Okay, so you know how every World Cup has those guys who show up like, "Hi, yes, I have never played at this tournament before, but I am about to make it my personal playground"? Yeah, the 2026 edition has been absolutely LOADED with those types. FIFA's Power Rankings—which sound fancy and are indeed powered by some seriously nerdy algorithms from Aramco—have been tracking every outfield player across Attacking, Creativity, and Defending categories. And the debutants? They are eating.
Let's start with the guys putting the ball in the net. Erling Haaland has been an absolute monster for Norway, powering them to the quarter-finals with three—count 'em, THREE—two-goal games, including the one where he basically ate Brazil alive in the Round of 16. His attacking score of 8.04 is third overall, which is absurd for a first-timer. Then there is Johan Manzambi from Switzerland, who came off the bench against Bosnia and Herzegovina and decided to score twice just for fun. At twenty years old, he became Switzerland's youngest World Cup scorer since 1950. Meanwhile, Julian Quinones has been carrying Mexico's hopes on his back, scoring and assisting in their knockout run before they fell to England.
On the creativity side, Michael Olise is basically running the show for France with a staggering 8.19 score—FIRST overall, not just among debutants, but among EVERYONE. His five assists are the joint-most in a single World Cup since they started tracking that stat back in 1966. Florian Wirtz earned a 7.58 for Germany even though their tournament ended early, and Lamine Yamal is out here making defenders look silly for Spain with a 7.48.
And the defenders! Luc de Fougerolles has been an absolute wall for Canada, helping the co-hosts keep three clean sheets. Pau Cubarsi, still a teenager, has been so good that Spain have not conceded a SINGLE goal this entire tournament. That is five matches and zero goals allowed. And Chris Richards was a beast for the USA before their heartbreaking exit.
Special shout-out to Cabo Verde, whose entire squad are first-timers and still produced two standout performers in Sidny Lopes Cabral and Pico Lopes. Not bad for your first rodeo!
