Introduction to the Rankings

The 2026 World Cup delivered unforgettable moments, from tactical masterclasses to chaotic encounters. The Athletic has ranked all 80 matches, with the Azteca final between Mexico and England crowned as the most electrifying. Below are highlights from the top 10 and key underdog stories.

Top 10 Matches

• 1. Mexico 2-3 England (Azteca): A weather-delayed thriller with Jude Bellingham's double, Raul Jimenez's equalizer, and Dan Burn's heroic last-gasp clearance. The crowd's passion and tactical drama made it a classic.
• 2. Portugal 2-1 Croatia: Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric's final World Cup meeting ended in heartbreak for Croatia as Goncalo Ramos' 94th-minute goal sealed Portugal's passage after a dramatic late offside call.
• 3. Netherlands 1-1 Morocco (3-2 pens): Bart Verbruggen's heroics in penalties, including a save off Soufiane Rahimi, capped Morocco's underdog journey to the last 16.
• 4. Cape Verde 0-0 Saudi Arabia: The smallest nation to reach the knockout stages held firm against Saudi Arabia, earning a historic place in the tournament's legacy.
• 5. Germany 1-1 Paraguay (3-4 pens): Paraguay's pragmatic defense and Jose Canale's decisive penalty ended Germany's hopes in a nail-biting shootout.

Memorable Underdog Stories

Cape Verde made history as the smallest nation to reach the knockout rounds, holding Spain and Uruguay to draws before edging Saudi Arabia. South Africa stunned fans by qualifying for the knockouts for the first time after a 63rd-minute winner against South Korea. Paraguay and Colombia repeatedly defied expectations with resilient defenses and late-game heroics.

Star Performances

Kylian Mbappe (France) was unstoppable, scoring 18 goals to become the World Cup's all-time top scorer. Erling Haaland (Norway) made history by scoring in his first three World Cup games. Lionel Messi (Argentina) added six goals, including a dramatic 86th-minute winner against DR Congo.

"The Azteca final wasn't just about the scoreline. It was about the atmosphere, the weather delay, and the raw emotion of Mexico's fans. This is why we play football."

Controversial Moments

Penalty decisions and offside calls dominated several matches. The Portugal-Croatia clash saw three controversial offside decisions in stoppage time, while Egypt's 1-0 win over Switzerland was settled by a 94th-minute own goal. Cape Verde's 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia was decided by the Snickometer detecting a hair-flick deflection for an offside.

Methodology

The rankings considered quality of play, drama, and significance. Matches like Canada's 6-0 win over Qatar and Germany's 7-1 rout of Curacao were ranked lower due to one-sidedness, while tactical battles like Portugal vs Croatia and Netherlands vs Morocco climbed higher.