The 2026 World Cup has taken another step closer to its climax, with the round-of-16 coming to a conclusion.
We now know the final eight teams in the tournament, set to take part in the quarter-finals over the next few days. But before we get there, let’s take a look back at the thrilling round-of-16.
There were some excellent games and brilliant performances from teams and players alike. So we’ve picked our best XI of the last-16, with a maximum of two players per team.
- Betting Exchange
- Modern Betting Platform
- Uniquely Designed Sportsbook
- Very Competitive Odds
New UK customers only. Min £10 first deposit using Debit Card or Bank Transfer. Place a bet of £10 at min odds of 2.0 and get a £10 Football Bet Builder token upon settlement. A £10 Multiple token will be credited after 24 hours. A £5 Horse Racing Multiple token and a £5 Football Bet Builder token will be credited after 48 hours. Minimum 3 legs. Full T&Cs apply, 18+. BeGambleAware.org.
GK: Gregor Kobel (Switzerland)
Switzerland’s win over Colombia wasn’t a classic. But it did bring a clean sheet for Gregor Kobel, who had a key role to play. During the game, Kobel made three saves, which wasn’t the most of the round. But he did prevent 0.9 goals. He caught one cross and also completed nine long passes. The crucial moment came once the game was over, with Kobel saving Cucho Hernandez’s penalty in the shootout to put Switzerland on the brink of the quarter-finals.
RB: Juan Jose Caceres (Paraguay)
Juan Jose Caceres was a busy man for Paraguay, tasked with keeping Bradley Barcola and then Desire Doue quiet. He did his job well, too. The wing-back won three tackles against France, winning possession three times in the defensive third. He also made one last-man tackle and completed one clearance, alongside three interceptions retaining possession. Caceres wasn’t as involved going forward, but that wasn’t his job.
CB: Issa Diop (Morocco)
Issa Diop was an absolute rock at the back for Morocco to help them shut out, and beat, co-hosts Canada. They had to hold firm for large parts of the game, and Diop was a big part in that. He made 10 clearances in the match, the joint-most of any player in the last-16. Diop was calm on the ball, boasting a retention rate of 92.31% and won three of his four aerial duels, alongside 100% success rate on the ground.
CB: William Saliba (France)
Another key centre-back in a clean sheet, William Saliba was busier that you might have thought considering Paraguay’s gameplan. Like Diop, Saliba made 10 clearances in France’s win and was part of a defence that faced just 0.18 non-penalty Expected Goals. Saliba won possession once in the defensive third, but four times in the middle third, ensuring the backline wasn’t tested too much. It worked, with France only conceding one shot from inside their own box.
LB: Lucas Digne (France)
Lucas Digne completes our defence with a solid performance for France. He has made the left-back spot his own, replacing Theo Hernandez. The 32-year-old made three tackles in their win over Paraguay, winning possession four times overall and completing six clearances. That’s even more impressive when you consider Paraguay didn’t do much attacking at all. So his strengths were on the ball. Digne attempted and completed more passes than any other left-back, as well as those in the final third.
- Betting Exchange
- Modern Betting Platform
- Uniquely Designed Sportsbook
- Very Competitive Odds
New UK customers only. Min £10 first deposit using Debit Card or Bank Transfer. Place a bet of £10 at min odds of 2.0 and get a £10 Football Bet Builder token upon settlement. A £10 Multiple token will be credited after 24 hours. A £5 Horse Racing Multiple token and a £5 Football Bet Builder token will be credited after 48 hours. Minimum 3 legs. Full T&Cs apply, 18+. BeGambleAware.org.
DM: Rodri (Spain)
Rodri was at his usually-high level for Spain in their win over Portugal. He was the ball-winner of Spain’s midfield, making four tackles in the game — with only Lamine Yamal manaign more. Rodri also won possession three times in the defensive third (a game-high) and three times in the middle third. On the ball, Rodri was just as you’d have expected, too. He completed 93.48% of his passes, including 23 of his 24 final third attempts. Rodri was at the heart of everything for Spain, with his 106 touches in the top five among players with just 90 minutes played in the last-16.
RM: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Without Lionel Messi, Argentina would no longer be at the World Cup. And he started their win over Egypt with a missed penalty! Sure, he plays as a striker for Argentina, but we all know he right-winger. So that’s where he gets into our team here. Messi created an impressive six chances against Egypt, including two big chances. He helped get Argentina’s comeback underway with an assist for Cristian Romero’s goal. Messi then scored the equaliser, with one of his five shots. And he completed five of his seven attacking take-ons, with four completed crosses. There isn’t a player more important to their team at this World Cup.
No.10: Jude Bellingham (England)
Jude Bellingham’s performance in England’s 3-2 win over Mexico was pretty much perfect. When England needed him most, the midfielder turned up to give them a two-goal lead in the first half. But he also put in an excellent last-ditch challenge to save a goal at the other end of the pitch. It wouldn’t be too hyperbolic to say England won because of Bellingham. Outside of the goals, Bellingham won 10 duels, completed four take-ons and won possession three times.
LM: Andreas Schjelderup (Norway)
Andreas Schjelderup was a half-time substitute in Norway’s win over Brazil, and he changed the game after coming on. The winger was electric, creating two chances in his 45 minutes on the pitch, both resulting in goals. It was his brilliant cross that set up Erling Haaland’s leader to give Norway the lead, and he played the pass before the striker’s second. Schjelderup also completed 13 of his 14 attempted final-third passes, one cross and had 41 touches of the ball.
ST: Charles De Ketelaere (Belgium)
If there were any doubts about Charles De Ketelaere as Belgium’s first-choice striker, he put them all to bed against the United States. The 25-year-old scored two goals and provided one assist in Belgium’s big win over the co-hosts. Although there was a slice of fortune with the assist, capitalising on a goalkeeping error, it wasn’t a fluke. De Ketelaere created three chances overall, the joint-most in the match. But it’s all about the finishing. The striker posted 1.77 xG and 2.02 post-shot xG, boosting his chances of scoring by his shot placement.
ST: Erling Haaland (Norway)
For a large part of the game against Brazil, Erling Haaland was on the periphery. But as everyone knows, that means very little for the striker. He scored two very different goals to send Norway to a first-ever men’s World Cup quarter-final. The first was an excellent header, beating Premier League rival Gabriel in the air. His second was special, receiving the ball on the edge of the box before taking a touch and firing low into the bottom right corner. Haaland’s four shots brought 0.54 xG, but he upped that to 1.58 post-shot xG. The mark of a true finisher.
Read more: