​Ranking the best players in the star-studded World Cup quarterfinal, from Lionel Messi to Erling Haaland, originally appeared on The Sporting News. The Sporting News is listed as a preferred source. The World Cup has undergone significant downsizing in recent weeks, with the field shrinking from 48 to 32, then 16, and now to eight teams. Each team that has navigated the chaotic early knockout rounds believes it can win the international trophy. There is reason to think any of them could claim it, though the favorites—France, Argentina, England, Spain, and Morocco—appear particularly well-equipped to wear down their opponents in the coming rounds. It’s easy to spot teams that could surge in the next stage, but the question remains: which players could elevate their nations to new heights before the tournament concludes on July 19?
World Cup HQ: Latest World Cup news, full schedule, and tickets. In this 2026 edition, after five matches, standout stat lines show eight goals and zero assists for some top names. The goalkeeping race is crowded at the summit, with Argentina’s Emiliano Martínez, England’s Jordan Pickford, Spain’s Unai Simón, and France’s Mike Maignan earning praise at various points in their international careers. Yet our pick for best goalkeeper is Bono, who has already made waves with his shot-stopping prowess—particularly in penalty shootouts. Bono’s ability to prise attackers off balance from the spot is evident, as seen in Morocco’s clash with the Netherlands, where he saved two penalties, one while standing upright. In tournament knockout games where margins are razor-thin, you want a goalkeeper you can trust, and Bono’s reliability on penalties makes him a standout choice on the goal-line.
In the five matches examined, Bono has recorded one goal and two assists. There has also been controversy off the field. Hakimi, Morocco’s captain, is slated to stand trial in a rape case in Paris. The Versailles appellate court announced that Hakimi has been formally charged, stating that investigations have produced sufficient evidence for a trial. Despite this, Hakimi remains a premier right-back, contributing on both ends for PSG and Morocco. The Spain-born star has had a mixed World Cup so far, struggling at times to replicate the consistency he showed with PSG. Nevertheless, he remains one of the toughest players to mark in Morocco’s attack, often pairing with Brahim Díaz to great effect for Ouahbi’s dynamic forward line. Hakimi has three goal contributions across five appearances for the Atlas Lions. There are arguments that Hakimi should not be playing in the World Cup given the serious charges against him, but as the tournament progresses, his on-field impact cannot be denied.