World Cup 2026: Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi steal the show after the first round of group stage fixtures
Sky Sports' 'True Performance' looks at which players made the best start at the 2026 World Cup; Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi among the top performers after their goalscoring starts; one England player ranks inside the top 10 from the opening round of fixtures
Thursday 18 June 2026 12:32, UK
The first round of fixtures at the 2026 World Cup have been and gone, and boy did we see some strong performances.
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe showed why they are the cream of the crop - on the same day no less - while the opening matches also allowed for new heroes to be formed, such as Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha. Going from 50,000 social media followers to 10 million in a matter of days is one way to measure how historic your display was.
There are others to have caught the eye, but who really shone the brightest from the first 24 games? That’s where Sky Sports’ True Performance is here to help.
Kane England's main man - but off the pace of rivals
England's 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas was one of the most exciting performances from a Three Lions team at a major tournament in recent memory. Especially the second half.
On paper, there were several who put on a noteworthy display. Noni Madueke impressed on his World Cup debut, as did Elliot Anderson. Statistically though, they weren't among the elite.
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Only two England players returned a score of 90+. Jude Bellingham silenced the doubters and proved his supporters right with a showing that highlighted his penchant for the big occasions. His second-half strike guided him to a score of 90.0 exactly, aided by a steady and efficient display at both ends of the pitch.
Unsurprisingly, it was Harry Kane who took the crown for Thomas Tuchel's side with a score of 92.0. The captain scored twice, was the most constant presence in the opposition penalty area with seven shots and outperformed his xG by nearly double. Important to note too, his missed penalty was not factored into the equation as a retake was ordered. It is as if it never happened.
Despite leading his country to glory yet again, Kane's performance wasn't among the top 10 from the openers. His double paled in comparison to Erling Haaland's on his World Cup debut. Norway's talisman walked away with a score of 93.7. Meanwhile, Alexander Isak's showing for Sweden was worthy of a 93.6. Kane has some work to do to get up to those heights.
How good was Vozinha's display really?
He was mentioned earlier, but Cape Verde shotstopper Vozinha won over the hearts of the world - minus Spaniards - with his incredible showing against the European champions.
He became the first 40-year-old to make seven or more saves in a World Cup game aged 40+ since Pat Jennings in 1986. He also had the most touches of any Cape Verde player with 78.
It was a heroic display that will live long in the memory and left him with a score of 93.4. But how did that compare to the tournament's other 'keepers?
Only one other goalkeeper landed a score in the nineties: Scotland's Angus Gunn. As for other notable names, Jordan Pickford scored 42.8. Thibaut Courtois a measly 20.4. Manuel Neuer returned to international football only to pick up an 18.4.
It really puts into perspective just how heroic Vozinha was.
'Just' what the doctor ordered
Heading into the World Cup, New Zealand were the lowest-ranked side in the competition. Eighty-second in the FIFA world rankings, many would've predicted them to have been one of the teams to leave the tournament without a point.
However, thanks to one man, they remain firmly in the hunt for a place in the knockout stages. Elijah Just's double saw Darren Bazeley's side earn a point against Iran, which leaves them standing tall in Group G thanks to Egypt and Belgium also drawing.
Not only did Just find the net twice, but the winger was also a top-three performer on the night in chances created, final third passes and with a conversion rate of 100 per cent, it was efficiency at its finest from the Motherwell star.
Messi and Mbappe top the charts - but are split by one man
Finally then, who was top of the pops after the first 24 games? After his hat-trick against Algeria, it would've always been hard to take the crown from Messi. Three goals, most chances created, most touches in the opposition box, second most forward passes. The list goes on.
As a result, the Argentine scores the perfect 100 rating. Does that actually mean it was the perfect performance? Not necessarily. It sets the bar for the rest of the tournament to achieve. If someone else has a better game, that rating of 100 could drop down. But for now, this is what everyone else has to try and match.
Perhaps more interestingly, Mbappe's show-stealing effort against Senegal wasn't even enough for him to be second. He takes the bronze medal spot as a surprising name finishes second.
That man is Brighton's Yasin Ayari. That's right. On the biggest stage with the biggest players, a man who barely started half of his 29 Premier League appearances mixed with the best.
Despite having fewer goal contributions than compatriot Isak, his double from midfield stands him head and shoulders above every midfielder. Vitinha, Pedri, Declan Rice. None could hold a candle to the 22-year-old. Expect more surprises like that as the World Cup goes on.
