The opening round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is done. Twenty-four players earned the Player of the Match award across 24 group-stage fixtures. Here is the full list.
June 11
Julian Quiñones (Mexico) was the standout in Mexico’s 2-0 win over South Africa, contributing directly to both goals.
Hwang In-beom (South Korea) drove his side’s 2-1 comeback victory against Czechia.
June 12
Ismael Koné (Canada) was the best player on the pitch in the co-hosts’ 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Folarin Balogun (USA) was the individual highlight of the early days, scoring twice in a 4-1 demolition of Paraguay.
June 13
John McGinn (Scotland) led Scotland to a disciplined 1-0 win over Haiti.
Nestory Irankunda (Australia) was the brightest player in Australia’s 2-0 victory over Türkiye.
Vinícius Júnior (Brazil) produced one of the most eye-catching performances of the round but could not prevent a 1-1 draw with Morocco.
Mahmoud Abunada (Qatar) earned the award as Qatar held Switzerland to the same scoreline.
June 14
Yan Diomande (Côte d’Ivoire) was central to the Elephants’ 1-0 win over Ecuador.
Kai Havertz (Germany) earned his award in the most one-sided result of the round, a 7-1 destruction of Curaçao.
Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands) was the best player in a chaotic 2-2 draw with Japan.
Alexander Isak (Sweden) tore Tunisia apart in a 5-1 win, one of the cleanest individual displays of the opening week.
June 15
Federico Valverde (Uruguay) was the most technically impressive player in a 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia.
Vozinha (Cabo Verde) delivered arguably the goalkeeping performance of the round, keeping a clean sheet against Spain in a famous 0-0 draw.
Ramin Rezaeian (Iran) stood out in Iran’s 2-2 draw with New Zealand.
Emam Ashour (Egypt) earned the award as Egypt held Belgium to a 1-1 stalemate.
June 16
Michael Olise (France) was the most dangerous player in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal.
Erling Haaland (Norway) scored and dominated as Norway beat Iraq 4-1.
Lionel Messi (Argentina) produced the defining individual performance of the entire round, scoring a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria, equalling Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals on his 200th Argentina cap.
Ali Olwan (Jordan) earned the award in Jordan’s opener against Austria.
June 17
Yoane Wissa (DR Congo) scored the equaliser that earned DR Congo their first World Cup point in 52 years, stunning Portugal in a 1-1 draw.
Harry Kane (England) scored twice in England’s 4-2 win over Croatia.
Antoine Semenyo (Ghana) was Ghana’s most direct player in their 1-0 win over Panama.
Luis Diaz (Colombia) scored once and created another in Colombia’s 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan.
