The first round of group stage matches at the 2026 World Cup is complete, and the standout performers have been ranked using Sky Sports' True Performance metric. Lionel Messi claimed the top spot with a perfect score, but the results threw up at least one major surprise.

Messi's flawless hat-trick

Messi delivered the defining performance of the opening round against Algeria, finishing with a perfect rating of 100. His hat-trick was accompanied by the most chances created, the most touches in the opposition box, and the second-highest number of forward passes in the match. That 100 rating sets the benchmark for every player for the rest of the tournament — if someone surpasses it, the bar moves accordingly.

Kylian Mbappe's dominant display against Senegal was not enough to secure second place. He settled for third. The man who finished between them is Brighton's Yasin Ayari, whose double from midfield in Sweden's opener outscored the likes of Vitinha, Pedri, and Declan Rice. The 22-year-old barely started half of his 29 Premier League appearances last season, yet he mixed it with the very best on the world's biggest stage.

Kane leads England but trails the pack

England's 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas was one of the most thrilling Three Lions performances at a major tournament in recent memory. Harry Kane topped Thomas Tuchel's squad with a True Performance score of 92.0 — he scored twice, registered seven shots in the opposition penalty area, and outperformed his expected goals by nearly double. A missed penalty was excluded from the calculation after a retake was ordered.

Jude Bellingham also broke the 90-point threshold with a score of 90.0, while Noni Madueke and Elliot Anderson impressed the eye without matching those numbers statistically. Despite Kane's double, his score was outside the overall top 10. Erling Haaland's World Cup debut for Norway produced a score of 93.7, while Sweden's Alexander Isak returned 93.6 — both comfortably ahead of England's captain.

Vozinha's heroics in goal

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha produced one of the most memorable individual displays of the opening round, keeping the European champions Spain at bay with a series of stunning saves. The 40-year-old became the first goalkeeper aged 40 or over to make seven or more saves in a World Cup match since Pat Jennings in 1986. He also registered 78 touches — the most of any Cape Verde player on the night.

His True Performance score of 93.4 was bettered only by Haaland, Isak, and Mbappe among all outfield players. Among goalkeepers, only Scotland's Angus Gunn also reached the nineties. Jordan Pickford scored 42.8, Thibaut Courtois posted a meagre 20.4, and Manuel Neuer, back in international football, managed just 18.4. The contrast underlines just how extraordinary Vozinha's effort was.

Just the hero for New Zealand

Heading into the tournament as the lowest-ranked side at 82nd in the FIFA world rankings, New Zealand were widely expected to struggle. Elijah Just had other ideas. The Motherwell winger scored twice against Iran to earn Darren Bazeley's side a point, leaving them well placed in Group G alongside Egypt and Belgium, who also drew.

Just finished among the top three players in the match for chances created and final-third passes, and converted 100 percent of his shots. It was a display that will ensure his name is remembered long after this opening round.