WhoScored's top rated performances at the World Cup so far
With the quarter-finals of the World Cup looming, now is as good a time as any to take stock and look back at the top-rated performances in Russia 2018 so far using WhoScored.com’s unique rating system…
Eden Hazard chipped in with a man of the match display against Tunisia with Belgium running out 5-2 victors. The victory guaranteed the Red Devils’ spot in the last-16 stage of the World Cup, with Hazard key prior to his 69th minute withdrawal. He bagged a brace from four shots in the win and could’ve had an assist having provided three key passes. An additional five successful dribbles helped the 27-year-old earn a WhoScored.com rating of 9.16.
Chelsea teammate Willian pipped Hazard to 9th in the best-rated performances at the World Cup so far having played a key role in Brazil’s 2-0 win over Mexico at the last-16 stage. He may have started the meeting with Mexico slowly, but he turned on the style in the second half, providing the assist for Neymar’s opener, that coming from one of his three key passes. Seven successful dribbles and four fouls won highlighted El Tri’s inability to stop the 29-year-old, who earned a WhoScored.com rating of 9.24 in the victory.
Willian’s compatriot Neymar just edges his Brazil teammate into 8th. The poster boy for Brazilian football put in a man of the match showing in the 2-0 win over Serbia, helping himself to a WhoScored.com rating of 9.25. Neymar completed nine dribbles in the victory, the joint-most in a World Cup match so far, and provided the assist for Thiago Silva to head past Vladimir Stojkovic between the Serbia sticks. That assist was one of four key passes against Serbia in what has been Neymar’s top-rated performance in Russia to date.
Most successful dribbles in a #WorldCup match so far -- 9⃣
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) July 5, 2018
O. Etebo vs Croatia #NGA
Neymar vs Serbia #BRA
Isco vs Russia #ESPhttps://t.co/BINmTx7nUa pic.twitter.com/R8uD20l61y
After a 2-0 defeat to Croatia, Nigeria needed a win over Iceland to harbour any hopes of progression, with Ahmed Musa duly stepping up to the plate. The striker bagged a brace in the 2-0 victory as the 25-year-old scored with two of his three shots on goal. Musa also completed four dribbles and made two tackles for the Super Eagles to help gain a notable WhoScored.com rating of 9.54 against Iceland.
Spain scraped into the next round of the World Cup in a 2-2 draw with Morocco, with Isco the star man with a WhoScored.com rating of 9.66 on the night. The 26-year-old is a key man for La Roja and he proved why as he scored with one of his two shots on goal. Additionally, Isco worked tirelessly off the ball, making three tackles and two interceptions, while six key passes and four successful dribbles capped off a solid showing for the Real Madrid ace.
Just as it seemed the first 0-0 draw of the World Cup was on the cards in the tournament’s second match, Jose Gimenez powered home a sumptuous header in injury time to secure a 1-0 over Egypt. The Uruguayan defender was hugely effective in limiting Egypt’s attacks as he made four tackles, nine interceptions and eight clearances in the victory. Any hopes of being bogged down under pressure from a direct threat were quickly eradicated as Gimenez won five aerial duels to go with his winning goal and return a WhoScored.com rating of 9.74.
The round of 16 matches kicked off in fine fashion as France and Argentina played out a seven-goal thriller, with Les Bleus emerging victorious in an enjoyable 4-3 win. Teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe bagged a crucial brace against the South American outfit and won the penalty with a surging run from his own half that set France on their way to victory. With seven successful dribbles and two interceptions, the 19-year-old did enough to gain the WhoScored.com man of the match award with a rating of 9.77.
Edging Mbappe to the podium is England captain Harry Kane. The striker, like Mbappe, earned a WhoScored.com rating of 9.77, but having played fewer minutes against Panama, the Three Lions star forces out his French counterpart. Kane bagged a hat-trick in England’s 6-1 win over the World Cup debutants and made one key pass and one interception to gain the man of the match award.
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2. Aleksandr Golovin vs Saudi Arabia
5-star Russia kicked off the 2018 World Cup with a bang as they put Saudi Arabia to the sword. However, it wasn’t until Aleksandr Golovin moved infield after Alan Dzagoev’s injury that Russia really took their game to the next level. Golovin was exceptional behind the striker as he scored one and provided two assists from one shot and five key passes, respectively. Four tackles and two interceptions saw the 22-year-old gain a WhoScored.com rating of 9.80 in the 5-0 win.
Securing his place in top spot is Cristiano Ronaldo, whose performance against Spain yielded a WhoScored.com rating of 9.83, the best in a World Cup game so far. Ronaldo was at his destructive best against Portugal’s rivals as he bagged a hat-trick, the 51st of his career and the 51st in World Cup history. He’s the only player to score more than one goal from outside of the box in Russia, both of which came against Spain, while returns of four shots, five aerial duels won, one key pass and a pass success rate of 94.4% capped off a fine individual showing for the 33-year-old.
