What makes a great World Cup photograph? Now there’s a question with myriad answers. Composition, newsworthiness, emotional resonance, expert timing and luck can all contribute to varying degrees. But one thing they all share is the power to capture attention.On the Guardian sport picture desk, we have received more than 500,000 World Cup photographs over the past six weeks, with so many classics among them. Here, with much applause to the photographers who created them and a slight bias towards England, are my favourite images of the tournament.1Messi’s cathedralArgentina’s Lionel Messi prepares to take a corner kick against Switzerland at Kansas City Stadium. Photograph: Julian Finney/Fifa/Getty ImagesAn absolute cracker to start with. In this picture, the cavernous Kansas City Stadium sweeps around a small corner of grass on which the world’s most famous footballer stands alone. You can’t really see it’s Lionel Messi, but somehow you can tell it’s him. It feels as though everybody’s eyes are pointed in his direction, as though they’re worshipping a deity in an epic footballing cathedral.2Goalline scrambleBrazil’s Endrick flings his boot at a loose ball as Japan’s players scramble to clear their lines. Photograph: Annegret Hilse/ReutersTechnological improvements have led to the creation of high-quality miniature remote-operated cameras which can be placed inside goalmouths. Seeing the game at such close quarters feels wonderfully dynamic. This frame in particular captures a mad scramble between Brazil and Japan; the wonky angle adds to the sense of chaos.3Tuchel’s close upEngland’s manager, Thomas Tuchel, during the national anthem before the match with Croatia at Dallas Stadium. Photograph: Bradley Collyer/PAA self-referential choice, but this was a big news story at the time: England played Croatia in their first game and the England manager, Thomas Tuchel, was so furious he couldn’t see the players during the national anthem that he asked Fifa to move the photographers for subsequent games. In fairness to him, you can see why. Four weeks later, Tuchel would garner headlines again after his substitutions in the semi-final against Argentina helped to trigger England’s collapse.4Balogun sees redThe USA’s Folarin Balogun fouls Tarik Muharemovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, leading to a red card after a VAR check. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty ImagesAt first glance it looks innocuous enough, then you notice Tarik Muharemovic’s right ankle buckling under the pressure applied by Folarin Balogun’s mistimed challenge. Replays of the incident suggested the foul was unintentional, though the Bosnian was lucky to escape injury. Balogun received a red card following a VAR review, but his one-game ban was suspended by Fifa after lobbying from Donald Trump. With Balogun back in the team, the USA were dumped out of their own tournament by Belgium in the next round.5Tartan traumaScotland’s Findlay Curtis (left) and Jack Hendry in the tunnel after their defeat by Brazil in Miami. Photograph: Carmen Mandato/Fifa/Getty ImagesI’ve relished seeing so many photographs from inside the tunnels at this World Cup because the players seem to reveal a little more of themselves away from the public eye. This candid shot of Scotland players Findlay Curtis and Jack Hendry shows them in the wake of their 3-0 loss to Brazil – a defeat that was filled with calamity, and which ultimately led to Scotland’s early exit. They look like they’re outside a head teacher’s office waiting to be reprimanded.6England’s midfielder Jude Bellingham scores his team’s first goal against Mexico at the Azteca. Photograph: Ulises Ruiz/AFP/Getty ImagesI love a good diving header and this one by Jude Bellingham against Mexico was peachy. From a photographic point of view, you seldom get shots from tribune positions like this during a Premier League season, so they have a real novelty value during major tournaments. But it’s more than just novelty: the elevated vantage point helps to remove the surrounding clutter and give a proper fan’s eye view of the goal. I also love the verdant grass, the shocking pink goalkeeper’s jersey and the sense of anticipation because the ball has yet to cross the line. It reminds me of the signed photograph of Coventry’s Keith Houchen, from the 1987 FA Cup final, that hangs proudly on my dad’s office wall.7Bruno’s early bathBrazil’s Bruno Guimarães cools down with a splash of water in the first half against Morocco in New Jersey. Photograph: Adam Hunger/APSo many hydration breaks, so much Powerade, but only one player managed to look like a Portuguese water dog fresh from a dip in a lake. The Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimarães is pictured here dousing himself in H2O when his side faced Morocco in their opening game at New York New Jersey Stadium. Brazil ultimately went home for an early bath after losing to Norway in the last 16.8Viking row boatNorway supporters gather to perform their rowing celebration on the iconic red steps in Times Square. