Lionel Messi may be leading the race for the Golden Boot and continuing to rewrite FIFA World Cup history, but the Argentina captain is not the most successful player in the tournament after the team.On the contrary, Official FIFA rankings he has put German substitute Deniz Undav at the top of the attacking charts, slowly overtaking Messi following three stunning appearances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.The official FIFA World Cup player game, developed by Aramco under the direction of Arsène Wenger, evaluates each player’s performance using advanced game data. Outfielders receive scores out of 10 for offense, agility and defense, while infielders are evaluated separately for their athleticism and possessions.While many expected Messi, Kylian Mbappé or Harry Kane to take the top spot after the group stage, most of FIFA instead awarded it, with Undav’s performance on the bench ensuring he finished first.
Deniz Undav is the top attacking player in FIFA despite not starting a game
Few players made a big impact on the match due to limited playing time.Undav did not start a game for Germany in the tournament, making just three appearances in just 86 minutes.
Germany’s Deniz Undav reacts after scoring during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Germany and Curacao in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
However, those brief cameos have produced amazing numbers.The striker has scored three goals and provided two assists, averaging a goal every 28.7 minutes and providing a direct goal every 17.2 minutes.His standout came during Germany’s 7-1 win over Curaçao, where he came off the bench to score once and register two assists in just 26 minutes.He followed that up by scoring a substitute goal against the Ivory Coast, including the winner in the 94th minute, helping Germany to a 2–1 victory.That led Undav to have a strike rate of 8.36, slightly ahead of Messi’s 8.34, which made him the most attacking player in FIFA after the group stage even though he was never in the starting XI.
Messi continues to rewrite World Cup history
Despite finishing second in FIFA’s attacking rankings, Messi continues to produce one of the best performances of his career.The Argentina captain has scored six goals in three group games, extending his all-time World Cup tally to 19 and cementing his position as the tournament’s top scorer heading into the tournament.When Argentina beat Jordan, Messi also became the first player in history to score for 13 different countries at the FIFA World Cup.According to Opta, he also became the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup games, adding to an unprecedented streak in the history of the game.His 8.34 attack would have topped the FIFA rankings, but Undav’s performance in the end saw him take second place.
Mbappé, Vinícius and Dembélé continue to chase
France captain Kylian Mbappé is third in FIFA’s attacking rating with 8.13, while Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior is fourth at 7.92 after a superb team performance.Vinícius finished the opening round with four goals, scoring in all three games against Morocco, Haiti and Scotland to become the first Brazilian player in 24 years to score in every World Cup game.French striker Ousmane Dembélé moved up to sixth after scoring one of his goals against Norway. His first hat-trick, which was completed in just 32 minutes, made him the first player since Oleg Salenko in 1994 to score a hat-trick in the first half of the World Cup while also becoming the second fastest player to complete the World Cup treble from the start.Norwegian striker Erling Haaland is also among the top scorers after scoring four goals in his first World Cup.
FIFA rankings go beyond goals
Unlike the Golden Boot standings, FIFA’s official rankings look at performance rather than just goals.The attacking team offers opportunities to have chances, finish and play offensively, while skill tries to pass, create opportunities and advance. Defensive support is also included to create a larger picture of the player’s overall strength.Elsewhere in the FIFA rankings, France’s Michael Olise leads the way in goal-scoring with 8.03, Canada’s Luc De Fougerolles is the best defender at 7.38, while Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams occupy the top two spots.As the Round of 32 began, the battle for the title in the tournament was wide open.Messi still leads the race for the Golden Boot with six goals, while Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Vinícius Júnior and Erling Haaland all scored four times. France, Argentina and Mexico are also the only teams to achieve a better group record by winning all three of their matches, ensuring that many of the favorites remain in the competition.Whether Undav can remain at the top of the FIFA rankings without becoming a regular starter is now becoming one of the most intriguing aspects of the knockout game.
FIFA’s top 10 players after the 2026 World Cup squad
- 1. Deniz Undav (Germany) – Attack: 8.36 | Production: 6.78 | Defense: 4.70
- 2. Lionel Messi (Argentina) – Attack: 8.34 | Production: 6.43 | Security: 5.14
- 3. Kylian Mbappé (France) – Attack: 8.13 | Production: 7.25 | Defense: 4.59
- 4. Vinícius Júnior (Brazil) – Attack: 7.92 | Production: 6.39 | Defense: 4.75
- 5. Johan Manzambi (Switzerland) – Attacking: 7.57 | Production: 6.60 | Defense: 4.83
- 6. Ousmane Dembélé (France) – Attack: 7.53 | Production: 6.65 | Defense: 4.74
- 7. Erling Haaland (Norway) – Attack: 7.33 | Production: 5.02 | Protection: 4.61
- 8. Crysencio Summerville (Netherlands) – Attack: 7.09 | Production: 6.73 | Protection: 5.42
- 9. Elijah Just (New Zealand) – Attack: 7.09 | Production: 6.28 | Protection: 5.42
- 10. Ismael Saibari (Morocco) – Attack: 7.08 | Production: 6.14 | Defense: 5.30