Several of soccer's superstars have enhanced their Ballon d'Or case during the first stage of the World Cup. We run through the contenders

From Cape Verde to Uruguay — and from Messi to Ronaldo — the 2026 World Cup has had its share of surprises and disappointments.

Before we look forward, we should look back at a group stage that had it all. Managerial sackings, stunning goals, major upsets, and the biggest stars stepping into the spotlight.

Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo have all gotten on the scoring sheet in the FIFA World Cup 2026. | Football News

Messi, Mbappe and Haaland light up Golden Boot race as nine out of 10 African nations qualify for the round of 32 | Football News

Several of soccer's superstars have enhanced their Ballon d'Or case during the first stage of the World Cup. We run through the contenders

The biggest World Cup in history is in full flow, as are some of the biggest stars. So where do they rank in value according to the data?