity lifted him 332 places in that ranking.
Trossard helped Belgium get up and running in their 5-1 victory over New Zealand, the 31-year-old opening his World Cup goals account with two goals and collecting a score of 8.3. The fact he had seven open-play attempts underlines his determination to make an impact it moved him 141 places into the top 50 the Attacking ranking at 49th.
Mbappe did not score but he made a telling impact all the same, reflected by his score of 8.6 for Creativity. The Real Madrid forward registered two assists for Dembele. Moreover, his movement – illustrated by a total of 31 offers in behind – and final-ball quality consistently brought about opportunities for others, helping drive France's attacking output. It is no surprise to see him third in the Attacking section yet he has now ascended 59 places in the Creativity ranking to fifth.
Completed his first 90 minutes of the World Cup in the last group fixture against Switzerland and the 22-year-old has now entered the top 10 of the Creativity ranking in second place. He has one goal and two assists (the second of which was his ball for Promise David's goal against the Swiss) and his overall statistics are impressive, showing 62 completed passes from 65 attempted and, moreover, his ability to progress the ball with 20 line-breaks completed by pass.
Like Trossard, winger Doku helped Belgium find their shooting boots against New Zealand by getting the ball into advanced areas with his exciting ball-carrying ability, which resulted in seven completed ball progressions. Over the entirety of group stage he has completed 10 of 23 take-ons and he now climbs 52 places up to third.
Another new entry at eight in the Creativity category, he made his first start of the tournament against Panama and his corner for Bellingham's goal brought his second assist in North America. More than anything, his importance to England is measured by his ability to move his team forward from wide areas: he has eight completed ball progressions and seven successful take-ons from nine attempted.
The history-makers of Cape Verde have put the ball in the net only twice in North America but Ryan Mendes's output is not measured by goals alone. Against Saudi Arabia, his work with the ball earned him a score of 7.5 which took him 206 places up the Creativity ranking. He excelled with his progressive passing (nine) and ball progressions (six), helping Cabo Verde shepherd the ball into the final third and offering an option in wide areas.
Laporte climbed 33 places to third in the overall Defensive ranking after a terrific performance to help Spain secure their third clean sheet in Group G against Uruguay – and earn himself a score of 8.1 for his work in Guadalajara. The senior partner in his back-line pairing with Pau Cubarsi, the physically imposing Laporte organised the defensive line and exhibited his ball-winning abilities, with five successful aerial duels and six possession contests won. Overall in the tournament, he has 12 clearances and six blocks as well as nine tackles and 13 regains.
Against Uruguay, Spain's ability to manage a game was central as they defended a 1-0 lead against increasingly desperate opponents and Rodri was key to this, showcasing once more his intelligence and composure in the midfield-pivot role and earning a score of 8.0 which carries him 21 places to second in this ranking. He supported his back four superbly, playing close to them in and out of possession as well as helping to break up play.
Cabo Verde’s second clean sheet of the tournament came with the help of another strong showing by left-back Joao Paulo, which earned him a score of 6.72 in the ranking. Amid his side's solid collective effort, his own defensive output included four interceptions and four aerial duels won as he helped contain Saudi Arabia’s threat when they looked to attack in the wider areas of the pitch. He is now in 23rd place in the Defensive ranking, four places behind Diney Borges another member of the newcomers' well-structured, brilliantly disciplined defensive block.
Sources: FIFA Official
