The FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage has already delivered plenty of surprises on the pitch, but the latest FIFA Power Rankings have produced an even bigger shock. Germany striker Deniz Undav has overtaken Lionel Messi to become the tournament’s highest-rated player, despite Messi leading the Golden Boot race.
The rankings have sparked debate among football fans worldwide, with many questioning how a player with fewer goals than Messi could top FIFA’s list.
Deniz Undav Takes the No. 1 Spot
According to FIFA’s latest Power Rankings, Germany forward Deniz Undav has earned the highest overall attacking rating in the tournament.
His ratings are:
- Attacking: 8.36
- Creativity: 6.78
- Defending: 4.70
Undav has been remarkably effective whenever he has featured for Germany. Despite not playing as many minutes as several other stars, his efficiency in front of goal and overall contribution have impressed FIFA’s performance analytics system.
Lionel Messi Comes in at No. 2
Argentina captain Lionel Messi is ranked second, with an attacking score only marginally behind Undav’s.
Messi’s ratings are:
- Attacking: 8.34
- Creativity: 6.43
- Defending: 5.14
Messi has been one of the standout performers at the World Cup, scoring six goals and leading Argentina into the knockout rounds. However, FIFA’s Power Rankings measure much more than goals, which explains why he narrowly trails the German striker.
How FIFA Calculates Its Power Rankings
Unlike the Golden Boot standings, FIFA’s Power Rankings are based on advanced performance analytics.
For outfield players, every match is evaluated across three major categories:
- Attacking
- Creativity
- Defending
Each performance contributes to an overall tournament rating, rewarding players who consistently influence games through movement, chance creation, pressing, finishing, and defensive work—not simply by scoring goals.
Why Is Deniz Undav Ahead of Messi?
At first glance, the ranking may seem surprising. Messi has produced more goals and has once again been Argentina’s talisman.
However, FIFA’s analytics reward efficiency as much as volume. Undav has delivered exceptional attacking output with limited playing time, making almost every involvement count. His ability to convert chances and impact matches has given him the slight edge in the attacking metric.
It is worth noting that Messi actually records a higher defensive score than Undav, while Undav leads in both attacking and creativity.
The Rest of the Top Rankings
Behind Undav and Messi are several of football’s biggest stars, including:
- Kylian Mbappé (France)
- Vinícius Júnior (Brazil)
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo sits much lower in the rankings, highlighting how FIFA’s evaluation focuses solely on performances during this tournament rather than a player’s overall reputation.Why Did Enzo Maresca Leave Chelsea: Unpacking the Sudden Departure from Stamford Bridge
Will Messi Reclaim the Top Spot?
The rankings remain dynamic and will continue to change after every knockout-stage match.
With Argentina still in contention and Messi in sensational form, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has every opportunity to overtake Undav before the tournament concludes. Likewise, players such as Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and other standout performers could climb the rankings with strong displays in the later rounds.https://sports.ndtv.com/
For now, though, Germany’s Deniz Undav holds one of the most unexpected honors of the FIFA World Cup 2026: being officially rated as the tournament’s top-performing player by FIFA’s advanced analytics.
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