​Dan the Scout Names His World Cup Matchday 3 Best XI – Who’s In Yours? The group stage has wrapped up, and there were plenty of standout individual performances as nations chased a spot in the knockout rounds. This pick isn’t about naming the biggest stars; it’s about recognizing the players who made the most impact on Matchday 3, whether they’re household names or rising talents who caught the eye. Here is my Team of the Tournament from the final set of group fixtures.
GK Vozinha (Cape Verde / Free Agent) – At 40, his second clean sheet in three games helped Cape Verde finish runners-up in their group without a win. He wasn’t tested as much as against Spain, but he required sharp concentration, claimed most crosses, and executed the sweeper-keeper role brilliantly. His social media following surged from about 50,000 before the trip to America to over 14 million afterward.
LB Keito Nakamura (Japan / Reims) – Hajime Moriyasu deserves praise for constructing a tactically coherent side, and Nakamura has become a key attacking outlet from left-back. He embodies a modern trend: the full-back who knows when to tuck inside and become an offensive weapon. He showed smart decision-making against Sweden, rarely misplaced a pass, and exhibited superb work rate. It won’t be long before he’s no longer in Ligue 2.
CB Joel Ordóñez (Club Brugge / Ecuador) – His performance signals why Europe’s top clubs are watching him. While German teams favor interchangeable players, Ordóñez linked well with Wirtz and Musiala, and his recovery pace was outstanding.
CB Davinson Sánchez (Colombia / Galatasaray) – This is a different version of the defender from his Spurs days. He dominated aerial battles and carried the ball out of defense with authority, leaving Portugal’s attackers frustrated as the 30-year-old imposed himself as a physical presence.
RB Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / PSG) – In a more open game, Hakimi thrived, sprinting up and down the flank with the energy and reliability that set him apart as one of the best full-backs in the world. He contributed a goal and an assist, proving pivotal for African champions.
CM Pape Gueye (Senegal / Villarreal) – Normally I wouldn’t pick a player who featured for only about 35 minutes, especially with Iraq down to ten men, but moments decide tournaments. Gueye entered with Senegal already ahead 2-0 and delivered two goals and an assist, with two of his strikes among the hardest-hit shots of the tournament so far.
CM Pedro Vite (Ecuador / Pumas UNAM) – Vite and Caicedo finally delivered the breakthrough we’ve been waiting for.