World Cup 2026 Power Rankings: Messi Shines as Argentina Tops, Spain and Portugal Stumble

World Cup 2026 Power Rankings: Lionel Messi Guides Argentina to Summit While Spain and Portugal Struggle

The first round of group-stage matches in the 2026 World Cup across the United States, Mexico, and Canada has wrapped up, delivering unexpected excitement despite a seemingly dull slate on paper. Big names mostly showed up for their countries, though not every star shone.

Hosts Mexico and the USA secured wins, Brazil was held by Morocco, Germany overwhelmed Curacao, Netherlands and Japan played out a thrilling draw, and Cape Verde and DR Congo shocked by drawing against Spain and Portugal respectively.

Individual brilliance came from Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane with braces each. Yet, it was Lionel Messi who grabbed attention again, scoring a hat-trick for defending champions Argentina. Cristiano Ronaldo’s opening game was disappointing by contrast.

With the tournament underway, GOAL ranks all 48 teams based on their chances moving forward.

Lower-ranked Teams and Early Upsets

• Curacao suffered a heavy 7-0 loss to Germany but earned a memorable equalizer from Livano Comenencia.
• Panama lost narrowly to Ghana and face tough matches ahead, likely ending their run early.
• Iraq battled bravely against Norway but lost 4-1; next up is a daunting clash with France.
• Tunisia faced a crushing 5-1 defeat to Sweden, leading to the sacking of coach Sabri Lamouchi just after the game.
• Haiti put up a good fight despite a close loss to Scotland, but upcoming matches against Brazil and Morocco loom large.

Promising Performances From Debutants and Underdogs

• Jordan showed promise in their first World Cup match despite a late loss to Austria.
• Cape Verde stunned many by holding Spain to a goalless draw, their toughest opponent now behind them.
• Saudi Arabia nearly upset Uruguay, showing resilience after taking an early lead.
• Uzbekistan made history with their first World Cup goal but need big results ahead to advance.
• DR Congo earned a surprising draw against Portugal thanks to Yoane Wissa's header.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina secured a point from hosts Canada and remain hopeful for more positive results.

Co-Hosts and Strong Contenders

• Mexico opened their campaign with a solid win over South Africa, buoyed by Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez.
• United States demolished Paraguay 4-1, with Folarin Balogun scoring twice.
• Canada drew with Bosnia but will aim to capitalize on home advantage.
• Brazil struggled for control but managed a draw versus Morocco, thanks to Vinicius Jr's efforts.

European Giants’ Mixed Starts

• Spain disappointed with a 0-0 draw against debutants Cape Verde, exposing issues up front.
• Portugal stumbled against DR Congo, raising questions about Cristiano Ronaldo’s influence.
• Germany crushed Curacao 7-1, displaying sharp attack led by Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz.
• England powered through Croatia 4-0, with Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham firing.
• France overcame Senegal 3-1 after a slow start, highlighted by Kylian Mbappe’s crucial goals.
• Netherlands dropped points in a 2-2 draw with Japan, needing stronger finishes ahead.
• Switzerland were held to a draw by Qatar, failing to capitalize on a favorable group.
• Croatia were defeated 4-2 by England but remain dangerous with key players like Luka Modric.

African and Asian Teams Making Their Mark

• Morocco followed up their historic 2022 run with a strong draw against Brazil, confident for upcoming matches.
• Senegal lost 3-1 to France but showed potential with Ibrahim Mbaye’s standout goal.
• Egypt frustrated against Belgium but have quality to advance with Mohamed Salah leading.
• South Korea edged Czechia 2-1, positioning well in their group.
• Australia impressed with a 2-0 win over Turkiye, aiming for another knockout berth.
• Japan fought back for a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands despite injuries.

Top Five Teams After Opening Matches

1. Argentina: Messi’s hat-trick propelled them to a commanding position.
2. France: Powerful finishers with Mbappe hitting form at the right moment.
3. England: High-scoring victory highlights their attacking strength.
4. Germany: Dominant performance against Curacao boosts confidence.
5. Brazil: Despite struggles, still favorites with talent to improve.

Messi’s brilliance keeps Argentina at the summit for now, but many teams showed signs of life and potential surprises in this expanded World Cup format. The drama is only beginning as these squads prepare for the battles ahead.