We are now into what might be the fifth and surely final iteration of Messi, but somehow the Argentine genius is still producing extraordinary performances – almost as if it is 2011 and he is still conquering Europe with Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.
While the level of opposition in Major League Soccer has to be considered when contextualising his prolific club stats for Inter Miami, Messi’s World Cup exploits leave little doubt he is still among the very best.
With eight goals and four assists, he has guided Argentina to a second successive World Cup final, and he narrowly leads the Golden Boot race, with one more assist than fellow eight-goal man Mbappe.
Victory on Sunday would make Messi the first player in history to captain his nation to back-to-back World Cup triumphs.
But Lamine Yamal might have something to say about that.
While the teenage winger has not dazzled like he did when Spain won Euro 2024 – he has one goal and no assists in seven games – he has been a key part of a Spanish collective who have reached their first World Cup final since winning the 2010 edition.
Lamine Yamal enjoyed another impressive season for Barcelona – 24 goals and 18 assists in 45 games – despite missing the final month of the campaign through injury.
Barcelona won La Liga but fell in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, so Spain probably need to win the World Cup if he is to be named the world’s best.
Kane had a remarkable 2025-26 – the Englishman scored 61 goals in 51 games in all club competitions as Bayern Munich won a league and cup double.
However, defeats in the semi-finals of the Champions League with his club and the World Cup with England could cost him.
“I could score 100 goals this season, but if I don’t win the Champions League or the World Cup, I’m probably not going to win the Ballon d’Or,” Kane reported in November. “It’s the same with any player. You have to be winning those major trophies.”
Kane’s Bayern team-mate Olise enjoyed a superb second season in Bavaria, scoring 22 goals and setting up 31 more in 52 games.
The 24-year-old carried that form into the World Cup and has provided more assists (five) than anyone else at the tournament, but he and his team-mates severely underwhelmed in a 2-0 semi-final defeat by Spain.
France striker Kylian Mbappe has scored eight goals this summer after topping the scoring charts in both La Liga and the Champions League.
He has been one of the most consistent goalscorers in world football for eight years now, but at 27, he has yet to win the Ballon d’Or.
After a trophyless season with Real Madrid and World Cup heartache, that seems unlikely to change.
Haaland won the Premier League Golden Boot for the third time in four seasons, but in terms of silverware he had to settle for an FA Cup and Carabao Cup double.
Scoring seven goals in Norway’s first World Cup in 28 years will only further cement his legendary status back home.
Ballon d’Or holder Dembele won Ligue 1 and the Champions League for the second season in a row, but injuries limited his output.
That reported, an impressive World Cup showing – five goals and two assists – has given his chances a timely boost.
PSG colleague Kvaratskhelia shone in the Champions League last season (10 goals and seven assists) but his nation, Georgia, did not qualify for the World Cup.
Bellingham deserves a mention for dragging England to the World Cup semi-finals, but an injury-hit campaign and a lack of silverware realistically rules him out.
Rice will be in the top-10 mix – the midfielder was key for an Arsenal team who won the Premier League and were a couple of penalty kicks away from becoming European champions.