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty ImagesThe mass rowing displays performed by Norway’s fans this summer have been a viral sensation. Seen everywhere from Times Square to Miami Beach, they also became a fixture of the team’s post-match partying, with Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard both banging a fan’s drum as the side progressed to the quarter-finals. The Vikings were stopped by England, but their journey was one of the feelgood stories of the tournament.9Light and shadeKylian Mbappé of France dribbles the ball against Sweden at New York New Jersey Stadium. Photograph: Justin Setterfield/Getty ImagesA gorgeous pool of afternoon sunlight spilling on to the pitch, surrounded by deep shadows. You couldn’t really create better low-key lighting conditions if you tried. The photographer just had to nail the exposure and wait for a subject to pass through. The fact that it’s Kylian Mbappé who’s skating across the turf in his rich blue France top adds a nice splash of colour and gravity to the scene.10Tunnel visionLuka Modric of Croatia prepares in the tunnel before their match with Panama in Toronto. Photograph: Joosep Martinson/Fifa/Getty ImagesLuka Modric has spoken in the past about not wanting to let his people down, and of carrying memories of his grandpa, Luka, with him. He appears to be deep in thought here before playing Panama. Perhaps it’s just a fleeting moment – a man simply massaging his temple or visualising the first tackle – or maybe he’s remembering his war-torn roots and the family member he was named after.11Loving VozinhaCape Verde’s Vozinha after the match against Spain in Atlanta. Photograph: Brett Davis/Imagn Images/ReutersAt the ripe age of 40 and with a club career that has taken him to Cyprus, Moldova, Portugal and Slovakia, the Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha became the breakout star at this year’s World Cup. His numerous saves against Spain in the group stage earned him global praise as well as 17 million followers on Instagram. Another stellar display against Argentina, in which he memorably denied a quick free-kick by Messi, further enhanced his reputation. I like his expression in this photograph as he soaks up the adulation from the crowd following the Blue Sharks’ remarkable goalless draw with Spain.12Gaza screeningPalestinian football fans gather among war-damaged buildings in Gaza City to watch the match between Argentina and Egypt on a giant outdoor screen. Photograph: Mohammed Skaik/TheNews2/Cover ImagesThis photograph shows the power of football while also putting the World Cup into perspective. These Palestinian residents in Gaza may have lost everything, but they gathered amid the ruins of their former homes to watch a screening of Egypt’s game against Argentina. A moment of normality amid the horror and heartache.13Erling Haaland of Norway scores against Brazil at New York New Jersey Stadium. Photograph: Image Photo Agency/Getty ImagesErling Haaland’s first goal against Brazil left his old Premier League rival, Gabriel Magalhães, in a heap. In this shot you can see water (or perhaps sweat) flying off the striker’s forehead, his neck fully strained after connecting with the ball. Haaland scored seven goals in five World Cup games: he netted from inside the box, outside the box, with his left foot, right foot and of course his head. Norway have still never been beaten by Brazil after five matches. No other nation can say that.14Lamine Yamal’s bracesLamine Yamal bites the Spain badge during an official Fifa photocall prior to the tournament. Photograph: Karl Bridgeman/Fifa/Getty ImagesThis image was shot before the tournament, as part of Fifa’s official player portraits, but I’ve only recently seen it – and it’s well worth a mention. You don’t see many players with braces, but Lamine Yamal, who only turned 19 this month, wears his with pride. This frame was shot using a 24-70mm lens on a Canon R5 Mark II which has a whopping 45 megapixels, so I suspect it’s been cropped quite hard in post-production to achieve this composition.15Into orbitSwitzerland’s Manuel Akanji misses a penalty during the shootout against Colombia. Photograph: Agustín Marcarian/Reuters